title: Expression analysis of RET and the GDNF/GFRalpha-1 and NTN/GFRalpha-2 ligand complexes in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.
abstract: Pheochromocytoma and its extra-adrenal counterpart paraganglioma are rare catecholamine producing tumors which usually occur sporadically but may also be a part of neuroendocrine tumor syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A). Activating mutations of the RET proto-oncogene which is the underlying cause of MEN 2A, is also seen in approximately 10% of sporadic pheochromocytomas. Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neurturin (NTN) have been shown to function as independent ligands to RET, binding in a complex with the membrane-bound receptors GFRalpha-1 and GFRalpha-2 respectively. Here we have investigated the mRNA expression of RET and its ligand complexes, GDNF/GFRalpha-1 and NTN/GFRalpha-2, in a panel of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas using mRNA in situ hybridization. RET expression was evident in normal adrenal medulla, and in 13/15 pheochromocytomas, including 5/5 MEN 2A associated tumors, but only in 1/10 paragangliomas. The frequent expression of RET in the pheochromocytomas suggest that this gene might be involved in the tumorigenesis. However, no expression of GDNF/GFRalpha-1 or NTN/GFRalpha-2 could be detected in any of the 25 tumors analyzed, suggesting that these ligand complexes are not important in the development of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Karolinska Hospital P9:03, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Elisabeth.Edstrom@ks.se
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Edström
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frisk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farnebo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Höög
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bäckdahl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005796:Genes / Q000235:genetics*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051101:Neurturin; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C495039:GDNF protein, human; C494987:GFRA1 protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; C495053:NRTN protein, human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051101:Neurturin; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila