Expression analysis of necroptosis related genes and lncRNAs in patients with pituitary neuroendocrine tumors

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Necroptosis can either be the cause of tumorigenesis or it can impede its process. Recently, it has been proved that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have different crucial roles at cellular level, especially on cell death. Regarding the important role of necroptosis and lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of different cancers, especially pituitary adenomas (PAs), we assessed expression levels of two necroptosis related genes, namely TRADD and BIRC2, in addition to three related lncRNAs, namely FLVCR1-DT, MAGI2-AS3, and NEAT1 in PAs compared with adjacent normal tissues (ANTs). TRADD had no significant difference between two groups; however, BIRC2, FLVCR1-DT, MAGI2-AS3, and NEAT1 were upregulated in PAs compared to ANTs (Expression ratios [95% CI] = 2.3 [1.47–3.6], 2.13 [1.02–4.44], 3.01 [1.76–5.16] and 2.47 [1.37–4.45], respectively). When taking into account different types of PAs, significant upregulation of BIRC2, MAGI2-AS3 and NEAT1 was recorded in non-functioning PAs compared with corresponding ANTs (Expression ratios [95% CI] =1.9 [1.04–3.43], 2.69 [1.26–5.72] and 2.22 [0.98–5.01], respectively). Additionally, higher levels of BIRC2 were associated with higher flow of CSF (P value=0.048). Moreover, higher Knosp classified tumors had lower levels of BIRC2 (P value=0.001). Finally, lower levels of MAGI2-AS3 were associated with larger tumor size (P value=0.006). NEAT1 expression was correlated with FLVCR1-DT and TRADD. TRADD expression was correlated with FLVCR1-DT. Additional correlation was observed between expression of BIRC2 and MAGI2-AS3. In sum, this study provides evidence that dysregulated levels of studied genes could contribute to the pathogenesis of pituitary tumors.