Pathogenesis Of Endocrine Tumors Research Articles

Hypoxia and the hypoxia inducible factor 1\u03b1 activate protein kinase A by repressing RII beta subunit transcription

Overactivation of the cAMP signal transduction pathway plays a central role in the pathogenesis of endocrine tumors. Genetic aberrations leading to increased intracellular cAMP or directly affecting PKA subunit expression have been identified in inherited and sporadic endocrine tumors, but are rare indicating the presence of nongenomic pathological PKA activation. In the present study, we examined the impact of hypoxia on PKA activation using human growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors as a model of an endocrine disease displaying PKA-CREB overactivation. We show that hypoxia activates PKA and enhances CREB transcriptional activity and subsequently GH oversecretion. This is due to a previously uncharacterized ability of HIF-1α to suppress the transcription of the PKA regulatory subunit 2B (PRKAR2B) by sequestering Sp1 from the PRKAR2B promoter. The present study reveals a novel mechanism through which the transcription factor HIF-1α transduces environmental signals directly onto PKA activity, without affecting intracellular cAMP concentrations. By identifying a point of interaction between the cellular microenvironment and intracellular enzyme activation, neoplastic, and nonneoplastic diseases involving overactivated PKA pathway may be more efficiently targeted.

Analysis of multiple molecular changes in human endocrine tumours

To define the molecular changes occurring in endocrine tumours, we have analysed three human endocrine tumours established in our laboratory: BON, a functioning carcinoid tumour from the pancreas; SIM, a nonfunctioning carcinoid of the ileum; and STAN, a pheochromocytoma. A homozygous point mutation of the N-ras gene was identified at codon 61 in BON cells in conjunction with overexpression of N-ras mRNA and protein. BON cells also exhibited increased expression of c-myc and cdc2 kinase mRNA and protein; TGF-beta 1, p53 and retinoblastoma (RB) mRNA and protein levels were decreased. In addition, increased expression of the mdm2 oncogene and both the truncated and the wild-type RB protein were noted in BON. SIM cells exhibited moderately increased N-ras and c-myc mRNA levels along with decreased levels of RB mRNA and protein. Similar to BON and SIM, analysis of STAN showed increased N-ras and c-myc levels. Our data show multiple molecular changes in the three human endocrine tumours with the BON cell line exhibiting the most dramatic changes. Furthermore, our data suggest the existence of different molecular pathways in the pathogenesis of endocrine tumours. These cell lines will provide unique in vitro models to further analyse the significance of these molecular alterations.