USP8 Gene Expression in Sporadic Pituitary Adenomas

Abstract PurposeIn sporadic pituitary adenomas the role of Ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8) is not clearly defined. Although mutations in USP8 gene are known to cause corticotroph adenomas, whether changes in expression of USP8 in other pituitary adenomas have not been clarified, yet. In this study we addressed the changes in USP8 gene expression levels in pituitary adenomas relative to non-adenomatous brain tissue.MethodsUSP8 gene expression analysis was performed on a total of 43 tissue samples from human pituitary adenomas and on 16 tissue samples from non-pituitary brain tissues (control group). Adenomatous tissues and control tissues were assessed for quantification of RNA expression of USP8.The levels of USP8 gene expression were determined relative to those in control group.ResultsUSP8 gene expression levels in pituitary adenomas (PA) were 3.7 times higher than the levels in control brain tissues (CBT) (p = 0.002). Levels of USP8 expression in secertory PA’s were significantly higher in comparison to the levels in CBT (p = 0.002).ConsclusionsPresent findings support that USP8 gene expression levels may contribute to pitutary tumorigenesis and hormonogenesis.