Novel evidence that pituitary gonadotropins directly stimulate human leukemic cells-studies of myeloid cell lines and primary patient AML and CML cells

Oncotarget. 2016 Jan 19;7(3):3033-46. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.6698.

Abstract

We recently reported that normal hematopoietic stem cells express functional pituitary sex hormone (SexH) receptors. Here we report for the first time that pituitary-secreted gonadotrophins stimulate migration, adhesion, and proliferation of several human myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cell lines. Similar effects were observed after stimulation of human leukemic cell lines by gonadal SexHs. This effect seems to be direct, as the SexH receptors expressed by leukemic cells responded to stimulation by phosphorylation of MAPKp42/44 and AKTser473. Furthermore, in parallel studies we confirmed that human primary patient-derived AML and CML blasts also express several functional SexH receptors. These results shed more light on the potential role of SexHs in leukemogenesis and, in addition, provide further evidence suggesting a developmental link between hematopoiesis and the germline.

Keywords: FSH; LH; germ line; leukemia; lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Gonadotropins, Pituitary / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / metabolism*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Gonadotropins, Pituitary
  • Receptors, Pituitary Hormone
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases