Expression of Pituitary Homeo Box 1 (Ptx1) in Human Non-Neoplastic Pituitaries and Pituitary Adenomas

• Published in: Modern pathology Vol. 13; no. 10; pp. 1097 - 1108
• Main Authors: Tahara, Shigeyuki, Kurotani, Reiko, Sanno, Naoko, Takumi, Ichiro, Yoshimura, Shinichi, Osamura, R Yoshiyuki, Teramoto, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2000; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adenoma - metabolism; Adenoma - pathology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blotting, Western; DNA Primers - chemistry; Female; Growth hormones; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Paired Box Transcription Factors; Pathology; Pituitary; Pituitary adenoma; Pituitary Gland - metabolism; Pituitary Gland - pathology; Pituitary Hormones - metabolism; Pituitary Neoplasms - metabolism; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Proteins; Ptx1; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Neoplasm - analysis; Transcription factor; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Tumors; Japan; Immunohistochemistry; Ptx1; Transcription factor; Pituitary; Pituitary adenoma
• ISSN: 0893-3952; 1530-0285
• DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.3880204

We investigated the localization of pituitary homeo box 1 (Ptx1) protein in five human non-neoplastic pituitaries and 73 of all types of pituitary adenomas using immunohistochemistry, and the expression of Ptx1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in 18 representative pituitary adenomas using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. By immunohistochemical analysis, Ptx1 protein was extensively detected in the nuclei of normal human pituitary cells. Ptx1 was detected in 10/14 (71.4%) of growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas, 12/12 (100%) of prolactin (PRL)-secreting adenomas, 18/20 (90%) of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting adenomas, 6/7 (85.7%) of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting adenomas, and 17/20 (85%) of clinically non-functioning adenomas, including 9/10 (90%) of gonadotropin-subunit-positive adenomas. Thus, there was no relationship between Ptx1 expression and a particular type of pituitary adenomas. By RT-PCR analysis, Ptx1 mRNA was expressed in all 18 cases of pituitary adenomas, including two cases negative for Ptx1 protein by immunohistochemistry. These results suggested that Ptx1 may be an universal transcription factor in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions in human pituitaries. The synergistic action with other transcription factors may be speculated to determine the specific production of the anterior pituitary hormones.