TGFBR3L is associated with gonadotropin production in non-functioning gonadotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumours

• Purpose Transforming growth factor-beta receptor 3-like (TGFBR3L) is a pituitary enriched membrane protein selectively detected in gonadotroph cells. TGFBR3L is named after transforming growth factor-beta receptor 3 (TGFBR3), an inhibin A co-receptor in mice, due to sequence identity to the C-terminal region. We aimed to characterize TGFBR3L detection in a well-characterized, prospectively collected cohort of non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (NF-PitNETs) and correlate it to clinical data.Methods 144 patients operated for clinically NF-PitNETs were included. Clinical, radiological and biochemical data were recorded. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for FSH beta and LH beta was scored using the immunoreactive score (IRS), TGFBR3L and TGFBR3 were scored by the percentage of positive stained cells.Results TGFBR3L staining was selectively present in 52% of gonadotroph tumours. TGFBR3L was associated to IRS of LH beta (median 2 [IQR 0-3] in TGFBR3L negative and median 6 [IQR 3-9] in TGFBR3L positive tumours, p < 0.001), but not to the IRS of FSH beta (p = 0.32). The presence of TGFBR3L was negatively associated with plasma gonadotropin concentrations in males (P-FSH median 5.5 IU/L [IQR 2.9-9.6] and median 3.0 [IQR 1.8-5.6] in TGFBR3L negative and positive tumours respectively, p = 0.008) and P-LH (median 2.8 IU/L [IQR 1.9-3.7] and median 1.8 [IQR 1.1-3.0] in TGFBR3L negative and positive tumours respectively, p = 0.03). TGFBR3 stained positive in 22% (n = 25) of gonadotroph tumours with no correlation to TGFBR3L.Conclusion TGFBR3L was selectively detected in half (52%) of gonadotroph NF-PitNETs. The association to LH beta staining and plasma gonadotropins suggests that TGFBR3L may be involved in hormone production in gonadotroph NF-PitNETs.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Klinisk laboratoriemedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Clinical Laboratory Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Pituitary adenomas

Plasma gonadotropins

Tumour volume

Transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 like (TGFBR3L)

Transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 (TGFBR3)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)