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Activating point mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase 4 are not seen in sporadic pituitary adenomas, insulinomas or Leydig cell tumours.
- Source :
-
The Journal of endocrinology [J Endocrinol] 2003 Aug; Vol. 178 (2), pp. 301-10. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- Cell cycle dysregulation is one of the defining features of cancer. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), together with its regulatory subunit cyclin D, governs cell cycle progression through the G1 phase. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, including p16(INK4A) (encoded by CDKN2A), in turn regulate CDK4. In particular, dysregulation of the p16/CDK4/cyclin D complex has been established in a variety of types of human tumours. Dominant activating mutations affecting codon 24 of the CDK4 gene (replacement of Arg24 by Cys or His) render CDK4 insensitive to p16(INK4) inhibition and are responsible for melanoma susceptibility in some kindreds. However, 'knock-in' mice homozygous for the CDK4(R24C) mutation were noted to develop multiple neoplasia, most commonly including endocrine tumours: pituitary adenomas, insulinomas and Leydig cell testicular tumours. We therefore speculated that sporadic human endocrine tumours might also harbour such mutations. The aim of the current study was to analyze the CDK4 gene for the two characterized activating mutations, R24C and R24H, in sporadic human pituitary adenomas, insulinomas and Leydig cell tumours. We used DNA extracted from 61 pituitary adenomas, and paired tumorous and neighboring normal genomic DNA extracted from 14 insulinoma and 6 Leydig cell tumour samples. Genomic DNA from patients with familial melanoma harbouring the R24C or the R24H mutations served as positive controls. All samples were subjected to PCR, mutation-specific restriction digests and/or sequencing. Both methodologies failed to detect mutations at these two sites in any of the sporadic endocrine tumours including pituitary adenomas, benign or malignant insulinomas or Leydig cell tumours, while the positive controls showed the expected heterozygote patterns. Protein expression of CDK4 was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in pituitary and pancreatic samples. These data suggest that the changes in the regulatory 'hot-spot' on the CDK4 gene, causing various endocrine tumours in CDK4(R24C/R24C )mice, are not a major factor in sporadic pituitary, insulin beta-cell or Leydig cell tumorigenesis.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Blotting, Western methods
Case-Control Studies
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
Cyclin-Dependent Kinases analysis
DNA Mutational Analysis
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry methods
Insulinoma chemistry
Insulinoma metabolism
Leydig Cell Tumor metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Neoplasms chemistry
Pancreatic Neoplasms metabolism
Pituitary Neoplasms chemistry
Pituitary Neoplasms metabolism
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Testicular Neoplasms metabolism
Cyclin-Dependent Kinases genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Neoplasms metabolism
Point Mutation
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022-0795
- Volume :
- 178
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Journal of endocrinology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12904177
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1780301