Presence of growth hormone secretagogue receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in human pituitary tumors and rat GH3 cells.

Abstract

A novel G11-protein-coupled receptor specific for synthetic GH-releasing peptides (GHRPs) has recently been cloned and sequenced. Two forms exist, types 1a and 1b, the latter of which is biologically inactive. Using RT-PCR, we looked for the presence in tumorous pituitary cells of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for this novel GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Both subtypes of GHS-R mRNA were detected in all six human pituitary somatotropinomas removed from patients with acromegaly. In culture, four of the tumors exhibited strong responses to GHRP-2 in terms of both phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis and GH secretion, but two were resistant. There was no apparent difference in the type 1a and type 1b expression pattern, as judged by RT-PCR, between responsive and nonresponsive tumors. Similarly, the rat pituitary tumor cell line, GH3, was found to express GHS-R mRNA, although these cells also did not respond to GHRPs. RT-PCR failed to detect GHS-R mRNA in eight functionless human pituitary tumors. In contrast, prolactinomas were found to express the receptor and, in culture, significant stimulation of PRL secretion and PI hydrolysis occurred in two of three tumors tested. These results demonstrate that tumorous somatotrophs express the GHS-R gene and that the occasionally observed nonresponsiveness of somatotropinomas to GHRPs is not due to the absence of the biologically active type 1a receptor. Additionally, human pituitary prolactinomas also express GHS-R and are able to respond to GHRPs in terms of PI hydrolysis and PRL secretion. In contrast, GHS-R gene expression does not appear to be associated with human functionless pituitary tumors.

• Authors: E F Adams, B Huang, M Buchfelder, A Howard, R G Smith, S D Feighner, L H van der Ploeg, C Y Bowers, R Fahlbusch
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 83 Issue 2 Pg. 638-42 (Feb 1998) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 9467586 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Hormones
• Oligopeptides
• Phosphatidylinositols
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
• Receptors, Ghrelin
• Human Growth Hormone
• Prolactin
• Luteinizing Hormone
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone
• growth hormone-releasing peptide-2
• RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
• GTP-Binding Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (metabolism)
• GTP-Binding Proteins
• Hormones (pharmacology)
• Human Growth Hormone (metabolism)
• Humans
• Luteinizing Hormone (metabolism)
• Oligopeptides (pharmacology)
• Phosphatidylinositols (metabolism)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (chemistry, metabolism)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Prolactin (metabolism)
• Prolactinoma (chemistry, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (analysis)
• RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
• Rats
• Receptors, Cell Surface (genetics)
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
• Receptors, Ghrelin
• Tumor Cells, Cultured