Characterization of c-kit (CD117) expression in human normal pituitary cells and pituitary adenomas.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_20015C9CF7B1
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Characterization of c-kit (CD117) expression in human normal pituitary cells and pituitary adenomas.
Journal
Endocrine Pathology
Author(s)
La Rosa S., Uccella S., Dainese L., Marchet S., Placidi C., Vigetti D., Capella C.
ISSN
1046-3976 (Print)
ISSN-L
1046-3976
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2008
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
19
Number
2
Pages
104-111
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tPublication Status: ppublish
Abstract
c-kit (CD117) is a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in the proliferation, differentiation, and secretory functions of various cells. In experimental animal models, c-kit has been detected in the pars intermedia of the normal pituitary gland and in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone-positive adenomas and it has been suggested that it plays a role in regulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. To the best of our knowledge, the expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary cells and in pituitary adenomas has never been reported, so the possible biological role of this receptor in the control of pituitary hormone secretion remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary glands and in a series of 62 well-characterized pituitary adenomas. In normal adenohypophyses, several cells, mainly located in the central mucoid wedge, showed a c-kit immunoreactivity (IR). Double label immunostaining procedures showed that the c-kit-IR cells corresponded to ACTH cells. Out of 62 adenomas, 15 (24%) were c-kit-IR, including 7/16 (44%) ACTH cell, 3/7 (42%) null cell, 4/11 (36%) alpha-subunit cell, and 1/11 (10%) follicle-stimulating hormone-luteinizing hormone cell adenomas. By contrast, all ten prolactin cell and seven growth hormone cell adenomas were c-kit negative. These data suggest that, in normal conditions, c-kit may be involved in the pituitary-adrenal axis regulation.
Keywords
ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/metabolism, ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/pathology, Adenoma/metabolism, Adenoma/pathology, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Blotting, Western, Child, Female, Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood, Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/metabolism, Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/pathology, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Luteinizing Hormone/blood, Male, Middle Aged, Paraffin Embedding, Pituitary Gland/cytology, Pituitary Gland/metabolism, Pituitary Neoplasms/metabolism, Pituitary Neoplasms/pathology, Prolactinoma/metabolism, Prolactinoma/pathology, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/biosynthesis, Tissue Fixation
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
06/09/2016 14:14
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:55
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