Differential expression of DJ-1 and HSP27 in invasive and non-invasive pituitary adenomas

Abstract

To explore whether oncogenes DJ-1 and HSP27 are associated with invasiveness of human pituitary adenoma. Total proteins were extracted from samples of 20 invasive and 20 non-invasive pituitary adenomas and the expression of DJ-1 and HSP27 was analyzed by Western blot. The correlation of DJ-1and HSP27 with the invasiveness of pituitary adenoma was analyzed. The strong positive rates of DJ-1 and HSP27 in the 20 invasive pituitary adenoma were 70% (14/20) and 80% (16/20), respectively. The invasive group had significantly higher expression of DJ-1 and HSP27 proteins than the noninvasive group [10% (2/20), 10% (2/20), respectively]. There was a positive correlation between the expression of DJ-1, HSP27 proteins and the invasiveness of pituitary adenoma as judged by the Spearman rank correlation test (P<0.05). The proliferative activity and abnormal expression of oncogenes DJ-1 and HSP27 may play a significant role in tumorigenesis and progression of pituitary adenoma. There was a significant correlation between the expression of DJ-1 and HSP27 and the invasiveness of pituitary adenoma.