Abstract
The aim of the current study was to investigate the pathogenesis of pituitary adenoma through screening of the differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins in normal pituitary and pituitary adenoma tissues, and analyzing the interactions among them. Following the acquisition of gene expression profiling data from a public functional genomics data repository, Gene Expression Omnibus, DEGs were screened in normal pituitary and pituitary adenoma tissues. Upregulated and downregulated DEGs were further identified through gene ontology functional enrichment analysis. Subsequently, the DEGs were mapped to the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the upregulated and downregulated DEGs were constructed. Finally, the functional modules of the PPI network of the downregulated DEGs were analyzed. In total, 211 upregulated and 413 downregulated DEGs were screened between the normal pituitary and pituitary adenoma samples. Downregulated DEGs were associated with certain functions, including the immune response, hormone regulation and cell proliferation. Upregulated genes were associated with cation transport functions. Five modules were acquired from the PPI network of the downregulated DEGs. Transcription factors, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), interleukin 6 (IL-6), B-cell lymphoma 6 protein, early growth response 1, POU1F1, jun B proto-oncogene and FOS were the core nodes in the functional modules. In summary, the DEGs and proteins were identified through screening gene expression profiling and PPI networks. The results of the present study indicated that low expression levels of hormone- and immune-related genes facilitated the occurrence of pituitary adenoma. Low expression levels of IL-6 and STAT3 were significant in the dysimmunity of pituitary adenoma. Furthermore, the low expression level of POU1F1 contributed to the reduction in pituitary hormone secretion.
Highlights
The pituitary gland, as an important endocrine organ, performs vital roles in organismal modulation through secreting several key hormones, including prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) [1,2]
Following the screening of differentially‐expressed genes (DEGs) from the gene expression profiling of the normal pituitary and pituitary adenoma tissues, differences were identified in the expression of significant genes and proteins associated with pituitary adenoma by functional enrichment analysis and protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network construction of the DEGs
As the results associated with the downregulated genes demonstrated in the four functional modules, a number of proteins interacting as a whole participated in the modulation of the pituitary adenoma, the processes of which were conjoined by key transcription factors
Summary
The pituitary gland, as an important endocrine organ, performs vital roles in organismal modulation through secreting several key hormones, including prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) [1,2]. By regulating the hormone secretion of a target gland, the anterior pituitary participates in the development and normalization of tissues [3]. Pituitary adenoma is a distinctive intracranial tumor developing in the anterior pituitary gland, which exhibits the characteristics of a tumor and an endocrine disorder. Excess hormone secretion by the pituitary gland, caused by pituitary adenoma, produces several metabolic disorders and visceral injuries [6]. Other hormones are downregulated due to the compression of the tumor, which subsequently results in the functional decline of the target glands [7]
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