Correlation of ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue receptor expression with clinical features in human pituitary adenomas.

ABSTRACT: Ghrelin, as a brain-gut peptide, has growth hormone (GH)-releasing and appetite-inducing activities and a widespread tissue distribution. Furthermore, ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor (GHSR), and both ghrelin and GHSR are expressed in the pituitary; however, the data regarding the expression of ghrelin and GHSR in pituitary adenomas are divergent and conflicting. In the present study, therefore, the expression of ghrelin and GHSR was examined in the full spectrum of human pituitary adenoma subtypes (n=34) and in normal pituitary tissue (n=3). The mRNA and protein expression levels were quantified using a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting and the correlation of the results with the clinical parameters was assessed

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4471707 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature