Glial-derived neurotropic factor and RET gene expression in normal human anterior pituitary cell types and in pituitary tumors

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Miguel JaponClara V Alvarez

Abstract

Glial-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) signaling is mediated through a 2-component system consisting of the so-called GDNF receptor-alpha (GFRalpha1), which binds to GDNF. This complex activates the tyrosine kinase receptor RET. In this paper we demonstrate GDNF, GFRalpha1, and RET mRNA and protein expression in the human anterior pituitary gland. Double immunohistochemistry of anterior pituitary sections showed GDNF immunoreactivity in more than 95% of somatotrophs and to a lesser extent in corticotrophs (20%); it was almost absent in the remaining cell types. Also, although more than 95% of somatotrophs were stained for RET, no positive immunostaining could be detected in other cell types. Furthermore, we have looked for GDNF and RET in human pituitary adenomas of various hormonal phenotypes. Strong positive immunostaining was found for c-RET in all of the GH-secreting adenomas screened as well as in 50% of ACTH-producing adenomas. Positive immunostaining for GDNF was found in all of the GH-secreting adenomas and in 10% of the corticotropinomas. Lastly, we found strong positive immunostaining for GFRalpha1 in 90% of the somatotropinomas and 50% of the corticotropinomas as well as in 1 of 8 prolactinomas and 1 of 13 nonfuncti...Continue Reading

References

Mar 16, 1995·Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research·D L Choi-Lundberg, M C Bohn
Jul 4, 1996·Nature·J J TreanorA Rosenthal
Jan 1, 1997·Trends in Genetics : TIG·K Robertson, I Mason
Apr 1, 1997·Endocrine Reviews·D Ray, S Melmed
Dec 23, 1998·Endocrine Reviews·S L Asa, S Ezzat
Oct 16, 1999·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·A TessitoreV Colantuoni
May 10, 2000·Endocrinology·A G UrbanoC V Alvarez
Jun 6, 2000·The British Journal of Ophthalmology·S B KayeC A Hart

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 14, 2009·PloS One·Montse Garcia-LavandeiraClara V Alvarez
Oct 23, 2012·Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism·Abhay GundgurthiM K Garg
Jun 5, 2003·Clinical Endocrinology·Chris J McCabe, Anthony P Heaney
Sep 1, 2017·The Journal of Endocrinology·Scott HastonJuan Pedro Martinez-Barbera
Oct 28, 2011·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·Montserrat Garcia-LavandeiraClara V Alvarez
Apr 16, 2009·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·Manuela VargioluElena Bonora
Jan 10, 2014·Pituitary·Nestoras MathioudakisAlfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa
Sep 14, 2017·International Journal of Oncology·Marialuisa SpoletiniFrancesco Saverio Pastore
Jul 15, 2004·Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists·Volker F H BrauerChristian A Koch

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cell Signaling by Tyrosine Kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are the high-affinity cell surface receptors for many polypeptide growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. RTKs have been shown not only to be key regulators of normal cellular processes but also to have a critical role in the development and progression of many types of cancer. Discover the latest research on cell signaling and RTK here.