Abstract
c-kit (CD117) is a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in the proliferation, differentiation, and secretory functions of various cells. In experimental animal models, c-kit has been detected in the pars intermedia of the normal pituitary gland and in α-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone-positive adenomas and it has been suggested that it plays a role in regulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. To the best of our knowledge, the expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary cells and in pituitary adenomas has never been reported, so the possible biological role of this receptor in the control of pituitary hormone secretion remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary glands and in a series of 62 well-characterized pituitary adenomas. In normal adenohypophyses, several cells, mainly located in the central mucoid wedge, showed a c-kit immunoreactivity (IR). Double label immunostaining procedures showed that the c-kit-IR cells corresponded to ACTH cells. Out of 62 adenomas, 15 (24%) were c-kit-IR, including 7/16 (44%) ACTH cell, 3/7 (42%) null cell, 4/11 (36%) α-subunit cell, and 1/11 (10%) follicle-stimulating hormone-luteinizing hormone cell adenomas. By contrast, all ten prolactin cell and seven growth hormone cell adenomas were c-kit negative. These data suggest that, in normal conditions, c-kit may be involved in the pituitary-adrenal axis regulation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 104-111 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Endocrine Pathology |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2008 |
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Keywords
- C-kit
- CD117
- Immunohistochemistry
- Pituitary
- Pituitary adenoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Cite this
Characterization of C-kit (CD117) expression in human normal pituitary cells and pituitary adenomas. / La Rosa, Stefano; Uccella, Silvia; Dainese, Linda; Marchet, Silvia; Placidi, Claudia; Vigetti, Davide; Capella, Carlo.
In: Endocrine Pathology, Vol. 19, No. 2, 06.2008, p. 104-111.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization of C-kit (CD117) expression in human normal pituitary cells and pituitary adenomas
AU - La Rosa, Stefano
AU - Uccella, Silvia
AU - Dainese, Linda
AU - Marchet, Silvia
AU - Placidi, Claudia
AU - Vigetti, Davide
AU - Capella, Carlo
PY - 2008/6
Y1 - 2008/6
N2 - c-kit (CD117) is a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in the proliferation, differentiation, and secretory functions of various cells. In experimental animal models, c-kit has been detected in the pars intermedia of the normal pituitary gland and in α-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone-positive adenomas and it has been suggested that it plays a role in regulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. To the best of our knowledge, the expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary cells and in pituitary adenomas has never been reported, so the possible biological role of this receptor in the control of pituitary hormone secretion remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary glands and in a series of 62 well-characterized pituitary adenomas. In normal adenohypophyses, several cells, mainly located in the central mucoid wedge, showed a c-kit immunoreactivity (IR). Double label immunostaining procedures showed that the c-kit-IR cells corresponded to ACTH cells. Out of 62 adenomas, 15 (24%) were c-kit-IR, including 7/16 (44%) ACTH cell, 3/7 (42%) null cell, 4/11 (36%) α-subunit cell, and 1/11 (10%) follicle-stimulating hormone-luteinizing hormone cell adenomas. By contrast, all ten prolactin cell and seven growth hormone cell adenomas were c-kit negative. These data suggest that, in normal conditions, c-kit may be involved in the pituitary-adrenal axis regulation.
AB - c-kit (CD117) is a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in the proliferation, differentiation, and secretory functions of various cells. In experimental animal models, c-kit has been detected in the pars intermedia of the normal pituitary gland and in α-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone-positive adenomas and it has been suggested that it plays a role in regulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. To the best of our knowledge, the expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary cells and in pituitary adenomas has never been reported, so the possible biological role of this receptor in the control of pituitary hormone secretion remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of c-kit in normal human pituitary glands and in a series of 62 well-characterized pituitary adenomas. In normal adenohypophyses, several cells, mainly located in the central mucoid wedge, showed a c-kit immunoreactivity (IR). Double label immunostaining procedures showed that the c-kit-IR cells corresponded to ACTH cells. Out of 62 adenomas, 15 (24%) were c-kit-IR, including 7/16 (44%) ACTH cell, 3/7 (42%) null cell, 4/11 (36%) α-subunit cell, and 1/11 (10%) follicle-stimulating hormone-luteinizing hormone cell adenomas. By contrast, all ten prolactin cell and seven growth hormone cell adenomas were c-kit negative. These data suggest that, in normal conditions, c-kit may be involved in the pituitary-adrenal axis regulation.
KW - C-kit
KW - CD117
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Pituitary
KW - Pituitary adenoma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=55249087194&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=55249087194&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12022-008-9032-4
DO - 10.1007/s12022-008-9032-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 18568298
AN - SCOPUS:55249087194
VL - 19
SP - 104
EP - 111
JO - Endocrine Pathology
JF - Endocrine Pathology
SN - 1046-3976
IS - 2
ER -