Relationship between NF-κB, MMP-9, and MICA expression in pituitary adenomas reveals a new mechanism of pituitary adenomas immune escape

Neurosci Lett. 2015 Jun 15:597:77-83. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.04.025. Epub 2015 Apr 25.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the expression levels of NF-κB, MMP-9, and MICA and their relationship between each other in pituitary adenomas as a histological basis for the study of the expression and shedding mechanism of MICA and mechanism of immune escape of pituitary adenomas. Our study indicated that MICA, MMP-9 and NF-κB mRNA and protein levels were more highly expressed in pituitary adenomas than healthy tissues. The expression levels of NF-κB, MMP-9, and MICA were positively related in patients with pituitary adenomas. In conclusion, the activation of NF-κB can up-regulate the expression of MICA and induce the expression of MMP-9, which hydrolyzes MICA into sMICA to promote tumor immune escape. The interactions of NF-κB, MMP-9, and MICA play an important role in the development of pituitary adenomas, and MMP-9 could be used as a new target for inhibiting tumor cell immune escape.

Keywords: MICA; MMP-9; NF-κB; Nonfunctional pituitary adenomas; Prolactinoma pituitary adenomas; p-NF-κB; sMICA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / immunology
  • Adenoma / metabolism*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tumor Escape*

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • MHC class I-related chain A
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9