Expression and effect of adrenomedullin in pheochromocytoma.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the expression of human adrenomedullin (ADM) and its receptor-receptor activity modifying protein 2/calcitonin receptor-like receptor (RAMP2/CRLR) mRNA in pheochromocytoma by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and its effect on the proliferation of pheochromocytoma cells by MTT. The mRNA expression of ADM and its receptor RAMP2/CRLR was present in normal adrenal medulla and pheochromocytoma tissues. The mRNA expression of ADM, RAMP2, and CRLR is markedly higher in pheochromocytomas than in normal medulla. ADM inhibits the proliferation of human pheochromocytoma cells and exerts a possible autocrine or paracrine effect in the adrenal.