GH3 tumor pituitary cell cytoskeleton and plasma membrane arrangement are determined by extracellular matrix proteins: implications on motility, proliferation and hormone secretion.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) influences different physiological and pathophysiological aspects of the cell. The ECM consists in a complex network of macromolecules with characteristic biochemical properties that allow cells to sense their environments inducing different signals and changing cell behavior. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the participation of different ECM proteins in cell morphology and its implication on motility, proliferation and hormone secretion in GH3 cells, a tumor pituitary cell. GH3 cells were cultured with a defined medium on collagens I/III and IV, fibronectin and laminin. GH3 cells express α2 integrin subunit de novo. The cells responded to the ECM proteins with differentiated cell surface morphologies and membrane protrusions. A rounded shape with small membrane blebs, weak substrate adhesion and high motility was observed in cells on C I/III and fibronectin, while on C IV and laminin cells were viewed elongated and adhered. Differences on actin cytoskeleton, cytoskeletal-associated vinculin and phospho-MLC showed that ECM proteins determine the cytoskeleton organization. Cell proliferation showed dependency on the ECM protein, observing a higher rate in cells on collagen I/III. Prolactin secretion was higher in cells with small blebs, but an unchangeable response to EGF was obtained with the ECM proteins, suggesting is a consequence of cortical actin arrangement. We ascribe the functional differences of the GH3 cells to the cytoskeletal organization. Overall, the data showed that ECM plays a critical role in GH3 cells modulating different cellular comportment and evidenced the importance of the ECM composition of pituitary adenomas.

Expression of Eag1 K+ channel and ErbBs in human pituitary adenomas: cytoskeleton arrangement patterns in cultured cells.

Pituitary adenomas can invade surrounded tissue, but the mechanism remains elusive. Ether à go-go-1 (Eag1) potassium channel and epidermal growth factor receptors (ErbB1 and ErbB2) have been associated to invasive phenotypes or poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, cells arrange their cytoskeleton in order to acquire a successful migration pattern. We have studied ErbBs and Eag1 expression, and cytoskeleton arrangements in 11 human pituitary adenomas. Eag1, ErbB1 and ErbB2 expression were studied by immunochemistry in tissue and cultured cells. The cytoskeleton arrangement was analyzed in cultured cells by immunofluorescence. Normal pituitary tissue showed ErbB2 expression and Eag1 only in few cells. However, Eag1 and ErbB2 were expressed in all the tumors analyzed. ErbB1 expression was observed variable and did not show specificity for a tumor characteristic. Cultured cells from micro- and macro-adenomas clinically functional organize their cytoskeleton suggesting a mesenchymal pattern, and a round leucocyte/amoeboid pattern from invasive clinically silent adenoma. Pituitary tumors over-express EGF receptors and the ErbB2 repeated expression suggests is a characteristic of adenomas. Eag 1 was express, in different extent, and could be a therapeutic target. The cytoskeleton arrangements observed suggest that pituitary tumor cells acquire different patterns: mesenchymal, and leucocyte/amoeboid, the last observed in the invasive adenomas. Amoeboid migration pattern has been associated with high invasion capacity.