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PTTG overexpression is correlated with angiogenesis in human pituitary adenomas

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Abstract

Human pituitary tumor transforming gene (hPTTG1) was recently identified as a proto-oncogene, which is a regulator of the cell cycle, as a homolog of yeast securin and a transcriptional activator of several angiogenic factors. Here we examined the relationships of hPTTG1 expression with cell proliferation, expression of the angiogenic factor, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and numbers of the blood vessels in the normal and/or adenomatous pituitary. With the exception of TSHoma, the expression of hPTTG1 was significantly higher in pituitary adenomas than in the normal pituitary gland. The cell proliferation activity was higher in pituitary adenomas than in the normal pituitary. Pituitary cell proliferation was significantly correlated with the level of hPTTG1 expression in the normal pituitary tissue, but there was no such correlation in the adenomas. The significant correlation of hPTTG1 with the VEGF expression and the numbers of the blood vessels was elucidated in pituitary adenomas. It is particularly noteworthy that immunohistochemical double staining indicated co-localization of VEGF in many hPTTG1-positive tumor cells. In conclusion, higher levels of hPTTG1 expression contribute to the pathobiology of pituitary adenomas by promoting angiogenesis rather than by activating cell proliferation, whereas hPTTG1 expression is related to mitotic activity in the normal pituitary gland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohesidai, Isehara, 259-1193, Kanagawa, Japan

    Takeo Minematsu PhD, Susumu Takekoshi PhD, Akira Teramoto MD, PhD & R. Yoshiyuki Osamura MD, PhD

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8602, Tokyo, Japan

    Masanori Suzuki MD & Naoko Sanno MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Takeo Minematsu PhD
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  2. Masanori Suzuki MD
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  3. Naoko Sanno MD, PhD
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  4. Susumu Takekoshi PhD
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  5. Akira Teramoto MD, PhD
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  6. R. Yoshiyuki Osamura MD, PhD
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Correspondence to R. Yoshiyuki Osamura MD, PhD.

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Minematsu, T., Suzuki, M., Sanno, N. et al. PTTG overexpression is correlated with angiogenesis in human pituitary adenomas. Endocr Pathol 17, 143–153 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1385/EP:17:2:143

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