Pituitary adenomas as multifactorial intracranial neoplasms impose a massive burden of morbidity on patients and characterizing the molecular mechanism underlying their pathogenesis has received considerable attention. Despite the appealing role of cyclooxygenase enzymes and their bioactive lipid products in cancer pathogenesis, their relevance to pituitary adenoma pathogenesis is debated and yet to be determined. Thus, the current study perused this relevance. The expression level of the isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) was evaluated in hormone-secreting and in-active pituitary adenoma tumors and normal pituitary tissues through Real-Time PCR. The level of PGE2, as the main product of enzymes, was assessed using enzyme immunoassay kits in patients and healthy subjects. The results of the current study demonstrated that COX-1 and COX-2 expression levels were increased in pituitary tumors including non-functional pituitary adenoma (NFPA), acromegaly, Cushing’s disease and prolactinoma compared with normal pituitary tissues. A significant expression level of COX-2 was observed in NFPA compared with the other pituitary tumors. Furthermore, the COX-2 expression level was significantly increased in macroadenoma and invasive tumors. The level of PGE2 was consistent with COX enzymes enhanced in pituitary adenoma tumors compared with healthy pituitary tissue. A significant elevation in the PGE2 level was detected in NFPA compared with hormone-secreting pituitary tumors. Additionally, the PGE2 level was increased in macroadenoma compared with microadenoma and in invasive compared with non-invasive pituitary tumors. The diagnostic values of cyclooxygenase isoforms and PGE2 were considerable between patients and healthy groups; however, COX-2 revealed more value in distinguishing endocrinologically active and non-active pituitary tumors. Data from the current study provides expression patterns of COX-1, COX-2 and PGE2 in prevalent pituitary tumors and their association with patients’ clinical features which may open up new molecular targets for early diagnosis/follow up of pituitary tumor growth.

中文翻译：

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功能性和非功能性垂体腺瘤患者环氧合酶和PGE2的表达

垂体腺瘤是多因素颅内肿瘤，给患者带来了巨大的发病负担，其发病机理的分子机制特征已引起广泛关注。尽管环氧合酶及其生物活性脂质产物在癌症发病机制中具有诱人的作用，但它们与垂体腺瘤发病机制的相关性尚有争议，尚待确定。因此，本研究仔细研究了这种相关性。通过实时荧光定量PCR（RT-PCR）评估了环氧化加氧酶同工型（COX-1和COX-2）在激素分泌性和非活动性垂体腺瘤肿瘤和正常垂体组织中的表达水平。使用酶免疫测定试剂盒在患者和健康受试者中评估了作为酶主要产物的PGE2的水平。目前的研究结果表明，与正常垂体组织相比，包括非功能性垂体腺瘤（NFPA），肢端肥大症，库欣病和泌乳素瘤在内的垂体肿瘤中COX-1和COX-2的表达水平升高。与其他垂体肿瘤相比，在NFPA中观察到了COX-2的显着表达水平。此外，在大腺瘤和浸润性肿瘤中，COX-2表达水平显着增加。与健康垂体组织相比，PGE2的水平与垂体腺瘤肿瘤中COX酶的增强相一致。与分泌激素的垂体瘤相比，NFPA中检测到PGE2水平显着升高。此外，与微腺瘤相比，大腺瘤中的PGE2水平升高，与非侵袭性垂体瘤相比，在浸润性肿瘤中PGE2水平升高。患者和健康组之间环氧合酶同工型和PGE2的诊断价值相当可观。然而，COX-2在区分内分泌活动性和非活动性垂体肿瘤方面显示出更大的价值。来自当前研究的数据提供了COX-1，COX-2和PGE2在流行的垂体肿瘤中的表达模式及其与患者临床特征的关联，这可能为早期诊断/随访垂体肿瘤的生长打开新的分子靶标。