title: A novel thymoma-associated autoimmune disease: Anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome.
abstract: Anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome has recently been reported and characterized by acquired growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiencies associated with autoimmunity to a pituitary specific transcription factor PIT-1, which plays an essential role in GH-, PRL-, and TSH-producing cells. Although circulating anti-PIT-1 antibody and PIT-1-reactive cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) were detected in the patients, the pathophysiology and precise mechanisms for the autoimmunity remain unclarified. During the follow up, thymoma was diagnosed in all 3 cases with anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PIT-1 was strongly expressed in neoplastic cortical thymic epithelial cells. Importantly, after thymectomy, the titer of anti-PIT-1 antibody decreased and reactivity of CTLs toward PIT-1 diminished. These data strongly suggest that the aberrant expression of PIT-1 in the thymoma plays a causal role in the development of this syndrome. Thus, we define that this syndrome is a novel thymoma-associated autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Genzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Kobe Women's University Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okimura
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Odake
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryusaku
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.affiliation: Mokubo Clinic, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mokubo
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tojo
authors.affiliation: Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maniwa
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069281:Autoimmune Hypophysitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013945:Thymoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1