Tumor microenvironment defines the invasive phenotype of AIP-mutation-positive pituitary tumors

Oncogene. 2019 Jul;38(27):5381-5395. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0779-5. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Abstract

The molecular mechanisms leading to aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) mutation-induced aggressive, young-onset growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumors are not fully understood. In this study, we have identified that AIP-mutation-positive tumors are infiltrated by a large number of macrophages compared to sporadic tumors. Tissue from pituitary-specific Aip-knockout (AipFlox/Flox;Hesx1Cre/+) mice recapitulated this phenotype. Our human pituitary tumor transcriptome data revealed the "epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway" as one of the most significantly altered pathways in AIPpos tumors. Our in vitro data suggest that bone marrow-derived macrophage-conditioned media induces more prominent EMT-like phenotype and enhanced migratory and invasive properties in Aip-knockdown somatomammotroph cells compared to non-targeting controls. We identified that tumor-derived cytokine CCL5 is upregulated in AIP-mutation-positive human adenomas. Aip-knockdown GH3 cell-conditioned media increases macrophage migration, which is inhibited by the CCL5/CCR5 antagonist maraviroc. Our results suggest that a crosstalk between the tumor and its microenvironment plays a key role in the invasive nature of AIP-mutation-positive tumors and the CCL5/CCR5 pathway is a novel potential therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL5 / metabolism
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CCL5 protein, human
  • CCR5 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein