HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tateno, T. Articles by Hirata, Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tateno, T. Articles by Hirata, Y.

Differential gene expression in ACTH -secreting and non-functioning pituitary tumors

Department of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan, Departments of ¹ Pathology and ² Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

(Correspondence should be addressed to T Tateno; Email: ttateno.cme{at}tmd.ac.jp)

Objective: Differential expression of several genes between ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors causing Cushing' disease (CD), silent corticotroph adenoma (SCA), and non-functioning pituitary tumors (NFT) was investigated.

Design and methods: We used tissue specimens from 35 pituitary tumors (12 CD, 8 SCA, and 15 NFT). Steady-state mRNA levels of the genes related to proopiomelanocortin (POMC) transcription, synthesis, processing, and secretion, such as neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1), T-box 19 (Tpit), corticotropin releasing hormone receptor (CRHR), vasopressin receptor 1b (V1bR), prohormone convertase (PC) 1/3 and PC2, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) type 1 and type 2, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), annexin A1, histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), and BRM/SWI2-related gene 1, were determined by real-time RT-PCR.

Results and conclusion: POMC and Tpit mRNA levels were greater in CD and SCA than those in NFT. NeuroD1 mRNA levels were less in CD than those in NFT, but almost comparable between SCA and NFT. PC1/3 mRNA levels were greater in CD, but less in SCA than those in NFT. PC2 mRNA levels in CD and SCA were less than those in NFT. CRHR, V1bR, and 11β-HSD2 mRNA levels in CD were greater than those in SCA and NFT. HDAC2 mRNA levels in CD and SCA were lower than those in NFT. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the genes related to transcription, synthesis, processing, and secretion of POMC are differentially regulated in ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors causing CD and SCA compared with those in NFT. This may partly explain the development of clinically active and inactive CD.