Pituitary tumour types in dogs and cats.

Pituitary tumours are common in dogs and are being increasingly recognized in cats. Pituitary tumours are usually classified as adenomas and should only be classified as carcinomas when there is evidence of metastatic spread of the tumour, which is rare. Despite the benign nature of most pituitary tumours, they can still compress or invade neighbouring tissues. Pituitary tumours can be functional (hormonally active) or non-functional (hormonally silent). The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the different pituitary tumour types in dogs and cats that have been reported in the literature. In dogs, the most common pituitary tumour type is the corticotroph adenoma, which can cause pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism. In cats, the most common pituitary tumour is the somatotroph adenoma, which can cause hypersomatotropism, and the second-most common is the corticotroph adenoma. A lactotroph adenoma has been described in one dog, while gonadotroph, thyrotroph and null cell adenomas have not been described in dogs or cats. Hormonally silent adenomas are likely underdiagnosed because they do not result in an endocrine syndrome. Tools used to classify pituitary tumours in humans, particularly immunohistochemistry for lineage-specific transcription factors, are likely to be useful to classify canine and feline pituitary tumours of unknown origin. Future studies are required to better understand the full range of pituitary adenoma pathology in dogs and cats and to determine whether certain adenoma subtypes behave more aggressively than others. Currently, the mechanisms that underlie pituitary tumorigenesis in dogs and cats are still largely unknown. A better understanding of the molecular background of these tumours could help to identify improved pituitary-targeted therapeutics.

Expression of Neuropeptide Y and Its Relationship with Molecular and Morphological Changes in Human Pituitary Adenomas.

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on molecular and histological changes in human pituitary adenomas. The localization of NPY and its expression at the protein, messenger RNA (mRNA), and receptor levels were investigated here in different subcategories of pituitary adenomas. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in all cases to assess expression of NPY. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to study the mRNA expression of NPY. NPY subcellular localization was observed using immunoelectron microscopy in cytoplasm, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and cell matrix in four of the six cases of pituitary adenoma. NPY protein expression was observed in 59.6% of 57 cases of pituitary adenoma and in 2 cases of pituitary hyperplasia. mRNA expression of NPY was observed in all 57 cases of pituitary adenoma and in 2 cases of pituitary hyperplasia. Significantly different levels of expression were observed across different subcategories of pituitary adenoma. mRNA expression of Y1R and Y2R was observed across all subcategories of pituitary adenomas, and a positive correlation was observed between NPY and Y2R. In conclusion, evidence is provided here for the expression of NPY and its receptors, Y1R and Y2R, in human pituitary adenoma, and the levels of expression were found to differ across different subcategories. Differences in expression of Y2R in human pituitary adenomas were found to have remarkable statistical significance.

Role of Ki-67 in acromegalic patients with hyperprolactinemia: retrospective analysis in 61 Chinese Patients.

To evaluate the specific characteristics in acromegalic patients with hyperprolactinemia by analyzing the differences between patients with different Ki-67 values. Between 2002 and 2010, a set of data on 61 patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery was available at the Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University. Patients were divided into Ki-67 >3% group and <3% group. A retrospective analysis of clinical, hormonal, immunohistochemical, and imaging was observed in all patients. There were no significant differences in age, gender, tumor size and apoplexy between the two groups. Time interval in Ki-67 ≥3% group was longer than <3% group (P=0.037). Patients in Ki-67 >3% group had a higher rate of invasiveness (P=0.048), higher incidences of diabetes mellitus (P=0.036), coarse facial features (P=0.048), large hands and feet (P=0.003), higher GH levels (P<0.05), higher diabetes insipidus rate (P<0.001), and more frequent recurrence (P=0.011) than Ki-67 <3% group. Patients with higher Ki-67 value harbored longer time interval, more aggressive tumors, more acromegaly manifestations, higher GH level, and higher recurrence than patients with lower Ki-67 value.

Cytoplasmic expression of SSTR2 and 5 by immunohistochemistry and by RT/PCR is not associated with the pharmacological response to octreotide.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5 (SSTR 2 and 5) by RT/PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in GH-secreting adenomas, seeking correlations with response to octreotide. METHODS: SSTR2 and 5 expression was tested by IHC (n=37), RT/PCR (n=36) or both (n=13) in GH-secreting adenomas from 60 patients with acromegaly who had undergone pituitary surgery; 36 had been treated preoperatively with octreotide LAR for 3-6 months, and were categorized as responders (achievement of GH <2.5ng/mL and a normal age-adjusted IGF-1), partial responders (GH and IGF-1 reduction >50% and >30%, respectively) or non-responders. IHC was performed on a tissue microarray using specific antibodies directed to the carboxyl terminus of SSTR2 and 5. RESULTS: SSTR5 was the predominantly expressed receptor subtype by both IHC and RT/PCR in all tumors tested, regardless of whether they came from octreotide-naïve, octreotide-responsive, or octreotide-resistant patients. Immunostaining was concentrated in the cytoplasm. Neither SSTR2 nor SSTR5 expression correlated with baseline or post-octreotide GH or IGF-1 levels or tumor volume by either method. The agreement rate between RT/PCR and IHC was 77% in all 13 adenomas in which both methods were used. CONCLUSION: Expression of these receptors does not guarantee an adequate response to somatostatin analogs; other functional aspects of this interaction, such as receptor homo- and heterodimerization, and the resulting signaling cascade, probably play a role in determining whether a patient will respond or not to these agents.

Neurotrophins, their receptors and KI-67 in human GH-secreting pituitary adenomas: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Pituitary adenomas are a diverse group of tumors arising from the pituitary gland. Typically, they are small, slow-growing, hormonally inactive lesions that come to light as incidental findings on radiologic or postmortem examinations, although some small, slow-growing lesions with excessive hormonal activity may manifest with a clinical syndrome. The family of neurotrophins plays a key role in the development and maintenance of the pituitary endocrine cell function and in the regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity. The objective of our experimental study is to investigate the localization of the neurotrophins, their relative receptors and to detect the expression level of Ki-67 to determine whether all these factors participate in the transformation and development of human pituitary adenomas. A very strong expression of Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and its receptor TrKC was observed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and vessel endothelium, together with a clear/marked presence of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and its receptor TrKB, thus confirming their direct involvement in the progression of pituitary adenomas. On the contrary, NGF (Nerve growth factor) and its receptor TrKA and p75NTR were weakly expressed in the epithelial gland cells and the ECM.

Selective loss of somatostatin receptor 2 in octreotide-resistant growth hormone-secreting adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: The somatostatin analog octreotide preferentially binds to somatostatin receptor (sst) 2A and to a lesser extent to sst5. Although sst2A and sst5 mRNAs are consistently expressed in GH-secreting adenomas, octreotide controls GH secretion only in 65% of acromegalic patients. Hence, we investigated the immunocytochemical expression of sst in a large group of somatotroph tumors. METHODS: Acromegalic patients, cared for in a university referral center, were either operated on without pretreatment (group A, n = 14) or pretreated with octreotide [median (minimum-maximum): dose 1250 (300-1500) mug/d for 5.6 (3-9) months] before surgery (group B, n = 20). In group B octreotide reduced GH secretion by more than 50% in 14 patients (70%) (GH responders). Six patients with less than 50% GH suppression were considered GH nonresponders. We used a panel of extensively characterized antibodies to determine the immunocytochemical sst status in somatotroph adenomas and compared their expression between the groups. RESULTS: All group A tumors demonstrated immunoreactive sst2A, and all but one had sst5. A similar pattern was found in the GH responders of group B. In contrast, none of the GH nonresponders exhibited detectable sst2A (sst2A: GH responders vs. GH nonresponders, P < 0.0001), whereas sst5 was found in 70%. sst1 and sst3 were detected in 85 and 24% of all cases, independent of previous octreotide treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that octreotide resistance in GH-secreting adenomas occurs due to a selective loss of sst2A. The persistent expression of sst1 and sst5 receptors suggests that these tumors are potential targets for pan-somatostatin analogs.

Correlation of in vitro and in vivo somatotropic adenoma responsiveness to somatostatin analogs and dopamine agonists with immunohistochemical evaluation of somatostatin and dopamine receptors and electron microscopy.

OBJECTIVE AND PATIENTS: Twenty-four pituitary adenomas from acromegalic patients (13 females, 11 males; age range 19-65 yr) were characterized for somatostatin receptor subtype 2A (sst(2A)), dopamine D(2) receptor (D(2)R), GH, and prolactin (PRL) expression by immunohistochemistry, and results correlated with the in vitro and in vivo hormone responses to octreotide and quinagolide. In nine cases, GH and PRL content was further studied by immunoelectron microscopy. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity was semiquantitatively scored as 2 (>50% stained cells), 1 (10-50% stained cells), and 0 (<10% stained cells). Sst(2A) was scored as 2 in 13 cases, 1 in 10, and 0 in one; D(2)R was scored as 2 in 13 cases, 1 in nine, and 0 in 2; GH was 2 in 15 cases and 1 in nine; PRL was 2 in six cases, 1 in 13, and 0 in 5. Sst(2A) was positively correlated with in vitro (P = 0.003) and in vivo (P = 0.006) percent GH suppression by octreotide and with the chronic suppression of IGF-I by somatostatin analogs (P =0.008). D(2)R was positively correlated with in vitro percent GH (P =0.000) and PRL (P =0.005) suppression by quinagolide. Electron microscopy revealed two pure somatotroph adenomas, five somatomammotrophs with a variable coexpression of GH and PRL in the same cells, and two tumors consisting of mixed cell types, which were less sensitive to quinagolide and octreotide. CONCLUSION: Sst(2A) and D(2)R are frequently coexpressed in adenomas from acromegalic patients, and immunohistochemistry may be helpful in characterizing receptor expression in pituitary adenomas to select patients responsive to different treatments.

Low levels of raf kinase inhibitory protein in growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas correlate with poor response to octreotide treatment.

CONTEXT: Excessive GH production by pituitary tumors causes acromegaly. Medical treatment of acromegaly with somatostatin analogs (SMSs), like octreotide, is well established, but the clinical effect is variable. One mechanism for octreotide effect is inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway after binding to the G protein-coupled somatostatin receptor. Nonphosphorylated Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) binds to and inhibits Raf1 kinase, and thereby attenuates MAPK signaling, whereas phosphorylated RKIP inhibits G protein receptor internalization and degradation due to inhibition of G protein receptor kinase 2. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study RKIP levels in pituitary somatotroph adenomas, and relate them to clinical characteristics and response to octreotide treatment in patients with acromegaly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RKIP level was analyzed by Western blot of proteins extracted from somatotroph tumors frozen a short time after surgery in 51 patients with active acromegaly. An acute somatostatin test was performed in 46 of the patients, and in 21 the IGF-I level before and 6 months after SMS treatment was available. RESULTS: The adenoma RKIP level correlated significantly to both the acute and the long-term octreotide responses on serum levels of GH and IGF-I, respectively. In multiple regression analyses, the RKIP level was a significant determinant for both the GH reduction in the acute test and the IGF-I reduction after approximately 6 months. CONCLUSION: The RKIP level in somatotroph adenomas seems to be important for the clinical effect of SMS treatment, in which low levels of RKIP correlate to poor clinical response to SMSs.

A mutation and expression analysis of the oncogene BRAF in pituitary adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: BRAF is an oncogene that is commonly mutated in both melanomas and papillary thyroid carcinomas, usually at position V600E that leads to constitutive activity in the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. We speculated that this same gene may be either mutated at this site, or overexpressed, in pituitary adenomas. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: We sequenced 37 pituitary adenomas for a mutation at the V600E position. In addition, we investigated B-Raf mRNA expression in normal pituitary (n = 5) and nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) (n = 6) by semiquantitative PCR, and in a further 27 pituitary adenomas of various types and 10 normal pituitaries using real-time quantitative PCR. Finally, we explored B-Raf protein expression in 10 normal pituitaries and 12 NFPAs. RESULTS: No sequence mutations for the substitution V600E were identified. B-Raf mRNA was overexpressed in pituitary adenomas compared to normal pituitary, and this was entirely due to overexpression in NFPAs. NFPAs also showed very variable expression of B-Raf protein, but those tumours showing highest levels of B-Raf mRNA expressed the most B-Raf protein. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations previously seen in the majority of melanomas and a substantial minority of papillary thyroid carcinomas are not a frequent finding in pituitary adenomas. However, overexpression of B-Raf mRNA and protein may be a feature of NFPAs, highlighting overactivity of the Ras-B-Raf-MAP kinase pathway in these tumours.

Mechanisms of TRH-induced GH release (paradoxical response) in human somatotroph adenoma cells.

The mechanisms of paradoxical TRH response in human somatotroph adenoma cells were investigated using intracellular calcium measurement and static incubation assay. Intracellular calcium measurement revealed that TRH induces a biphasic response: a transient increase followed by a sustained plateau. The transient phase was due to the calcium release from IP(3)-regulated intracellular calcium store and the subsequent sustained phase was due to the calcium influx through the voltage-gated calcium channels. The signal transduction mechanism of the calcium plateau involved protein kinase C. These calcium responses, especially the second phase, was responsible for the TRH-induced GH release.

Mechanism of D(2) agonist-induced inhibition of GH secretion from human GH-secreting adenoma cells.

The mechanism of dopamine D(2) agonist-induced inhibition of GH secretion from GH-secreting adenoma cells was investigated by measurement of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)] (i)) and static incubation experiment. Bromocriptine decreased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner through D(2) receptor. The inhibition was abolished by pertussis toxin pretreatment. Bromocriptine did not decrease [Ca (2+)](i) after nitrendipine had decreased it. 8Br-cAMP increased [Ca(2+)](i) but application of bromocriptine decreased it, suggesting that bromocriptine-induced inhibition of [Ca(2+)](i) is not dependent on bromocriptine-induced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Static incubation experiment revealed that bromocriptine inhibited GH secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition was through D(2) receptor and was abolished by pertussis toxin pretreatment. 8Br-cAMP increased GH secretion. Bromocriptine decreased GH secretion even after 8Br-cAMP pretreatment. However, the GH release from cells incubated with bromocriptine alone was significantly less than that from cells incubated with bromocriptine after 8Br-cAMP pretreatment, suggesting a modulatory action of cAMP system in bromocriptine response.