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Molecular classification of pituitary adenomas: in search for criteria useful for high-throughput studies
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Abstract
Introduction: The mechanism of pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas is still unknown, and it shows differences in pituitary cells of different origin. The aim of our study was to analyse the gene expression profile of pituitary hormones and their precursor genes: PRL, GH, POMC, TSHb, LHb, FSHb, and CGA by QPCR in particular types of pituitary adenomas, and to evaluate the results in the context of sample selection for microarray studies.
Material and methods: Analysis of the gene expression profile was performed in 84 samples of pituitary adenomas, by real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR).
Results: As expected, expression of GH gene was significantly higher in somatotropinomas than in prolactinomas (p < 0.05). For POMC gene we noticed lower expression in all pituitary adenomas, except adrenocorticotropinomas (p < 0.05). In the case of PRL gene, the highest expression was observed; PRL+ adenomas were in third place. LHb and FSHb genes showed the highest expression, respectively, in LH-producing and FSH-producing pituitary adenomas; however, our analysis did not show statistically significant differences between LH-producing and FSH-producing adenomas.
Conclusions: Our study showed that GH is a characteristic gene for somatotropinomas. We drew a similar conclusion for POMC gene and adrenocorticotropinomas. However, the results that we obtained for PRL, TSHb, LHb, FSHb, and CGA genes indicate that evaluation of gene expression is not sufficient for classification of particular subtypes of pituitary adenomas. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (2): 148–156)
Abstract
Introduction: The mechanism of pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas is still unknown, and it shows differences in pituitary cells of different origin. The aim of our study was to analyse the gene expression profile of pituitary hormones and their precursor genes: PRL, GH, POMC, TSHb, LHb, FSHb, and CGA by QPCR in particular types of pituitary adenomas, and to evaluate the results in the context of sample selection for microarray studies.
Material and methods: Analysis of the gene expression profile was performed in 84 samples of pituitary adenomas, by real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR).
Results: As expected, expression of GH gene was significantly higher in somatotropinomas than in prolactinomas (p < 0.05). For POMC gene we noticed lower expression in all pituitary adenomas, except adrenocorticotropinomas (p < 0.05). In the case of PRL gene, the highest expression was observed; PRL+ adenomas were in third place. LHb and FSHb genes showed the highest expression, respectively, in LH-producing and FSH-producing pituitary adenomas; however, our analysis did not show statistically significant differences between LH-producing and FSH-producing adenomas.
Conclusions: Our study showed that GH is a characteristic gene for somatotropinomas. We drew a similar conclusion for POMC gene and adrenocorticotropinomas. However, the results that we obtained for PRL, TSHb, LHb, FSHb, and CGA genes indicate that evaluation of gene expression is not sufficient for classification of particular subtypes of pituitary adenomas. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (2): 148–156)
Keywords
pituitary adenoma; gene expression; QPCR
About this articleTitle
Molecular classification of pituitary adenomas: in search for criteria useful for high-throughput studies
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
148-156
Published online
2016-01-21
Page views
1555
Article views/downloads
1828
DOI
10.5603/EP.a2016.0024
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2016;67(2):148-156.
Keywords
pituitary adenoma
gene expression
QPCR
Authors
Jadwiga Żebracka-Gala
Adam Rudnik
Kornelia Hasse-Lazar
Dawid Larysz
Michał Jarząb
Jolanta Krajewska
Piotr Bażowski
Barbara Jarząb
