AIP inactivation leads to pituitary tumorigenesis through defective Gαi-cAMP signaling

Oncogene. 2015 Feb 26;34(9):1174-84. doi: 10.1038/onc.2014.50. Epub 2014 Mar 24.

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) is a tumor-suppressor gene underlying the pituitary adenoma predisposition. Thus far, the exact molecular mechanisms by which inactivated AIP exerts its tumor-promoting action have been unclear. To better understand the role of AIP in pituitary tumorigenesis, we performed gene expression microarray analysis to examine changes between Aip wild-type and knockout mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell lines. Transcriptional analyses implied that Aip deficiency causes a dysfunction in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, as well as impairments in signaling cascades associated with developmental and immune-inflammatory responses. In vitro experiments showed that AIP deficiency increases intracellular cAMP concentrations in both MEF and murine pituitary adenoma cell lines. Based on knockdown of various G protein α subunits, we concluded that AIP deficiency leads to elevated cAMP concentrations through defective Gαi-2 and Gαi-3 proteins that normally inhibit cAMP synthesis. Furthermore, immunostaining of Gαi-2 revealed that AIP deficiency is associated with a clear reduction in Gαi-2 protein expression levels in human and mouse growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas, thus indicating defective Gαi signaling in these tumors. By contrast, all prolactin-secreting tumors showed prominent Gαi-2 protein levels, irrespective of Aip mutation status. We additionally observed reduced expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and cAMP response element-binding protein levels in mouse and human AIP-deficient somatotropinomas. This study implies for the first time that a failure to inhibit cAMP synthesis through dysfunctional Gαi signaling underlies the development of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas in AIP mutation carriers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / metabolism*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein
  • Cyclic AMP
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go