CD markers in pituitary adenomas.

Immunostaining of CD markers in normal pituitary cells has been reported, but a study of these markers in pituitary adenomas has not been done. The expression of CD 3, CD 8, CD 15, CD 20, CD 30, CD 43, CD 45R0, CD 45 R, CD 79 alpha, and VS-38c was investigated in a collection of 65 pituitary adenomas of various types. CD 3 was present in 75%, CD 8 in 18.5%, CD 15 in 12.3%, CD 20 in 66.1%, CD 30 in 10.8%, CD 43 in 10.8%, CD 45 RO in 72.3%, CD 45 R in 16.9%, CD 79alpha in 0% and VS-38 c in 44.6%. Densely granulated GH cell adenomas expressed CD 3, CD 20, CD 45 RO, and CD 45 R, but no other markers. Sparsely granulated GH cell adenomas showed CD 3, CD 8, CD 20, CD 43, and CD 45 RO. Mixed GH/prolactin cell adenomas contained CD 3, CD 8, CD 20, CD 30, CD 45RO, CD 45 R, and VS-38c. Mammosomatotroph cell adenomas were positive only for CD 3, CD 8, CD 20, CD 43, and CD 45 RO. Prolactin cell adenomas expressed CD 3, CD 8, and CD 20. ACTH cell adenomas showed CD 3, CD 15, CD 20, CD 30, CD 45 RO, CD 45 R, and VS-38c. TSH cell adenomas contained CD 3, CD 8, CD 15, CD 20, CD 45 RO, and VS-38c. Gonadotroph cell adenomas were positive for CD 3, CD 8, CD 20, CD 45 RO, CD 45 R, and VS-38c. Alpha-subunit-only adenomas expressed CD 3, CD 8, CD 15, CD 20, CD 30, CD 45 RO, and VS-38c. Plurihormonal adenomas contained CD 3, CD 8, CD 20, CD 30, CD 43, CD 45 RO, CD 45 R, and VS-38c. Oncocytic adenomas were positive for all markers except CD 45 RA and CD 79 alpha. We conclude that the spectra of different adenoma types expressing CD markers varies greatly and that significant correlations do not exist, although noninvasive adenomas appear to express CDs more frequently than invasive adenomas. We have no clear-cut explanations for the various expressions and suggest that it may be a sign of local inter-actions between the immune system and pituitary adenomas.