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Vicchio TM, Aliquò F, Ruggeri RM, Ragonese M, Giuffrida G, Cotta OR, Spagnolo F, Torre ML, Alibrandi A, Asmundo A, Angileri FF, Esposito F, Polito F, Oteri R, Aguennouz MH, Cannavò S, Ferraù F. MicroRNAs expression in pituitary tumors: differences related to functional status, pathological features, and clinical behavior. J Endocrinol Invest 2020; 43:947-958. [PMID: 31939196 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-019-01178-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level, having a role in many biological processes, such as control of cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell death. Altered miRNA expression has been reported in many neoplasms, including pituitary adenomas (PAs). PURPOSE In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of 20 miRNAs involved in pathways relevant to pituitary pathophysiology, in PAs and normal pituitary tissue and to correlate their expression profile with clinical and pathological features. METHODS Pituitary tumor samples were obtained during transphenoidal surgery from patients with non-functioning (NFPA, n = 12) and functioning (n = 11, 5 GH-, 3 ACTH-, 3 PRL-omas) PAs. The expression of selected miRNAs in PAs and in normal pituitary was analyzed by RT-qPCR. miRNAs expression was correlated with demographic, clinical, and neuroradiological data and with histopathological features including pituitary hormones immunostaining, Ki-67 proliferation index, and p53 immunohistochemistry evaluation. RESULTS All evaluated miRNAs except miR-711 were expressed in both normal and tumor pituitary tissue. Seventeen miRNAs were significantly down-regulated in pituitary tumors compared to normal pituitary. miRNAs were differentially expressed in functioning PAs or in NFPAs, as in the latter group miR-149-3p (p = 0.036), miR-130a-3p (p = 0.014), and miR-370-3p (p = 0.026) were significantly under expressed as compared to functioning tumors. Point-biserial correlation analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between miR-26b-5p and Ki-67 (p = 0.031) and between miR-30a-5p and 'atypical' morphological features (p = 0.038) or cavernous sinus invasion (p = 0.049), while 508-5p was inversely correlated with clinical aggressiveness (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found a significant down-regulation of 17 miRNAs in PAs vs normal pituitary, with differential expression profile related to functional status and tumor aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Vicchio
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy
| | - F Aliquò
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - R M Ruggeri
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - M Ragonese
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy
| | - G Giuffrida
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - O R Cotta
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy
| | - F Spagnolo
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy
| | - M L Torre
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy
| | - A Alibrandi
- Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - A Asmundo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental Sciences and Morpho-Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - F F Angileri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental Sciences and Morpho-Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - F Esposito
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dental Sciences and Morpho-Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - F Polito
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood 'G. Barresi', University of Messina, UOC di Endocrinologia, Pad. H, 4° Piano, AOU Policlinico Gaetano Martino, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - R Oteri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - M H Aguennouz
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - S Cannavò
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Hospital 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood 'G. Barresi', University of Messina, UOC di Endocrinologia, Pad. H, 4° Piano, AOU Policlinico Gaetano Martino, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125, Messina, Italy
| | - F Ferraù
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood 'G. Barresi', University of Messina, UOC di Endocrinologia, Pad. H, 4° Piano, AOU Policlinico Gaetano Martino, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125, Messina, Italy.
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