Skip to main content
Log in

Expression of growth factors in normal and neoplastic pituitary tissues

  • Commentary
  • Published:
Endocrine Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many growth factors are expressed in normal pituitary cells and pituitary tumors. They are involved in gene expression for pituitary hormones and in cell proliferation. Some appear to be important for prognosis or treatment. Strong overexpression of some growth factors may indicate a more rapid growth. The significance of the different growth factors for pituitary function and pathology is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chaidarun SS, Eggo MC, Sheppard MC, Stewart PM. Expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), its receptor, and related oncoprotein (erbB-2) in human pituitary tumors and response to EGF in vitro. Endocrinology 135:2012–2021, 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Jaffrain-Rea ML, Petrangeli E, Lubrano C, et al. Epidermal growth factor binding sites in human pituitary macroadenomas. J Endocrinol 158:425–433, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kontogeorgos G, Stefaneanu L, Kovacs K, Cheng Z. Localization of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) in human pituitary adenomas and nontumorous pituitaries: An immunocytochemical study. Endocr Pathol 7:63–70, 1996.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Krämer A, Saeger W, Tallen G, Lüdecke DK. DNA measurement, proliferation markers, and other factors in pituitary adenomas. Endocr Pathol 5:198–211, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lübke D, Saeger W, Lüdecke DK. Proliferation markers and EGF in ACTH-secreting adenomas and carcinomas of the pituitary. Endocr Pathol 6:45–55, 1995.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ren P, Scheithauer BW, Halper J. Immunohistological localization of TGF-alpha, EGF, IGF-I, and TGF-beta in the normal human pituitary gland. Endocr Pathol 5:40–48, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kajikawa K, Yasui W, Sumiyoshi H, et al. Expression of epidermal growth factor in human tissues. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopath 418:27–32, 1991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Alexander JM, Bikkal HA, Zervas NT, Laws ER, Klibanski A. Tumor-specific expression and alternative splicing of messenger ribonucleic acid encoding activin/transforming growth factor-β receptors in human pituitary adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 81:783–790, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Birman P, Michard M, Li JY, Peillon F, Bression D. Epidermal growth factor-binding sites, present in normal human and rat pituitaries, are absent in human pituitary adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 65:275–281, 1987.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Murdoch GH, Potter E, Nicolaisen AK, Evans RM, Rosenfeld MG. Epidermal growth factor rapidly stimulates prolactin gene transcription. Nature 300:192–194, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Missale C, Castelletti L, Boroni F, Memo M, Spano P. Epidermal growth factor induces the functional expression of dopamine receptors in the GH 3 cell lines. Endocrinology 128:13–20, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ikeda H, Mitsuhashi T, Kubota K, Kuzuya N, Uchimura H. Epidermal growth factor stimulates growth hormone secretion from superfused rat adenohypophyseal fragments. Endocrinology 115:556–558, 1984.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ezzat S, Melmed S. The role of growth factors in the pituitary. J Endocrinol Invest 13:691–698, 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Le Riche VK, Asa SL, Ezzat S. Epidermal growth factor and its receptor (EGF-R) in human pituitary adenomas: EGF-R correlates with tumor aggressiveness. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 81:656–662, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Finley EL, King JS, Ramsdell JS. Human pituitary somatotropes express transforming growth factor-alpha and its receptor. J Endocrinol 141:547–554, 1994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Driman DK, Kobrin MS, Kudlow JE, Asa SL. Transforming growth factor-alpha in normal and neoplastic human endocrine tissues. Hum Pathol 23:1365, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Halper J, Parnell PG, Carter BJ, Ren P, Scheithauer BW. Presence of growth factors in human pituitary. Lab Invest 66:639–645, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pen G, Scheithauer BW, Halper J. Immunocytochemical localization of TGF-alpha and IGF-1 in human pituitary gland. Mod Pathol 6:41A, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ezzat S, Walpola IA, Ramyar L, Smyth HS, Asa SL. Membrane-anchored expression of transforming growth factor-alpha in human pituitary adenoma cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80:534–539, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. McAndrew J, Paterson AJ, Asa SL, McCarthy KJ, Kudlow JE. Targeting of transforming growth factor-alpha expression to pituitary lactotrophs in transgenic mice results in selective lactotroph proliferation and adenomas. Endocrinology 136:4479–4488, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Qian X, Jin L, Grande JP, Lloyd RV. Transforming growth factor-beta and p27 expression in pituitary cells. Endocrinology 137:3051–3060, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sarkar DK, Kim KH, Minami S. Transforming growth factor-β1 messenger RNA and protein expression in the pituitary gland: its action on prolactin secretion and lactotropic growth. Mol Endocrinol 6:1825, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ikeda H, Yoshimoto T. Molecular analysis of human pituitary adenoma with special reference to cell-cycle regulatory genes. Canc J 11:132–136, 1998.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Fujiwara K, Ikeda H, Yoshimoto T. Immunohistochemical demonstration of transforming growth factor-beta-1 in human pituitary adenomas. Acta Histochem Cytochem 28:333–339, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Fujiwara K, Ikeda H, Yoshimoto T. Immunohistochemical demonstration of TGF-beta-receptor type II in human pituitary adenomas. Acta Histochem 97:445–454, 1995.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Thapar K, Kovacs K, Laws ER Jr. The classification and molecular biology of pituitary adenomas. In: Symon L (ed): Advances and technical standards in neurosurgery, Springer, Wien, New York: 1995; 3–53.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Yokoyama S, Stefaneanu L, Kovacs K. Pituitary insulin-like growth factors. Endocr Pathol 8:167–179, 1997.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Spada A. Growth factors and human pituitary adenomas. Eur J Endocrinol 138:255–257, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yokoyama S, Thapar K, Kovacs K, Stefaneanu L. Localization of insulin-like growth factor-II mRNA in human pituitary adenomas. Virchows Archiv Path Anat 432:241–246, 1998.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ezzat S, Horvath E, Kovacs K, Smyth HS, Singer W, Asa SL. Basic fibroblast growth factor expression by two prolactin and thyrotropin-producing pituitary adenomas. Endocr Pathol 6:125–134, 1995.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Gospodarowicz D, Ferrara N, Schweigerer L, Neufeld G. Structural characterization and biological functions of fibroblast growth factor. Endocr Rev 8:95–114, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ferrara N, Houck K, Jakeman L, Leung DW. Molecular and biological properties of the vascular endothelial growth factor family of proteins. Endocr Rev 13:18–32, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Melmed S. Pathogenesis of pituitary tumors. Endocrinol Metab Clin N Amer 28:1, 1999.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Prysor-Jones RA, Silverlight JJ, Jenkins JS. Oestradiol, vasoactive intestinal peptide and fibroblast growth factor in the growth of human pituitary tumor cells in vitro. J Endocrinol 120:171–177, 1989.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Asa SL, Ezzat S. The cytogenesis and pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas. Endocrine Rev 19:798–827, 1998.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Ezzat S, Smyth HS, Ramyar L, Asa SL. Heterogenous in vivo and in vitro expression of basic fibroblast growth factor by human pituitary adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 80:878–884, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Ray D, Melmed S. Pituitary cytokine and growth factor expression and action. Endocr Rev 18:206–228, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Shimon I, Hinton DR, Weiss MH, Melmed S. Prolactinomas express human heparin-binding secretory transforming gene (hst) protein product: marker of tumour invasiveness. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 48:23–29, 1998.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Shimon I, Hüttner A, Said J, Spirina OM, Melmed S. Heparin-binding secretory transforming gene (hst) facilitates rat lactotrope cell tumorigenesis and induces prolactin gene transcription. J Clin Invest 97:187–195, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Missale C, Spano P. Nerve growth factor in pituitary development and pituitary tumors. Front Neuroendocrinol 19:128–150, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Patterson JC, Childs GV. Nerve growth factor and its receptor in the anterior pituitary. Endocrinology 135:1689–1696, 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Missale C, Boroni F, Sigala S, et al. Nerve growth factor in the anterior pituitary: localization in mammotroph cells and cosecretion with prolactin by dopamine-regulated mechanism. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:4240, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Missale C, Boroni F, Losa M, et al. Nerve growth factor suppresses the transformation phenotype of human prolactinomas. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:7961–7965, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Borrelli E, Sawchenko PE, Evans RM. Pituitary hyperplasia induced by ectopic expression of nerve growth factor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89:2764–2768, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Missale C, Boroni F, Sigala S, Zanellato A, Dal Toso R, Balsari A, Spano P. Nerve growth factor directs differentiation of the bipotential cell line GH-3 into the mammotroph phenotype. Endocrinology 135:290–298, 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Nishikawa R, Cheng SY, Nagashima R, Huang HJS, Cavenee WK, Matsutani M. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human brain tumors. Acta Neuropathol 96:453–462, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Vidal S, Kovacs K, Cohen SM, Stefaneanu L, Lloyd RV, Scheithauer BW. Localization of vascular endothelial growth factor in nontumorous human pituitaries. Endocr Pathol 10:109–122, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Yamamoto T, Nishizawa Y, Tsuji M, et al. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in normal pituitary cells and pituitary adenomas producing adrenocorticotropic hormone. Endocr Pathol 10:157–164, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Atchison JA, Lee PA, Albright AL. Reversible suprasellar pituitary mass secondary to hypothyroidism. JAMA 262:3175–3177, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Dorfman HD. Bone diseases. In: Sternberg SS, Antonioli DA, Carter D, Eggleston JC, Mills SE, Oberman HA (eds): Diagnostic surgical pathology. New York: Raven Press, 1989; 217–252.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Schreiber S, Saeger W, Lüdecke DK. Proliferation markers in different types of clinically non-secreting pituitary adenomas. Pituitary 1:213–220, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Renner U, Mojto J, Arzt E, et al. Secretion of polypeptide growth factors by human nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma cells in culture. Neuroendocrinology 57:825–834, 1993.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Gambarini AG, Armelin HA. Purification and partial characterisation of an acidic fibroblast growth factor from bovine pituitary. J Biol Chem 257:9692–9697, 1982.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Givol D, Yazaki M. Complexity of FGF receptors: genetic basis for structural diversity and functional specificity. FASEB J 6:3362–3369, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Kasper S, Friesen HG. Human pituitary tissue secretes a potent growth factor for chondrocyte proliferation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 62:70–76, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saeger, W. Expression of growth factors in normal and neoplastic pituitary tissues. Endocr Pathol 11, 295–300 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1385/EP:11:4:295

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/EP:11:4:295

Key Words

Navigation