CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN CORTICOTROPHIN‐RELEASING HORMONE AND PRO‐OPIOMELANOCORTIN‐RELATED PEPTIDES IN A THYMIC CARCINOID TUMOUR RESPONSIBLE FOR CUSHING'S SYNDROME

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Abstract
Severe Cushing''s syndrome developed in a man of 35 years. Plasma ACTH and lipotrophin hormone levels were supranormal, and dexamethasone failed to stop their production. An ATCH-producing thymic carcinoid tumour was found to be responsible for the Cushing''s syndrome. The tumour tissue contained pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-mRNA and POMC-related peptides. In addition, human corticotrophin-releasing hormone (h-CRH) (0.25 ng/mg wet tissue) was identified in the tumour extract. Among a series of extracts from two normal and three tumoral (Nelson''s syndrome) pituitary glands, six non-pituitary POMC-producing tumours and five normal thymuses examined, only the extract from the thymic tumour of our patient contained h-CRH. The molecule isolated that the same properties as synthetic h-CRH (dilution, Sephadex G 50 chromatography). Circulating h-CRH levels, however, were normal. The possible involvement of such ectopic CRH production in the etiology of Cushing''s syndrome remains uncertain.

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