Isolation and characterization of novel pituitary tumor related genes: a cDNA representational difference approach.

Abstract

Recently, progress has been made in understanding human pituitary tumor pathogenesis by the investigation of differences in gene expression between normal pituitary tissue and pituitary tumors. A number of approaches, including differential display (DD), representational difference analysis (RDA), and microarray analysis have been used and several molecular targets potentially associated with pituitary tumor development and invasion have been identified. We have used RDA to compare gene expression patterns between normal human pituitary and clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas, and identified genes with growth suppression function which are expressed in the normal pituitary but not in pituitary tumors. In particular, we have focused on an imprinted gene, Maternally Expressed Gene 3 (MEG3), which is specifically associated with clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas of a gonadotroph lineage. MEG3 functions to suppress tumor cell growth, increase protein expression of the tumor suppressor p53, and selectively activate p53 target genes. Interestingly, MEG3 does not encode a protein but a non-coding RNA. Therefore, these studies have revealed novel mechanisms for the function of a non-coding RNA in pituitary physiology and tumorigenesis.

• Authors: Xun Zhang, Yunli Zhou, Anne Klibanski
• Journal: Molecular and cellular endocrinology (Mol Cell Endocrinol) Vol. 326 Issue 1-2 Pg. 40-7 (Sep 15 2010) ISSN: 1872-8057 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 20211686 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• DNA, Complementary
• RNA, Untranslated
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Topics

• DNA, Complementary (chemistry)
• Gene Expression Profiling (methods)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Pituitary Gland (chemistry, pathology)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)
• Promoter Regions, Genetic
• RNA, Untranslated (genetics, metabolism, physiology)
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (genetics)