Expression of GATA-2 in human pituitary adenomas.
Transcription factor GATA-2 contains two copies of a highly conserved zinc finger domain and plays unique roles at an early stage of hematopoietic differentiation. In the mouse pituitary gland, Pit-1-GATA-2 protein-protein interaction has been shown to lead to gene-specific actions to obtain cell-specific roles. In this study, we investigated the expression of GATA-2 and Pit-1 in human pituitary adenomas using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical techniques. By immunohistochemical analysis, GATA-2 was detected in all of the gonadotropin-subunit (Gn-su)-positive adenomas (n = 8) and in four of five thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting adenomas, but its incidence was low in the other types of adenomas. Pit-1 protein was detected in 4 of 5 TSH-secreting adenomas and in 10 of 10 growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas. By RT-PCR analysis, GATA-2 was detected in all Gn-su-positive adenomas and TSH-secreting adenomas, and Pit-1 was detected in all TSH-secreting adenomas and GH-secreting adenomas. These results suggested that GATA-2 contributes to the functional expression and the differentiation of Gn-su-positive adenomas and the TSH-secreting adenomas and that the interaction between GATA-2 and Pit-1 can lead to gene-specific action and differentiation of TSH-secreting adenomas. It is further speculated that GATA-2 and transcriptional interaction with Pit-1 play roles in the functional differentiation of specific pituitary adenomas.
Umeoka
Katsuya
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
Sanno
Naoko
N
Osamura
R Yoshiyuki
RY
Teramoto
Akira
A
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C494711:GATA2 protein, human; D006062:Gonadotropins; C494187:POU1F1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone