Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Although research continues to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying pituitary tumor pathogenesis, limited information is available on the potential role and expression profile of β-catenin in functional and non-functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs).
RESULTS: In the current study, 104 pituitary samples (tumors and cadaveric healthy pituitary tissues) were included and the gene and protein expression levels of β-catenin were assessed by Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The correlation between expression level of β-catenin and tumor invasive feature and size as well as patient age, gender, and hormonal level was measured. The data showed that PitNET samples expressed higher levels of the β-catenin gene and protein compared to healthy pituitary tissues. Although there was no difference in β-catenin expression level between non-functioning (NF-PitNETs) and growth hormone-producing tumors (GH-PitNETs), both tumor types showed significantly elevated β-catenin levels compared to healthy pituitary tissues. The high level of β-catenin in the invasive functional and non-functional tumors is indicative of the association of β-catenin with PitNETs invasion. The expression pattern of the β-catenin gene and protein was consistently and significantly associated with these tumor types. The correlation between β-catenin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in GH-PitNETs indicates the potential relevance of β-catenin and IGF-1 for GH-PitNETs.
CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous increase in the expression of β-catenin gene and protein level in PitNET tissues and their relationship to the tumor severity indicates the possible contributing role of β-catenin and its underlying signaling mediators in PitNET pathogenesis.
RESULTS: In the current study, 104 pituitary samples (tumors and cadaveric healthy pituitary tissues) were included and the gene and protein expression levels of β-catenin were assessed by Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The correlation between expression level of β-catenin and tumor invasive feature and size as well as patient age, gender, and hormonal level was measured. The data showed that PitNET samples expressed higher levels of the β-catenin gene and protein compared to healthy pituitary tissues. Although there was no difference in β-catenin expression level between non-functioning (NF-PitNETs) and growth hormone-producing tumors (GH-PitNETs), both tumor types showed significantly elevated β-catenin levels compared to healthy pituitary tissues. The high level of β-catenin in the invasive functional and non-functional tumors is indicative of the association of β-catenin with PitNETs invasion. The expression pattern of the β-catenin gene and protein was consistently and significantly associated with these tumor types. The correlation between β-catenin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in GH-PitNETs indicates the potential relevance of β-catenin and IGF-1 for GH-PitNETs.
CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous increase in the expression of β-catenin gene and protein level in PitNET tissues and their relationship to the tumor severity indicates the possible contributing role of β-catenin and its underlying signaling mediators in PitNET pathogenesis.
摘要：
背景：尽管研究仍在继续阐明垂体瘤发病机制的分子机制，关于β-catenin在功能性和非功能性垂体神经内分泌肿瘤(PitNETs)中的潜在作用和表达谱的信息有限.
结果：在当前的研究中，纳入104例垂体样本（肿瘤和尸体健康垂体组织），并通过Real-TimePCR和免疫组织化学评估β-catenin的基因和蛋白质表达水平，分别。β-catenin表达水平与肿瘤侵袭性、大小及患者年龄的相关性,性别,并测量荷尔蒙水平。数据显示,与健康垂体组织相比,PitNET样品表达更高水平的β-连环蛋白基因和蛋白质。尽管无功能肿瘤（NF-PitNETs）和产生生长激素的肿瘤（GH-PitNETs）之间的β-catenin表达水平没有差异，与健康垂体组织相比,两种肿瘤均显示β-连环蛋白水平显著升高.侵袭性功能性和非功能性肿瘤中高水平的β-连环蛋白指示β-连环蛋白与PitNETs侵袭的关联。β-连环蛋白基因和蛋白质的表达模式与这些肿瘤类型一致且显着相关。GH-PitNETs中β-连环蛋白与胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF-1）之间的相关性表明β-连环蛋白和IGF-1与GH-PitNETs的潜在相关性。
结论：PitNET组织中β-catenin基因和蛋白水平的同时增加及其与肿瘤严重程度的关系表明β-catenin及其潜在的信号介质在PitNET发病机制中可能起作用。
结果：在当前的研究中，纳入104例垂体样本（肿瘤和尸体健康垂体组织），并通过Real-TimePCR和免疫组织化学评估β-catenin的基因和蛋白质表达水平，分别。β-catenin表达水平与肿瘤侵袭性、大小及患者年龄的相关性,性别,并测量荷尔蒙水平。数据显示,与健康垂体组织相比,PitNET样品表达更高水平的β-连环蛋白基因和蛋白质。尽管无功能肿瘤（NF-PitNETs）和产生生长激素的肿瘤（GH-PitNETs）之间的β-catenin表达水平没有差异，与健康垂体组织相比,两种肿瘤均显示β-连环蛋白水平显著升高.侵袭性功能性和非功能性肿瘤中高水平的β-连环蛋白指示β-连环蛋白与PitNETs侵袭的关联。β-连环蛋白基因和蛋白质的表达模式与这些肿瘤类型一致且显着相关。GH-PitNETs中β-连环蛋白与胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF-1）之间的相关性表明β-连环蛋白和IGF-1与GH-PitNETs的潜在相关性。
结论：PitNET组织中β-catenin基因和蛋白水平的同时增加及其与肿瘤严重程度的关系表明β-catenin及其潜在的信号介质在PitNET发病机制中可能起作用。
