Chromogranin A and B in adenomas of the pituitary. An immunohistochemical study of 42 cases.
Forty-two pituitary adenomas (10 prolactinomas; three ACTH-, nine GH-, two FSH- and two TSH-secreting adenomas; and 16 clinically nonfunctioning null cell adenomas) were investigated immunohistochemically with antibodies against chromogranin A and B as well as ACTH, GH, prolactin (PRL), FSH, LH, TSH, and alpha-HCG antibodies. For the demonstration of chromogranin B, two different antibodies were used--e.g., a polyclonal antihuman antibody and an antiserum against a synthetic peptide (DK-21, chromogranin B 306-326) present in the chromogranin B amino acid sequence. All tumors were positive for both chromogranin B antibodies. Chromogranin A was found in FSH- (two of two) and TSH- (two of two) secreting adenomas; it was also found in a focal distribution in ACTH- (one of three) and GH- (four of nine) secreting adenomas. Thirteen of 16 null cell adenomas contained chromogranin A, whereas no chromogranin A was found in prolactinomas. We conclude that null cell adenomas may arise either from FSH/LH or TSH cells (null cell adenomas with both chromogranin A and B positivity) or from ACTH, GH, or PRL cells (the respective tumors are only positive for chromogranin B). Chromogranin B may be used as a universal marker for pituitary adenomas.
Department of Pathology, University of Innsburck, Austria.
K W
KW
Schmid
M
M
Kröll
A
A
Hittmair
H
H
Maier
M
M
Tötsch
R
R
Gasser
G
G
Finkenstett
R
R
Hogue-Angeletti
R
R
Fischer-Colbrie
D000236:Adenoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C506150:CHGA protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins