help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM ENDO 08
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hirata, Y.
Right arrow Articles by Tanaka, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hirata, Y.
Right arrow Articles by Tanaka, A.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 42, 33-40, Copyright © 1976 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Size heterogeneity of beta-MSH in ectopic ACTH-producing tumors: presence of beta-LPH-like peptide

Y Hirata, S Matsukura, H Imura, M Nakamura and A Tanaka

Gel chromatographic, immunologic and biologic properties of beta- melanocyte-stimulating hormone (beta-MSH) in tumor tissues obtained from eight patients with the ectopic ACTH syndrome were studied and compared to those of pituitary beta-MSH. Size heterogeneity of immunoreactive beta-MSH was found in all the tumors studied as well as in normal human pituitaries. Both the tumors and pituitaries contained immunoreactive beta-MSH of a larger molecular size than the well- characterized beta-MSH of small molecular size. The large molecular weight beta-MSH also predominated in the plasma. It was found to be bioactive by an in vitro MSH assay, immunologically indistinguishable from human beta-MSH, and chromatographically very similar to beta- lipotropic hormone (beta-LPH). Tryptic digestion of the large molecular weight beta-MSH under controlled conditions promptly produced bioactive beta-MSH of small molecular size, followed by the appearance of immunologically active but biologically inert fragments. These results suggest that the ectopic ACTH-producing tumor as well as the pituitary elaborate beta-LPH-like peptide which might be the predominant component of immunoreactive beta-MSH in man.




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1976 by The Endocrine Society