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Pérez Millán MI, Cheung LYM, Mercogliano F, Camilletti MA, Chirino Felker GT, Moro LN, Miriuka S, Brinkmeier ML, Camper SA. Pituitary stem cells: past, present and future perspectives. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2024; 20:77-92. [PMID: 38102391 PMCID: PMC10964491 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00922-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Pituitary cells that express the transcription factor SOX2 are stem cells because they can self-renew and differentiate into multiple pituitary hormone-producing cell types as organoids. Wounding and physiological challenges can activate pituitary stem cells, but cell numbers are not fully restored, and the ability to mobilize stem cells decreases with increasing age. The basis of these limitations is still unknown. The regulation of stem cell quiescence and activation involves many different signalling pathways, including those mediated by WNT, Hippo and several cytokines; more research is needed to understand the interactions between these pathways. Pituitary organoids can be formed from human or mouse embryonic stem cells, or from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Human pituitary organoid transplantation is sufficient to induce corticosterone release in hypophysectomized mice, raising the possibility of therapeutic applications. Today, pituitary organoids have the potential to assess the role of individual genes and genetic variants on hormone production ex vivo, providing an important tool for the advancement of exciting frontiers in pituitary stem cell biology and pituitary organogenesis. In this article, we provide an overview of notable discoveries in pituitary stem cell function and highlight important areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Inés Pérez Millán
- Institute of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (IB3-UBA), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leonard Y M Cheung
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Florencia Mercogliano
- Institute of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (IB3-UBA), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Andrea Camilletti
- Institute of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (IB3-UBA), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo T Chirino Felker
- Laboratory of Applied Research of Neurosciences (LIAN-CONICET), FLENI Sede Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucia N Moro
- Laboratory of Applied Research of Neurosciences (LIAN-CONICET), FLENI Sede Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Miriuka
- Laboratory of Applied Research of Neurosciences (LIAN-CONICET), FLENI Sede Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Michelle L Brinkmeier
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sally A Camper
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Lodge EJ, Barrell WB, Liu KJ, Andoniadou CL. The Fuzzy planar cell polarity protein (FUZ), necessary for primary cilium formation, is essential for pituitary development. J Anat 2024; 244:358-367. [PMID: 37794731 PMCID: PMC10780146 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary cilium is an essential organelle that is important for normal cell signalling during development and homeostasis but its role in pituitary development has not been reported. The primary cilium facilitates signal transduction for multiple pathways, the best-characterised being the SHH pathway, which is known to be necessary for correct pituitary gland development. FUZ is a planar cell polarity (PCP) effector that is essential for normal ciliogenesis, where the primary cilia of Fuz-/- mutants are shorter or non-functional. FUZ is part of a group of proteins required for recruiting retrograde intraflagellar transport proteins to the base of the organelle. Previous work has reported ciliopathy phenotypes in Fuz-/- homozygous null mouse mutants, including neural tube defects, craniofacial abnormalities, and polydactyly, alongside PCP defects including kinked/curly tails and heart defects. Interestingly, the pituitary gland was reported to be missing in Fuz-/- mutants at 14.5 dpc but the mechanisms underlying this phenotype were not investigated. Here, we have analysed the pituitary development of Fuz-/- mutants. Histological analyses reveal that Rathke's pouch (RP) is initially induced normally but is not specified and fails to express LHX3, resulting in hypoplasia and apoptosis. Characterisation of SHH signalling reveals reduced pathway activation in Fuz-/- mutant relative to control embryos, leading to deficient specification of anterior pituitary fate. Analyses of the key developmental signals FGF8 and BMP4, which are influenced by SHH, reveal abnormal patterning in the ventral diencephalon, contributing further to abnormal RP development. Taken together, our analyses suggest that primary cilia are required for normal pituitary specification through SHH signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Lodge
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - William B. Barrell
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Karen J. Liu
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Cynthia L. Andoniadou
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Medicine IIIUniversity Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
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Ruggiero-Ruff RE, Le BH, Villa PA, Lainez NM, Athul SW, Das P, Ellsworth BS, Coss D. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Identifies Pituitary Gland Changes in Diet-Induced Obesity in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqad196. [PMID: 38146776 PMCID: PMC10791142 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence worldwide. Obesity leads to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, as well as endocrine alterations, reproductive disorders, changes in basal metabolism, and stress hormone production, all of which are regulated by the pituitary. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of pituitary glands from male mice fed control and high-fat diet (HFD) to determine obesity-mediated changes in pituitary cell populations and gene expression. We determined that HFD exposure is associated with dramatic changes in somatotrope and lactotrope populations, by increasing the proportion of somatotropes and decreasing the proportion of lactotropes. Fractions of other hormone-producing cell populations remained unaffected. Gene expression changes demonstrated that in HFD, somatotropes became more metabolically active, with increased expression of genes associated with cellular respiration, and downregulation of genes and pathways associated with cholesterol biosynthesis. Despite a lack of changes in gonadotrope fraction, genes important in the regulation of gonadotropin hormone production were significantly downregulated. Corticotropes and thyrotropes were the least affected in HFD, while melanotropes exhibited reduced proportion. Lastly, we determined that changes in plasticity and gene expression were associated with changes in hormone levels. Serum prolactin was decreased corresponding to reduced lactotrope fraction, while lower luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in the serum corresponded to a decrease in transcription and translation. Taken together, our study highlights diet-mediated changes in pituitary gland populations and gene expression that play a role in altered hormone levels in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Ruggiero-Ruff
- Division of Biomedical Sciences; School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Brandon H Le
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology Bioinformatics Core Facility, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Pedro A Villa
- Division of Biomedical Sciences; School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Nancy M Lainez
- Division of Biomedical Sciences; School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Sandria W Athul
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Pratyusa Das
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Buffy S Ellsworth
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Djurdjica Coss
- Division of Biomedical Sciences; School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Cai Y, Liu S, Zhao X, Ren L, Liu X, Gang X, Wang G. Pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of plurihormonal pituitary adenoma. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1323883. [PMID: 38260014 PMCID: PMC10800528 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1323883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Plurihormonal pituitary adenoma (PPA) is a type of pituitary tumor capable of producing two or more hormones and usually presents as an aggressive, large adenoma. As yet, its pathogenesis remains unclear. This is the first study to systematically summarize the underlying pathogenesis of PPA. The pathogenesis is related to plurihormonal primordial stem cells, co-transcription factors, hormone co-expression, differential gene expression, and cell transdifferentiation. We conducted a literature review of PPA and analyzed its clinical characteristics. We found that the average age of patients with PPA was approximately 40 years, and most showed only one clinical symptom. The most common manifestation was acromegaly. Currently, PPA is treated with surgical resection. However, recent studies suggest that immunotherapy may be a potentially effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiaokun Gang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guixia Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Laporte E, Vankelecom H. Organoid models of the pituitary gland in health and disease. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1233714. [PMID: 37614709 PMCID: PMC10442803 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1233714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The pituitary gland represents the hub of our endocrine system. Its cells produce specific hormones that direct multiple vital physiological processes such as body growth, fertility, and stress. The gland also contains a population of stem cells which are still enigmatic in phenotype and function. Appropriate research models are needed to advance our knowledge on pituitary (stem cell) biology. Over the last decade, 3D organoid models have been established, either derived from the pituitary stem cells or from pluripotent stem cells, covering both healthy and diseased conditions. Here, we summarize the state-of-the-art of pituitary-allied organoid models and discuss applications of these powerful in vitro research and translational tools to study pituitary development, biology, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Laporte
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hugo Vankelecom
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Cluster of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Tissue Plasticity in Health and Disease, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Bian Y, Hahn H, Uhmann A. The hidden hedgehog of the pituitary: hedgehog signaling in development, adulthood and disease of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1219018. [PMID: 37476499 PMCID: PMC10355329 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1219018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog signaling plays pivotal roles in embryonic development, adult homeostasis and tumorigenesis. However, its engagement in the pituitary gland has been long underestimated although Hedgehog signaling and pituitary embryogenic development are closely linked. Thus, deregulation of this signaling pathway during pituitary development results in malformation of the gland. Research of the last years further implicates a regulatory role of Hedgehog signaling in the function of the adult pituitary, because its activity is also interlinked with homeostasis, hormone production, and most likely also formation of neoplasms of the gland. The fact that this pathway can be efficiently targeted by validated therapeutic strategies makes it a promising candidate for treating pituitary diseases. We here summarize the current knowledge about the importance of Hedgehog signaling during pituitary development and review recent data that highlight the impact of Hedgehog signaling in the healthy and the diseased adult pituitary gland.
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