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Expression pattern of neuronal intermediate filament α-internexin in anterior pituitary gland and related tumors

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Purpose

α-Internexin (INA) is a class IV neuronal intermediate filament protein that maintains the morphogenesis of neurons. It is expressed in developing neuroblasts and represents the major component of the cytoskeleton in cerebellar granule cells of adult central nervous system tissue. Data concerning INA expression in the human frontal pituitary lobe and related adenomas (PA) is missing.

Methods

Using immunohistochemistry we examined the distribution pattern of INA in a large cohort of 152 PA, 11 atypical PA, 4 pituitary carcinomas and 20 normal pituitaries (overall n = 187). Quantity of INA protein expression was semi-quantitatively evaluated and grouped into five categories (0 = 0 %; 1 = >0–5 %; 2 = >5–35 %; 3 = >35–80 %; 4 = >80 % of cells).

Results

Cellular staining intensity of INA appeared significantly higher in gonadotropinomas (Go, n = 62), null cell adenomas (NC, n = 7) and thyrotropinomas (TSHomas, n = 7) compared to the other tumor subtypes (p ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, Go and NC showed a peculiar pseudorosette-like staining pattern surrounding blood vessels in 85.5 % (59/69) of cases. Interestingly, areas exhibiting homogenous INA staining were often associated with oncocytic cell changes and decreased immunohistochemically detectable hormone expression. Only 8.5 % (8/94) of other PA showed a comparable INA distribution (p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

Go, NC as well as TSHomas exhibit high levels of intracellular INA protein indicating neuronal transdifferentiation. A possible impact on pathogenesis and endocrine activity needs further investigation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank T. Jungbauer and D. Maron for expert technical assistance. We also thank A. Schult for carefully reading and discussing the manuscript. The study was funded by the Dr. Ernst und Anita Bauer Stiftung, Nuremberg, Germany. The present work was performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree “Dr. Med.” at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standard

All patients had given their informed consent for processing the specimens. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of the University Erlangen. Procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuropathology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany

    D. Schult, A. Hölsken & R. Buslei

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany

    M. Buchfelder, S.-M. Schlaffer, S. Siegel & I. Kreitschmann-Andermahr

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    I. Kreitschmann-Andermahr

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, International Neuroscience Institute, Hannover, Germany

    R. Fahlbusch

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  1. D. Schult
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  2. A. Hölsken
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Correspondence to R. Buslei.

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Schult, D., Hölsken, A., Buchfelder, M. et al. Expression pattern of neuronal intermediate filament α-internexin in anterior pituitary gland and related tumors. Pituitary 18, 465–473 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-014-0597-2

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