title: Mutation analysis of leukemia inhibitory factor-receptor (LIF-R) in ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas.
abstract: Numerous cytokines and particularly leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) are involved in the differentiation, proliferation, and secretory function of ACTH-producing pituitary cells. LIF and its receptor LIF-R are abundantly expressed in normal pituitaries and in ACTH producing adenomas. The present study was performed to evaluate the possible role of LIF-R in the pathogenesis of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. To test the hypothesis that a possible mutation of LIF-R might be involved in pathogenesis of Cushing's disease we analyzed ACTH-producing pituitary adenomas as well as inactive pituitary adenomas by RT-PCR and direct cycle sequencing. No mutations have been found in the adenomas investigated. We thus conclude that mutations in LIF-R are an unlikely cause for the development of Cushing's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heutling
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Dieterich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchfelder
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lehnert
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000235:genetics*; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C507840:LIFR protein, human; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone