Expression of TGFbeta₁ and pituitary adenoma fibrosis

Abstract

Transsphenoidal approach has been increasingly used in the resection of pituitary adenomas for its minimal invasiveness. However, in about 10% of these cases, the tumor cannot be totally removed due to the fibrosis. In this work, the object is to study the relationship between expression of transforming growth factor β₁ (TGFβ₁) and fibrosis of pituitary adenoma. 38 pituitary adenoma specimens were divided into fibrous group (6 cases) and non-fibrous group (32 cases). TGFβ₁ expression was detected by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Collagen content was detected by Sirius red stain. In fibrous group and non-fibrous group, respectively, (1) collagen content was 20.95% ± 8.42% and 7.98% ± 5.18%, with significant difference (p < 0.01); (2) TGFβ₁ mRNA was 0.79 ± 0.15 and 0.42 ± 0.20; TGFβ₁ protein was 0.64 ± 0.20 and 0.32 ± 0.40, both with significant difference (p < 0.01). Collagen deposition is a significant pathological feature in fibrous pituitary adenomas. TGFβ₁ may play an important role in the fibrosis of adenoma.

Key words:

• TGFβ₁
• pituitary adenoma
• fibrosis
• collagen