Immunohistochemical expression of nestin in the non-tumorous hypophysis and in pituitary neoplasms.
The aim of the present work was to investigate whether nestin, a member of the intermediate filament family, is immunohistochemically expressed in the non-tumoral human hypophysis and pituitary neoplasms. Twenty-three normal pituitaries and 125 pituitary neoplasms were included. The tissues were formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded. The neoplasms were identified on hematoxylin-eosin stained sections and were classified by immunohistochemistry as well as electron microscopy. For immunohistochemistry, the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method was applied using appropriate controls. Several corticotrophs in the autopsy obtained pituitaries showed cytoplasmic nestin immunopositivity. No nestin immunoreactivity was found in other cell types in non-tumorous adenohypophyses and in the cells of various pituitary adenomas. Nestin was, however, expressed in a small proportion of endothelial cells in both anterior and posterior lobes. Staining was also noted in several pituicytes, neurohypophysial nerve fibers, and Herring bodies. In contrast to CD-34 and Factor-8 immunostaining which demonstrated immunopositivity in practically all endothelial cells of every capillary, nestin expression was only focally seen suggesting that the functional status of the immunoreactive and non-staining endothelial cells was not the same. No statistically significant correlation was apparent between nestin immunoreactivity and patient age, gender, tumor size, mitotic index, Ki-67, labeling nuclear index, hormonal immunoprofile, and tumor type. In conclusion, nestin expression in adenomas cannot be viewed as a biologically relevant marker of cell proliferation and as a prognostic indicator. The patchy expression of nestin in endothelial cells remains unexplained and its significance requires further studies.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5B 1W8. rotondof@smh.toronto.on.ca
Fabio
F
Rotondo
Kalman
K
Kovacs
Eva
E
Horvath
C David
CD
Bell
Ricardo V
RV
Lloyd
Bernd W
BW
Scheithauer
D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D011388:Prolactin