title: Abnormal expression of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in human pituitary adenomas: a prereceptor determinant of pituitary cell proliferation.
abstract: The physiological effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) are, at least in part, mediated by inhibition of cell proliferation. Two isozymes of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) interconvert cortisol (F) and inactive cortisone (E), and are thus able to modulate GC action at an autocrine level. Previously, we have demonstrated absent expression of 11 beta-HSD2 in normal pituitaries; however, in a small number of pituitary tumors analysed, 11 beta-HSD2 was readily demonstrable. Here we have used real-time RT-PCR to quantify expression of mRNA for 11 beta-HSD1 and 2 in 105 human pituitary tumors and have performed enzyme expression and activity studies in primary pituitary cultures. Overall, pituitary tumors expressed lower levels of 11 beta-HSDl mRNA compared with normals (0.2-fold, P<0.05). In contrast, expression of 11 beta-HSD2 mRNA was 9.8-fold greater in tumors than in normals (P<0.001). Enzyme assays showed significant 11 beta-HSD2 activity (71.9+/-22.3 pmol/h/mg protein (mean+/-s.d.)) but no detectable 11 beta-HSDl activity. Proliferation assays showed that addition of glycyrrhetinic acid (an 11 beta-HSD2 inhibitor) resulted in a 30.3+/-7.7% inhibition of cell proliferation. In summary, we describe a switch in expression from 11 beta-HSDl to 11 beta-HSD2 in neoplastic pituitary tissue. We propose that abnormal expression of 11 beta-HSD2 acts as a proproliferative prereceptor determinant of pituitary cell growth, and may provide a novel target for future tumor therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Rabbitt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ayuk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boelaert
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hewison
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: N J L
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Gittoes
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000236:Adenoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases