Mouse Pituitary Adenoma Research Articles

EGFL7-blocking antibody inhibit pituitary adenoma proliferation and invasion

Objective: To study the effect of EGFL7-blocking monoclonal antibody inhibiting the proliferation and invasion of mouse adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenomas (ACTHomas) AtT-20 cells. Methods: After treated with different concentration of EGFL7-blocking monoclonal antibody for 24, 48, 72 h, the proliferation of AtT-20 cells was determined by MTS. Simultaneously, ACTH secretion of AtT-20 cells by ELISA and the mRNA expression of invasion related genes such as E-cadherin, snail, MMP-2 and MMP-9 by Real-time PCR were detected. Results: EGFL7-blocking monoclonal antibody could effectively inhibit the proliferation and ACTH secretion of AtT-20 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. At the same time, EGFL7-blocking monoclonal antibody significant down-regulated the mRNA level of snail, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in AtT-20 cells. Conclusion: EGFL7-blocking monoclonal antibody could inhibit mouse pituitary adenoma AtT-20 cells proliferation and invasion.

BP-1-102 and silencing of Fascin-1 by RNA interference inhibits the proliferation of mouse pituitary adenoma AtT20 cells via the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/fascin-1 pathway

Introduction The expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein and Fascin-1 were inhibited using the STAT3 inhibitor BP-1-102 and RNA interference, respectively, to investigate the expression of AtT20 in mouse pituitary cells. The proliferative capacity and related molecular mechanisms of pituitary tumor cells were then analyzed. Methods Mouse AtT20 pituitary adenoma cells were divided into a control group (Pa group), a STAT3 inhibitor vehicle group (PA + DMSO group), a STAT3 inhibitor group (PA + BP-1-102 group), a Fascin-1 negative control group (PA + neg-siRNA group) and a Fascin-1 silenced group (PA + Fascin-siRNA group). The related protein expression and cell proliferation of the five groups were measured using immunofluorescence, Western blot and real-time RT-PCR, whereas their apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated using CCK-8 and flow cytometry. Results Proliferation of AtT20 cells is inhibited with BP-1-102 enhanced apoptosis, at the same time reduced the expression of Fascin-1 and N-cadherin, and increased the expression of E-cadherin. After inhibiting Fascin-1, the expression of STAT3 decreased, the expression of N-cadherin decreased and the expression of E-cadherin increased. Conclusions BP-1-102 is a novel drug with a great potential in pituitary tumors. Given their important roles in the growth of pituitary adenomas, STAT3 and Fascin-1 can be used as new treatment targets.

Triptolide inhibits pituitary adenoma cell viability, migration and invasion via ADAM12/EGFR signaling pathway

AimTriptolide, an effective component derived from Tripterygium wilfordii, has been well recognized to process a broad-spectrum antitumor activities in various tumor types. However, the potential role of triptolide in pituitary adenomas remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the precise role of triptolide and underlying mechanism in regulating pituitary adenoma cell viability, migration and invasion. Main methodsWe use mouse pituitary adenoma cells (TtT/GF and AtT20 cells) as the experiment model and treated them with varying concentrations of triptolide. The corresponding inhibitory effects on cell viability, migration, invasion and apoptosis were examined respectively, and the underlying mechanism was determined by investigating ADAM12 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12)/EGFR signaling. Key findingsTriptolide significantly inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion in TtT/GF and AtT20 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, triptolide significantly reduced ADAM12 expression at protein levels and attenuated ADAM12/EGFR signaling. Meanwhile, triptolide treatment combined with ADAM12 silencing enhanced the suppression effects on cell viability, migration and invasion, and those effects were restored following ADAM12-rescued. Moreover, triptolide suppressed the tumorigenesis of TtT/GF and AtT20 cells in vivo. SignificanceOur research provides evidence that triptolide inhibits pituitary adenoma cell viability, migration and invasion via ADAM12/EGFR signaling pathway. These findings suggest a potential role for triptolide in treating pituitary adenomas.

Investigating the role of AIP in mouse pituitary adenoma formation

Investigating the role of AIP in mouse pituitary adenoma formation

Metalloproteinases ADAM12 and MMP-14 are associated with cavernous sinus invasion in pituitary adenomas.

Invasion of tumor cells critically depends on cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Enzymes capable of modulating these interactions belong to the proteinase families of ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) and MMP (matrix metalloprotease) proteins. Our objective is to examine their expression levels and evaluate the relationship between expression levels and cavernous sinus invasion in pituitary adenomas. Tissue samples from 35 patients with pituitary adenomas were analyzed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was employed to assess mRNA expression levels for ADAM and MMP genes. Protein levels were examined using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. Correlation analyses between expression levels and clinical parameters were performed. By silencing ADAM12 and MMP-14 with siRNA in a mouse pituitary adenoma cell line (TtT/GF), their cellular effects were investigated. In our study, nine women and 26 men were included, with a mean age of 53.1 years (range 15-84 years) at the time of surgery. There were 19 cases with cavernous sinus invasion. The proteins ADAM12 and MMP-14 were significantly up-regulated in invasive adenomas compared to noninvasive adenomas. Both human isoforms of ADAM12 (ADAM12L and ADAM12s) were involved in tumor invasion; moreover, ADAM12L was found to correlate positively with Ki-67 proliferation index in pituitary adenomas. In TtT/GF pituitary adenoma cells, silencing of ADAM12 and MMP-14 significantly inhibited cell invasion and migration, respectively, whereas only silencing of ADAM12 suppressed cell proliferation. We conclude that ADAM12 and MMP-14 are associated with cavernous sinus invasion in pituitary adenomas, which qualifies these proteins in diagnosis and therapy.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Silencing of the Smad nuclear interacting protein 1 (SNIP1) by siRNA inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in pituitary adenoma cells

Smad nuclear interacting protein 1 (SNIP1) gene encodes a protein that contains a conservative C-terminal forkhead-associated domain and functions as a transcriptional coactivator to regulate cell proliferation and cancer progression. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and biological significance of SNIP1 expression in pituitary adenoma. We analyzed SNIP1 expressions in mouse fibroblast L929 cells and mouse pituitary adenoma AtT-20 cells by Western blotting. SNIP1 gene knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was performed to evaluate SNIP1 function in pituitary adenoma cell lines. As expected, SNIP1 was found to be upregulated in pituitary adenoma cells. The mRNA and protein levels of SNIP1 were inhibited in AtT-20 cells transfected with siRNAs, which led to decreased proliferation, increased apoptosis, and cycle arrest of pituitary adenoma cells. Concomitantly, c-Myc and cyclin D1 protein levels were reduced. These findings may provide novel targets for the treatment of pituitary adenoma.

Magmas, a Gene Newly Identified as Overexpressed in Human and Mouse ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas, Protects Pituitary Cells from Apoptotic Stimuli

Pituitary tumors are mostly benign, being locally invasive in 5-35% of cases. Deregulation of several genes has been suggested as a possible alteration underlying the development and progression of pituitary tumors. We here report the identification of a cDNA, corresponding to Magmas gene (mitochondria-associated protein involved in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor signal transduction), which is highly expressed in two different ACTH-secreting mouse pituitary adenoma cell lines as compared with normal pituitary as well as in two thirds of 64 examined pituitary adenomas as compared with human normal pituitary. Tim 16, the mitochondrial protein encoded by Magmas, was indeed expressed in a mouse ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma cell line, AtT-20 D16v-F2 cells, in a subcellular compartment likely corresponding to mitochondria. Magmas silencing determined a reduced rate of DNA synthesis, an accumulation in G1 phase, and a concomitant decrease in S phase in At-T20 D16v-F2 cells. Moreover, Magmas-silenced cells displayed basal caspase 3/7 activity and DNA fragmentation levels similar to control cells, which both increased under proapoptotic stimuli. Our data demonstrate that Magmas is overexpressed in mouse and human ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Moreover, our results show that Magmas protects pituitary cells from apoptosis, suggesting its possible involvement in neoplastic transformation.

Interaction between HMGA1 and Retinoblastoma Protein Is Required for Adipocyte Differentiation

It is generally accepted that the regulation of adipogenesis prevents obesity. However, the mechanisms controlling adipogenesis have not been completely defined. We have previously demonstrated that HMGA1 proteins play a critical role in adipogenesis. In fact, suppression of HMGA1 protein synthesis by antisense technology dramatically increased growth rate and impaired adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, we showed that HMGA1 strongly potentiates the capacity of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) transcriptional factor to transactivate the leptin promoter, an adipocytic-specific promoter. In this study we demonstrate that HMGA1 physically interacts with retinoblastoma protein (RB), which is also required in adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, we show that RB, C/EBPbeta, and HMGA1 proteins all cooperate in controlling both Id1 and leptin gene transcriptions, which are down- and up-regulated during adipocyte differentiation, respectively. We also demonstrate that HMGA1/RB interaction regulates CDC25A and CDC6 promoter activities, which are induced by E2F-1 protein during early adipocyte differentiation, by displacing HDAC1 from the RB-E2F1 complex. Furthermore, by using Hmga1(-/-) embryonic stem cells, which failed to undergo adipocyte differentiation, we show the crucial role of HMGA1 proteins in adipocyte differentiation due to its pivotal involvement in the formation of the RB-C/EBPbeta complex. Altogether these data demonstrate a key role of the interaction between HMGA1 and RB in adipocyte differentiation.

Signalling Pathway Mediated by CXCR7, an Alternative Chemokine Receptor for Stromal‐Cell Derived Factor‐1α, in AtT20 Mouse Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone‐Secreting Pituitary Adenoma Cells

Stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 and its receptor, CXCR4, have been identified in both neurones and glia of many brain areas. Previous studies have mainly focused on the role of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and their possible involvement in the development of pituitary adenomas. An alternative SDF-1 receptor, CXCR7, has recently been identified, but it has not been studied in the context of pituitary adenomas. The present study aimed to investigate the distribution and function of CXCR7 in pituitary adenomas. The expression of CXCR7, normalised to β-actin, was assessed by tissue microarray analysis of 62 adenomas, including 23 growth hormone (GH)-producing adenomas, 22 nonfunctioning adenomas, seven prolactin (PRL)-producing adenomas, six adrenocorticotrophic hormone-producing adenomas and four thyroid-stimulating hormone-producing adenomas. In vitro functional studies used RNA interference (RNAi) and cDNA microarray analysis to evaluate the CXCR7 signalling pathway in AtT-20 mouse pituitary adenoma cells treated with recombinant mouse SDF-1α and transfected with RNAi against Cxcr7 or control RNAi. In tissue microarray analysis, prominent expression of CXCR7 was observed in GH-producing adenomas and PRL-producing adenomas, and in macroadenomas (P < 0.05). Intracellular signalling via CXCR7 up-regulated Bub1, Cdc29 and Ccnb1, and down-regulated Asns, Gpt, Pycr1, Cars and Dars. The present study demonstrates that the SDF-1α ⁄ CXCR7 signalling pathway regulates genes involved in cell cycle control, amino acid metabolism and ligase activity, which comprise targets that are distinct from those of CXCR4.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 expression in pituitary adenoma tissues and upregulation in hypoxia

The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) is known to have a homing effect, recruiting endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the bone marrow to ischemic foci. In this study, we investigated whether SDF-1 is triggered by hypoxia and might be a major driving force for tumor angiogenesis in pituitary adenomas. SDF-1 and microvascular density (MVD) were detected by double-immunofluorescence microscopy in CD34-positive vessels from 59 cases with pituitary adenomas. In vitro secretion of SDF-1 by the AtT20 mouse pituitary adenoma cell line under hypoxic conditions was quantitatively analyzed by ELISA, and SDF-1 mRNA levels were determined by real-time RT-PCR. Double-fluorescence immunohistochemistry showed that increases in MVD were significantly correlated with increased SDF-1 grade (P < 0.0001), and, concomitantly, the expression of SDF-1 was significantly greater in macroadenomas (P = 0.0203). SDF-1 secretion was inversely related to oxygen levels, with more severe degrees of hypoxia inducing greater levels of SDF-1 secretion. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that the SDF-1 mRNA level in AtT20 cells was significantly increased at 1% oxygen (logarithmic mean value = 1.55 +/- 0.56) compared with that at 21% oxygen. The current study strongly suggests that SDF-1 is a crucial angiogenic factor in pituitary adenomas, where it acts as a homing agent to mediate the mobilization of CD34-positive endothelial progenitor cells to the tumor parenchyma under hypoxic conditions.

The Mia/Cd-rap gene expression is downregulated by the high-mobility group A proteins in mouse pituitary adenomas

The high-mobility group A (HMGA) family of proteins orchestrates the assembly of nucleoprotein structures playing important roles in gene transcription, recombination, and chromatin structure through a complex network of protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions. Recently, we have generated transgenic mice carrying wild type or truncated HMGA2 genes under the transcriptional control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. These mice developed pituitary adenomas secreting prolactin and GH mainly due to an increased E2F1 activity, directly consequent to the HMGA2 overexpression. To identify other genes involved in the process of pituitary tumorigenesis induced by the HMGA2 gene, in this study we have analyzed the gene expression profile of three HMGA2-pituitary adenomas in comparison with a pool of ten normal pituitary glands from control mice, using the Affymetrix MG MU11K oligonucleotide array representing approximately 13,000 unique genes. We have identified 82 transcripts that increased and 72 transcripts that decreased at least four-fold in all the mice pituitary adenomas analyzed compared with normal pituitary glands. Among these genes, we focused our attention on the Mia/Cd-rap gene, whose expression was essentially suppressed in all of the pituitary adenomas tested by the microarray. We demonstrated that the HMGA proteins directly bind to the promoter of the Mia/Cd-rap gene and are able to downregulate its expression. In order to understand a possible role of Mia/Cd-rap in pituitary cell growth, we performed a colony assay in GH3 and GH4 cells. Interestingly, Mia/Cd-rap expression inhibits their proliferation, suggesting a potential tumor suppressor role of Mia/Cd-rap in pituitary cells.

HMGA2 induces pituitary tumorigenesis by enhancing E2F1 activity

HMGA2 gene amplification and overexpression in human prolactinomas and the development of pituitary adenomas in HMGA2 transgenic mice showed that HMGA2 plays a crucial role in pituitary tumorigenesis. We have explored the pRB/E2F1 pathway to investigate the mechanism by which HMGA2 acts. Here we show that HMGA2 interacts with pRB and induces E2F1 activity in mouse pituitary adenomas by displacing HDAC1 from the pRB/E2F1 complex-a process that results in E2F1 acetylation. We found that loss of E2F1 function (obtained by mating HMGA2 and E2F1(-/-) mice) suppressed pituitary tumorigenesis in HMGA2 mice. Thus, HMGA2-mediated E2F1 activation is a crucial event in the onset of these tumors in transgenic mice and probably also in human prolactinomas.

Tamoxifen-induced growth arrest and apoptosis in pituitary tumor cells in vitro via a protein kinase C-independent pathway

Protein kinase C (PKC), a kinase family involved in cell signal transduction, is overexpressed in most pituitary adenoma cells. We studied the effect of tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist and also a protein kinase inhibitor, on pituitary tumor cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis; and we compared its effects with those of another PKC inhibitor, staurosporine. Tamoxifen induced growth arrest and apoptosis in a mouse pituitary adenoma cell line, AtT20, and in low-passage human primary pituitary tumor cell cultures. Staurosporine also inhibited pituitary tumor cell growth. PKC activity in AtT20 cells was inhibited by staurosporine and by prolonged treatment with phorbol myristate acetate, which down-regulates PKC activity, but not by tamoxifen, at the dosages used to induce apoptosis. Our findings suggest that tamoxifen induces apoptosis in AtT20 cells independent of a classical PKC isozyme pathway.

A non peptidic corticotropin releasing factor receptor antagonist attenuates fever and exhibits anxiolytic-like activity

The multiple actions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on neuroendocrine and behavioural functions can now be examined using new, high affinity, non peptidic antagonists which exhibit central activity upon systemic application. We have shown that compound CP 154,526 (butyl-ethyl-[2,5-dimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-7 H-pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidin-4-yl]amine) displaces [ 125I][Tyr 0]CRF from rat hippocampal CRF receptors (IC 50 = 0.5 nM) and from pituitary CRF receptors (IC 50 = 0.04 nM). The same compound inhibits in a concentration-dependent manner the ovine CRF (0.1 μM)-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in membranes of a mouse pituitary adenoma cell line, AtT20, with an IC 50 value of 50 nM. Systemic application of the CRF receptor antagonist (0.16 mg/kg i.p.) blocked recombinant human interleukin-1β (5 μg/kg i.p.) induced fever in rats. The CRF receptor antagonist CP 154,526 (1 mg/kg i.p.) also exhibited signs of anxiolytic-like activity in the elevated plus-maze test in rats.

Interleukin-1 receptors in the brain-endocrine-immune axis. Modulation by stress and infection.

In the present study, we examined the in vitro and in vivo modulation of IL-1 receptors by stress and endotoxin treatment. The treatment of AtT-20 mouse pituitary adenoma cells for 24 h with neuroendocrine mediators of stress such as CRF and catecholamines produced dose-dependent increases in cAMP production and [125I]IL-1 alpha binding. In contrast, somatostatin and dexamethasone significantly inhibited CRF-stimulated cAMP production and decreased both basal and CRF-mediated increases in [125I]IL-1 alpha binding. Furthermore, in keeping with the effects of stress mediators to up-regulate IL-1 receptors in AtT-20 cells, ether-laparotomy stress in mice resulted in a significant increase in [125I]IL-1 alpha binding in the pituitary with no significant alterations observed in the brain; in contrast, [125I]oCRF binding in the pituitary was significantly decreased after the ether-laparotomy stress. Next, we investigated the modulation of IL-1 beta levels and [125I]IL-1 alpha binding following endotoxin treatment. IL-1 beta levels were dramatically increased in the peripheral tissues (pituitary, testis, and spleen) at 2-6 h after a single LPS injection (30 micrograms LPS/mouse); however, no significant changes were observed in brain (hippocampus and hypothalamus). [125I]IL-1 alpha binding in the pituitary gland, liver, spleen, and testis was significantly decreased at 2 h following a single administration of both low (30 micrograms LPS/mouse) and high (300 micrograms LPS/mouse) doses of endotoxin. [125I]IL-1 alpha binding in the hippocampus was not significantly altered at 2 h by low dose of LPS and was significantly decreased by high-dose administration of LPS (300 micrograms/mouse). Following two LPS injections (at 0 and 12 h), dramatic increases in IL-1 beta concentrations in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, spleen, and testis were observed at 2 h after the second LPS injection; a small but statistically nonsignificant change was evident in the pituitary. Moreover, dramatic decreases in [125I]IL-1 alpha binding were seen after two injections of 30 micrograms LPS/mouse in both central and peripheral tissues. These data provide further support for a role for IL-1 in coordinating brain-endocrine-immune responses to stress and infection.

Modulation of interleukin-1 receptos in the neuro-endocrine-immune axis

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptors with kinetics, pharmacological and biochemical characteristics of type I IL-1 receptors have been identified in the mouse neuro-endocrine-immune axis. In the present study, we examined the in-vitro and in-vivo modulation of IL-1 receptors by stress and endotoxin treatment. The treatment of AtT-20 mouse pituitary adenoma cells for 24 hr with neuro-endocrine mediators of stress such as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and catecholamine (β2 adrenergic) receptor agonists produced a dose-dependent increase in cAMP and [125I]IL-1α binding. In contrast, somatostatin and dexamethasone significantly inhibited CRF-stimulated cAMP production and decreased both basal and CRF-mediated increase of [125I]IL-1α binding. Furthermore, in keeping with the effects of stress mediators to upregulate IL-1 receptors in AtT-20 cells, ether-laparotomy stress in mice resulted in a significant increase in [125I]IL-1α binding in the pituitary with no significant alterations observed in the brain; in contrast, [125I]oCRF binding in the pituitary was significantly decreased after the ether-laparotomy stress.Next, we investigated the modulation of IL-1β levels and [125I]IL-1α binding following endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. IL-1β levels were dramatically increased in the peripheral tissues (pituitary, tests and spleen) at 2–6 hr after a single LPS injection (30 μg LPS/mouse) However, no significant changes were observed in brain (hippocampus and hypothalamus). [125I]IL-1α binding in the pituitary gland, liver, spleen and testis was significantly decreased at 2 hr following a single administration of both low (30 μg LPS/mouse) and high (300 μg LPS/mouse) doses of endotoxin. [125I]IL-1α binding in the hippocampus was not significantly altered at 2 hr by a low dose of LPS and was significantly decreased by high dose administration of LPS (300 μg/mouse). Following two LPS injections (at 0 and 12 hr), dramatic increases in IL-1β concentrations in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, spleen and testis were observed at 2 hr after the second LPS injection; a small but statistically nonsignificant change was evident in the pituitary. Moreover, dramatic decreases in [125I]IL-1α binding were seen after two injections of 30 μg LPS/mouse in both central and peripheral tissues. These data provide further support for a role for IL-1 in co-ordinating neuro-endocrine-immune responses to stress and infection.