title: Expression of the transferrin receptor in human anterior pituitary adenomas is confined to gonadotrophinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The human pituitary gland is affected selectively by conditions associated with iron deposition, but the mechanisms for this are unknown. In this study we have determined whether the transferrin receptor, which mediates iron uptake by cells, could be detected immunocytochemically in human pituitary adenomas in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from 35 patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery and included 13 with clinically non-functioning adenomas, 15 with acromegaly, 4 prolactinomas, 2 patients with Cushing's disease and one patient with Nelson's syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transferrin receptor immunopositivity was determined for each adenoma in dispersed cell culture using a specific monoclonal antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight of 13 clinically functionless adenomas showed immunopositive transferrin receptor expression, whilst adenomas from 15 patients with acromegaly, 4 prolactinomas, 2 Cushing's syndrome and one patient with Nelson's syndrome were negative. The eight transferrin receptor positive tumours were gonadotrophinomas and accounted for eight of the nine tumours which secreted and immunostained for FSH; all eight also secreted and immunostained for LH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may reflect a special requirement for iron by gonadotrophin secreting cells in comparison to other pituitary cell types and this could underlie the reasons why in the normal pituitary these cells are especially susceptible to malfunction in iron overload syndromes such as genetic haemochromatosis and beta-thalassaemia.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, Hull, UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombard
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone