Abstract |
Pituitary adenomas are a diverse group of tumors arising from the pituitary gland. Typically, they are small, slow-growing, hormonally inactive lesions that come to light as incidental findings on radiologic or postmortem examinations, although some small, slow-growing lesions with excessive hormonal activity may manifest with a clinical syndrome. The family of neurotrophins plays a key role in the development and maintenance of the pituitary endocrine cell function and in the regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity. The objective of our experimental study is to investigate the localization of the neurotrophins, their relative receptors and to detect the expression level of Ki-67 to determine whether all these factors participate in the transformation and development of human pituitary adenomas. A very strong expression of Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and its receptor TrKC was observed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and vessel endothelium, together with a clear/marked presence of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF), and its receptor TrKB, thus confirming their direct involvement in the progression of pituitary adenomas. On the contrary, NGF ( Nerve growth factor) and its receptor TrKA and p75NTR were weakly expressed in the epithelial gland cells and the ECM.
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Authors | M Artico, E Bianchi, G Magliulo, M De Vincentiis, E De Santis, A Orlandi, A Santoro, F S Pastore, F Giangaspero, R Caruso, M Re, L Fumagalli |
Journal | International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology
(Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol)
2012 Jan-Mar
Vol. 25
Issue 1
Pg. 117-25
ISSN: 0394-6320 [Print] England |
PMID | 22507324
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Ki-67 Antigen
- NGFR protein, human
- Nerve Growth Factors
- Nerve Tissue Proteins
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
- Receptor, trkA
- Receptor, trkB
- Receptor, trkC
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Topics |
- Adenoma
(chemistry)
- Extracellular Matrix
(chemistry)
- Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma
(chemistry)
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Ki-67 Antigen
(analysis)
- Nerve Growth Factors
(analysis)
- Nerve Tissue Proteins
(analysis)
- Receptor, trkA
(analysis)
- Receptor, trkB
(analysis)
- Receptor, trkC
(analysis)
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
(analysis)
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