Proteomic profiling of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 pheochromocytomas reveals different expression of chromogranin B.
Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-producing tumors that can occur in the context of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). Pheochromocytomas in these two syndromes differ in histopathological features, catecholamine metabolism, and clinical phenotype. To further investigate the nature of these differences, we compared the global protein expressions of 8 MEN2A-associated pheochromocytomas with 11 VHL-associated pheochromocytomas by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis proteomic profiling followed by sequencing and identification of differentially expressed proteins. Although both types of pheochromocytoma shared similarities in their protein expression patterns, the expression of several proteins was distinctly different between VHL- and MEN2A-associated pheochromocytomas. We identified several of these differentially expressed proteins. One of the proteins with higher expression in MEN2-associated tumors was chromogranin B, of which the differential expression was confirmed by western blot analysis. Our results expand the evidence for proteomic differences between these two tumor entities, and suggest that VHL-associated pheochromocytomas may be deficient in fundamental machinery for catecholamine storage. In light of these new findings, as well as existing evidence for differences between both types of pheochromocytomas, we propose that these tumors may have different developmental origins.
Brouwers
Frederieke M
FM
Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Gläsker
Sven
S
Nave
Amanda F
AF
Vortmeyer
Alexander O
AO
Lubensky
Irina
I
Huang
Steven
S
Abu-Asab
Mones S
MS
Eisenhofer
Graeme
G
Weil
Robert J
RJ
Park
Deric M
DM
Linehan
W Marston
WM
Pacak
Karel
K
Zhuang
Zhengping
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D053378:Chromogranin B / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D040901:Proteomics; D006623:von Hippel-Lindau Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D002395:Catecholamines; D053378:Chromogranin B