Expression of mPOU protein in the human pituitary adenomas.
OBJECTIVE
mPOU is a POU protein classified as class VI. It is present in the pituitary gland as well as the brain, heart muscle, skeletal muscle, lung, and lymphocytes. In our previous investigation, mPOU bound to the Pit-1-binding DNA elements of the rat PRL gene, and promoted transcription of the GH and PRL genes. In this study, we immunohistologically investigated the expression of mPOU in pituitary adenomas.


METHODS
17 patients with pituitary adenoma underwent tumor excision by transsphenoidal approach at our hospital (PRL: 5, GH: 4, FSH: 1, non-functioning: 7). The expression in the tissue sections was investigated using immunostaining (ABC method).


RESULTS
In all GH-producing and PRL-producing adenomas, mPOU protein was specifically expressed, particularly in the nuclei.


CONCLUSIONS
Pit-1 has been considered to be a factor determining the expression of GH and PRL genes, but mPOU may also be involved in the expression.
Sakagami
Yoshio
Y
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Organs Therapeutics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
Okimura
Yasuhiko
Y
Kondoh
Takeshi
T
Iguchi
Genzo
G
Fumoto
Mariko
M
Kuno
Takayoshi
T
Chihara
Kazuo
K
Kohmura
Eiji
E
D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers