Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of pituitary hormone, Pit-1 and steroidogenic factor-1 messenger RNA expression in pituitary tumors.
Pit-1 is a transcription factor that appears early in embryonic pituitary gland formation and is necessary for the development of somatotropes, lactotropes and thyrotropes. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) is another early appearing transcription factor that is involved in the development of gonadotropes. In this study we have compared RT-PCR analysis of hormone mRNA with traditional IHC for classification of 27 pituitary tumors and have evaluated the correlation of Pit-1 and SF-1 mRNA with hormone mRNA. RT-PCR detected concordant hormone mRNA in 100% of GH IHC positive, 100% of PRL IHC positive, 33% of TSH IHC positive, and 93% of gonadotropin IHC positive tumors. IHC, however, was concordant in only 71% of GH mRNA positive, 78% of PRL mRNA positive, 17% of TSH beta mRNA positive, and 76% of FSH beta mRNA positive tumors. Pit-1 mRNA was positive in 87% of tumors in which mRNA for GH, PRL or TSH beta was detected and in only 17% of GH, PRL and TSH beta mRNA negative tumors. SF-1 mRNA was positive in 94% of tumors in which mRNA for FSH beta was present and in no FSH beta mRNA negative tumors. We conclude that RT-PCR analysis of hormone mRNA may be more sensitive than traditional hormone IHC for classification of pituitary tumors. Furthermore, tumor Pit-1 mRNA positively correlates with GH, PRL and TSH beta mRNA while tumor SF-1 mRNA correlates well with FSH beta mRNA. Combined analysis of hormone and transcription factor mRNA in pituitary tumor tissue may therefore be a more meaningful approach to pituitary tumor characterization.
McDermott
M T
MT
Division of Endocrinology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA. michael.mcdermott@UCHSC.edu
Haugen
B R
BR
Gordon
D F
DF
Wood
W M
WM
Brown
N S
NS
Bauer
C A
CA
Garrity
M J
MJ
Kleinschmidt-DeMasters
B K
BK
Lillehei
K O
KO
Samuels
M H
MH
Bright
T M
TM
Ridgway
E C
EC
D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000235:genetics; D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D006062:Gonadotropins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C515057:NR5A1 protein, human; C494187:POU1F1 protein, human; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin