Interleukin-6 and interleukin-6 receptor gene expression in pituitary tumors.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a role in the stimulation, inhibition, differentiation, and regulation of cell growth. IL-6 has been shown to act as an autocrine growth factor in several tumors, and is expressed by a variety of tumors. IL-6 also exhibits a regulatory role in the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. It is produced by both the hypothalamus and the pituitary, and it induces the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones. Because of the regulatory role of IL-6 in tumor growth and its involvement in the pituitary, we decided to evaluate IL-6 and IL-6 receptor expression in pituitary tumors. For this purpose we utilized complimentary cDNA probes specific for the IL-6 and IL-6 receptor mRNA, as well as monoclonal anti-IL-6 antibodies for immunohistochemical analysis. Our results show that the IL-6 gene is expressed in the normal pituitary tissue. However, the non-functioning and functioning pituitary tumors such as the prolactin and growth hormone secreting tumors express increased levels of the IL-6 gene. The IL-6 receptor gene was only expressed in the prolactin secreting and non-functioning pituitary tumors. These results show that the IL-6 and IL-6 receptor gene expression is enhanced in pituitary tumors, thus suggesting a possible role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of these tumors.
Department of Neurological Surgery, New York University Medical Center, NY.
A R
AR
Rezai
A
A
Rezai
O
O
Martínez-Maza
M
M
Vander-Meyden
M H
MH
Weiss
D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000235:genetics*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6
D015850:Interleukin-6; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone