Activating mutations in CTNNB1 in aldosterone producing adenomas

Sci Rep. 2016 Jan 27:6:19546. doi: 10.1038/srep19546.

Abstract

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension with a prevalence of 5-10% in unreferred hypertensive patients. Aldosterone producing adenomas (APAs) constitute a large proportion of PA cases and represent a surgically correctable form of the disease. The WNT signaling pathway is activated in APAs. In other tumors, a frequent cause of aberrant WNT signaling is mutation in the CTNNB1 gene coding for β-catenin. Our objective was to screen for CTNNB1 mutations in a well-characterized cohort of 198 APAs. Somatic CTNNB1 mutations were detected in 5.1% of the tumors, occurring mutually exclusive from mutations in KCNJ5, ATP1A1, ATP2B3 and CACNA1D. All of the observed mutations altered serine/threonine residues in the GSK3β binding domain in exon 3. The mutations were associated with stabilized β-catenin and increased AXIN2 expression, suggesting activation of WNT signaling. By CYP11B2 mRNA expression, CYP11B2 protein expression, and direct measurement of aldosterone in tumor tissue, we confirmed the ability for aldosterone production. This report provides compelling evidence that aberrant WNT signaling caused by mutations in CTNNB1 occur in APAs. This also suggests that other mechanisms that constitutively activate the WNT pathway may be important in APA formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma* / genetics
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma* / metabolism
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma* / pathology
  • Aldosterone / biosynthesis*
  • Aldosterone / genetics
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasm Proteins* / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins* / metabolism
  • Protein Domains
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / genetics*
  • beta Catenin* / genetics
  • beta Catenin* / metabolism

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Aldosterone