A novel thymoma-associated autoimmune disease: Anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome.

Abstract

Anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome has recently been reported and characterized by acquired growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiencies associated with autoimmunity to a pituitary specific transcription factor PIT-1, which plays an essential role in GH-, PRL-, and TSH-producing cells. Although circulating anti-PIT-1 antibody and PIT-1-reactive cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) were detected in the patients, the pathophysiology and precise mechanisms for the autoimmunity remain unclarified. During the follow up, thymoma was diagnosed in all 3 cases with anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PIT-1 was strongly expressed in neoplastic cortical thymic epithelial cells. Importantly, after thymectomy, the titer of anti-PIT-1 antibody decreased and reactivity of CTLs toward PIT-1 diminished. These data strongly suggest that the aberrant expression of PIT-1 in the thymoma plays a causal role in the development of this syndrome. Thus, we define that this syndrome is a novel thymoma-associated autoimmune disease.

• Authors: Hironori Bando, Genzo Iguchi, Yasuhiko Okimura, Yukiko Odake, Kenichi Yoshida, Ryusaku Matsumoto, Kentaro Suda, Hitoshi Nishizawa, Hidenori Fukuoka, Atsuko Mokubo, Katsuyoshi Tojo, Yoshimasa Maniwa, Wataru Ogawa, Yutaka Takahashi
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 7 Pg. 43060 (02 20 2017) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28216655 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Transcription Factor Pit-1

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Autoimmune Hypophysitis (physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Thymoma (metabolism)
• Thymus Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Transcription Factor Pit-1 (metabolism)