Expression of Neuropeptide Y and Its Relationship with Molecular and Morphological Changes in Human Pituitary Adenomas

• Published in: Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 411 - 419
• Main Authors: Jia, Ruichao, Li, Mu, Chang, Binge, Chen, Laichao, Ma, Jingjian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mary Ann Liebert, Inc 01.12.2015
• Subjects: ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma - chemistry; ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma - genetics; ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma - pathology; Adenoma - chemistry; Adenoma - genetics; Adenoma - pathology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cytoplasm - chemistry; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough - chemistry; Female; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma - chemistry; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma - genetics; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma - pathology; Humans; Hyperplasia - genetics; Hyperplasia - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Microscopy, Immunoelectron; Middle Aged; Neuropeptide Y - analysis; Neuropeptide Y - genetics; Pituitary Gland - chemistry; Pituitary Gland - pathology; Pituitary Neoplasms - chemistry; Pituitary Neoplasms - genetics; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Prolactinoma - chemistry; Prolactinoma - genetics; Prolactinoma - pathology; Receptors, Neuropeptide Y - genetics; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Young Adult; pituitary adenoma; immunohistochemistry; RT-PCR; neuropeptide Y
• ISSN: 1084-9785; 1557-8852
• DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2014.1645

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on molecular and histological changes in human pituitary adenomas. The localization of NPY and its expression at the protein, messenger RNA (mRNA), and receptor levels were investigated here in different subcategories of pituitary adenomas. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in all cases to assess expression of NPY. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to study the mRNA expression of NPY. NPY subcellular localization was observed using immunoelectron microscopy in cytoplasm, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and cell matrix in four of the six cases of pituitary adenoma. NPY protein expression was observed in 59.6% of 57 cases of pituitary adenoma and in 2 cases of pituitary hyperplasia. mRNA expression of NPY was observed in all 57 cases of pituitary adenoma and in 2 cases of pituitary hyperplasia. Significantly different levels of expression were observed across different subcategories of pituitary adenoma. mRNA expression of Y1R and Y2R was observed across all subcategories of pituitary adenomas, and a positive correlation was observed between NPY and Y2R. In conclusion, evidence is provided here for the expression of NPY and its receptors, Y1R and Y2R, in human pituitary adenoma, and the levels of expression were found to differ across different subcategories. Differences in expression of Y2R in human pituitary adenomas were found to have remarkable statistical significance.