Immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, biochemical and in vitro studies of a pineocytoma.
Using both tumor specimen and cultured tumor cells, we have studied the differentiation of a pineocytoma by light and electron microscopy (EM) and immunohistochemical demonstration of glial, neuronal and neuroendocrine markers. Only interstitial cells were labeled with anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein and anti-S100 protein antibodies. Synaptophysin, neurofilaments and tau labeling was found in cells forming the pineocytomatous rosettes. Some cells also bound the anti-tryptophan hydroxylase antibody (TPOH), but no staining was seen after application of anti-chromogranin A or S-antigen antibodies. EM provided evidence for neurosensory differentiation demonstrating the presence of vesicle-crowned rodlets, cilia (9+0) and fibrous filaments. In culture, tumor cells proliferated slowly and showed positive immunolabeling for vimentin and TPOH. Expression of mRNA coding for TPOH, serotonin N-acetyltransferase, hydroxyindole-O-methyl-transferase and c-myc was found in the tumor using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. These results demonstrate neuronal differentiation of this pineocytoma and suggest that the neoplastic pineal cells are capable of synthesizing serotonin and melatonin.
Fèvre-Montange
M
M
Inserm U433, Faculté de Médecine René Laënnec, Lyon, France. montange@cimac-res.univ-lyon1.fr
Jouvet
A
A
Privat
K
K
Korf
H W
HW
Champier
J
J
Reboul
A
A
Aguera
M
M
Mottolese
C
C
D000121:Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism
D017931:DNA Primers; D012313:RNA; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D000121:Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase