Immunohistochemical demonstration of LH/CG receptors in non-neoplastic human adrenal cortex and adrenocortical tumors.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Numerous data indicate that luteinizing hormone and/or chorionic gonadotropin (LH/CG) exert direct actions on the adrenal cortex and are involved in the adrenal pathology. However, the immunohistochemical studies on the expression of LH/CG receptors (LH/CGR) in the human adrenal cortex and in the adrenocortical tumors are scarce.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Paraffin sections of samples of 6 human non-neoplastic adrenal cortex and 25 adrenocortical tumors were immunostained with anti-LH/CGR polyclonal antibody.

RESULTS:

All zones of the human non-neoplastic adrenal cortex present a positive immunoreaction with anti-LH/CGR antibody showing the strongest reaction in cell membranes. The LH/CGR immunostaining in the vast majority of hormonally non-functioning adenomas and in all hormone-secreting adenomas does not differ from the non-neoplastic adrenal cortex. In contrast to non-neoplastic adrenal cortex and benign adenomas, in adrenocortical cancers the immunostaining with anti-LH/CGR antibody behaves differently. The immunopositive material is almost totally filling the cytoplasm of the cells but the immunopositivity of cell membranes is weak or lacking.

CONCLUSIONS:

The data presented in our study show that the expression of LH/CGR in adrenocortical tumors is not ectopic but eutopic. The immunohistochemical examination of LH/CGR may be useful in the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions in the adrenal cortex. Moreover, the loss of membrane localization of LH/CGR in adrenocortical cancer suggests the alteration of receptors' function.

• Authors: Piotr Korol, Maria Jaranowska, Marek Pawlikowski
• Journal: Folia histochemica et cytobiologica (Folia Histochem Cytobiol) Vol. 57 Issue 1 Pg. 23-27 ( 2019) ISSN: 1897-5631 [Electronic] Poland
• PMID: 30924919 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Receptors, LH

Topics

• Adrenal Cortex (cytology, metabolism)
• Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Antibodies (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Receptors, LH (immunology, metabolism)