This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nakamura, Y. Articles by Nakao, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nakamura, Y. Articles by Nakao, K.

Characterization of Prophet of Pit-1 Gene Expression in Normal Pituitary and Pituitary Adenomas in Humans¹

Department of Medicine and Clinical Science (Y.N., T.U., H.Mi., H.Mu., S.M., M.S., K.T., I.T., K.N.), and Department of Laboratory Medicine (A.S.), Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan; and International Institute for Advanced Studies (T.U.), Kizugawa-dai Kizu-cho Soraku-gun Kyoto 619-0225, Japan

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Takeshi Usui, Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. E-mail: tusui{at}kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Prophet of Pit-1 (Prop-1), which is a paired-like homeodomain transcription factor, is capable of binding to sites in an early enhancer of the Pit-1 gene and regulating its expression. According to a previous report, Prop-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) is expressed in the developing pituitary gland before Pit-1 mRNA expression and maximum expression are observed at e 12.0. After e 14.5, Prop-1 mRNA expression rapidly decreases, and only trace amounts of mRNA are detectable in adult mouse pituitary. Human Pit-1 is expressed considerably, not only in normal adult pituitary but also in pituitary adenomas, so we studied human Prop-1 gene expression in adult pituitary and pituitary adenomas. We also cloned human Prop-1 complementary DNA (cDNA) and sequenced the Prop-1 cDNAs in pituitary adenomas. The amino acid sequence of human Prop-1 cDNA that we cloned was identical to that of the previously reported sequence, except Thr substituted at codon 142 instead of Ala. This amino acid substitution is considered to be a polymorphism because it did not alter transcriptional activity, and 7 of 28 alleles were Ala. Human Prop-1 transcript was detected in normal adult pituitary, by Northern blot analysis, and in all pituitary adenomas examined by RT-PCR analysis. The expression of human Prop-1 in pituitary adenomas was confirmed by in situ hybridization in one of the somatotroph adenomas. The sequence analysis of human Prop-1 cDNAs in these pituitary adenomas revealed that there were no mutations, except 5 silent nucleic acid substitutions, suggesting that mutations of Prop-1 gene do not represent a frequent mechanism of human pituitary tumorigenesis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Ikeshita, M. Kawagishi, H. Shibahara, K. Toda, T. Yamashita, D. Yamamoto, Y. Sugiyama, G. Iguchi, K. Iida, Y. Takahashi, et al. Identification and Analysis of Prophet of Pit-1-Binding Sites in Human Pit-1 Gene Endocrinology, November 1, 2008; 149(11): 5491 - 5499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Sato, K. Kitahara, T. Susa, T. Kato, and Y. Kato Pituitary transcription factor Prop-1 stimulates porcine pituitary glycoprotein hormone {alpha} subunit gene expression. J. Mol. Endocrinol., October 1, 2006; 37(2): 341 - 352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Ward, B. M. Stone, L. T. Raetzman, and S. A. Camper Cell Proliferation and Vascularization in Mouse Models of Pituitary Hormone Deficiency Mol. Endocrinol., June 1, 2006; 20(6): 1378 - 1390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. J. Cushman, D. E. Watkins-Chow, M. L. Brinkmeier, L. T. Raetzman, A. L. Radak, R. V. Lloyd, and S. A. Camper Persistent Prop1 expression delays gonadotrope differentiation and enhances pituitary tumor susceptibility Hum. Mol. Genet., May 1, 2001; 10(11): 1141 - 1153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. H. Skelly, M. Korbonits, A. Grossman, G. M. Besser, J. P. Monson, J. F. Geddes, and J. M. Burrin Expression of the Pituitary Transcription Factor Ptx-1, But Not That of the Trans-Activating Factor Prop-1, Is Reduced in Human Corticotroph Adenomas and Is Associated with Decreased {alpha}-Subunit Secretion J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2000; 85(7): 2537 - 2542. [Abstract] [Full Text]