Transcription factor GATA-4 is a marker of anaplasia in adrenocortical neoplasms of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).
Adrenocortical neoplasms are a common cause of morbidity in neutered ferrets. Recently we showed that gonadectomized DBA/2J mice develop adrenocortical tumors that express transcription factor GATA-4. Therefore, we screened archival specimens of adrenocortical neoplasms from neutered ferrets to determine whether GATA-4 could be used as a tumor marker in this species. Nuclear immunoreactivity for GATA-4 was evident in 19/22 (86%) of ferret adrenocortical carcinomas and was prominent in areas exhibiting myxoid differentiation. Normal adrenocortical cells lacked GATA-4 expression. Two other markers of adrenocortical tumors in gonadectomized mice, inhibin-alpha and luteinizing hormone receptor, were coexpressed with GATA-4 in some of the ferret tumors. No GATA-4 expression was observed in three cases of nodular hyperplasia, but patches of anaplastic cells expressing GATA-4 were evident in 7/14 (50%) of tumors classified as adenomas. We conclude that GATA-4 can function as a marker of anaplasia in ferret adrenocortical tumors.
Peterson
R A
RA
Department of Pediatrics, Box 8208, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Kiupel
M
M
Bielinska
M
M
Kiiveri
S
S
Heikinheimo
M
M
Capen
C C
CC
Wilson
D B
DB
D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005289:Ferrets; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D011974:Receptors, LH; D014157:Transcription Factors; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D007265:Inhibins