The expression profile of genes encoding tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and their receptor in benign adrenal tumors

J Physiol Pharmacol. 2020 Aug;71(4). doi: 10.26402/jpp.2020.4.11. Epub 2020 Dec 12.

Abstract

In the process of neoplasia, during which benign adrenal tumors are formed, stimulators of new blood vessel growth as well as growth of tumor cells are cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). We analyzed the expression profile of genes coding: TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNF-R1), TNF-R2, IL-6, interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) in sections of adrenocortical tumor tissue, rated on the Weiss point scale, in patients with clinically diagnosed Conn's and Cushing's syndrome, and the usefulness of determining the examined genes as markers differentiating individual clinical units. There was no correlation between the expression of the examined genes and clinical parameters such as age, BMI or blood pressure, both in the entire study group and in individual subgroups. Elevated expression of the genes coding TNF-α, TNF-R2 and IL-6R was observed, whereas genes encoding TNF-R1 and IL-6 showed relatively low expression. The highest statistically significant differences in the expression of the examined genes were observed between IL-6 and IL-6R. High positive correlation was found in the subgroup of patients with Conn's clinical syndrome, between genes encoding both types of receptors for TNF-α, IL-6 and TNF-R2, TNF-α and IL-6 receptor, and between TNF-R2 and IL6-R receptors, which may suggest the mutual influence of these cytokines and their receptors on their own expression.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / complications
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Aged
  • Cushing Syndrome / etiology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Hyperaldosteronism / etiology
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / genetics*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / genetics*
  • Transcriptome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*

Substances

  • IL6 protein, human
  • IL6R protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
  • TNF protein, human
  • TNFRSF1A protein, human
  • TNFRSF1B protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha