OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of Galectin-3 (Gal-3), Bcl-2 and Bax in human pituitary adenomas, and to explore the interrelation among them. METHODS: RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Gal-3, Bcl-2 and Bax in surgically excised human pituitary adenoma tissues, including invasive and non-invasive pituitary adenomas, and the correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: The Gal-3 and Bcl-2 expressions in the invasive pituitary group were significantly higher than those in the non-invasive group, and the expression of Bax had no significant difference between the two groups. Pearsonos correlation analyses showed that the Gal-3 expression was positively correlated with Bcl-2, but was not correlated with Bax, which was inversely correlated with expression of Bcl-2. CONCLUSION: Gal-3 may function through a cell death inhibition pathway involving Bcl-2 to enhance cell proliferation, which result in the invasive growth of pituitary adenoma. These results indicate that Gal-3 has an important role in pituitary tumor cell proliferation and may serves as a possible therapeutic target in treatment of pituitary tumors.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of Galectin-3 (Gal-3), Bcl-2 and Bax in humanpituitary adenomas, and to explore the interrelation among them. METHODS: RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Gal-3, Bcl-2 and Bax in surgically excised humanpituitary adenoma tissues, including invasive and non-invasive pituitary adenomas, and the correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: The Gal-3 and Bcl-2 expressions in the invasive pituitary group were significantly higher than those in the non-invasive group, and the expression of Bax had no significant difference between the two groups. Pearsonos correlation analyses showed that the Gal-3 expression was positively correlated with Bcl-2, but was not correlated with Bax, which was inversely correlated with expression of Bcl-2. CONCLUSION:Gal-3 may function through a cell death inhibition pathway involving Bcl-2 to enhance cell proliferation, which result in the invasive growth of pituitary adenoma. These results indicate that Gal-3 has an important role in pituitary tumor cell proliferation and may serves as a possible therapeutic target in treatment of pituitary tumors.
Authors: M L Jaffrain-Rea; D Di Stefano; G Minniti; V Esposito; A Bultrini; E Ferretti; A Santoro; L Faticanti Scucchi; A Gulino; G Cantore Journal: Endocr Relat Cancer Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 5.678
Authors: P Nangia-Makker; R Sarvis; D W Visscher; J Bailey-Penrod; A Raz; F H Sarkar Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 1998-05 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: J Ochieng; R Fridman; P Nangia-Makker; D E Kleiner; L A Liotta; W G Stetler-Stevenson; A Raz Journal: Biochemistry Date: 1994-11-29 Impact factor: 3.162