Apoptosis and Growth Factors in Parathyroid Adenomas

T. Kvasnicka; W. Wang; H. Johansson; K. Sandelin; L. Grimelius

doi:10.1055/s-2007-979098

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 1997; 29(11): 544-548
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979098

Originals Basic

Apoptosis and Growth Factors in Parathyroid Adenomas

T. Kvasnicka¹ ^, ² , W. Wang¹ ^, ³ , H. Johansson¹ , K. Sandelin¹ , L. Grimelius¹

¹Departments of Pathology (TK, WW, LG), Surgery (HJ), University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden and Department of Surgery (KS), Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
²Third Internal Clinic, General Faculty Hospital, Prague, The Czech Republic
³Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, P.R. China

Abstract

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Detection of apoptotic cells and of immunoreactivity to transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and to its ligand, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), was studied in 20 cases of parathyroid adenoma. The DNA nick-end labelling method revealed that 85% of these adenomas contained apoptotic cells. Detection rates of TGF-α and EGFR were very high, but neither TGF-α nor EGFR was correlated to apoptosis. As TGF-α exerts its effect via EGFR, the concomitant demonstration of the two factors occurring in both the adenomatous tissue and the surrounding rim of normal tissue may reflect a significant mutual association. The markers were located mainly within the cytoplasm, indicating their important role in growth regulation, cell differentiation and cell function. The synchronous expression of TGF-α and EGFR in both parathyroid adenomas and normal glandular parenchyma suggests that these functions may be mediated by an autocrine mechanism.

Key words

Parathyroid Adenoma - Apoptosis - Growth Factors (TGF-α and EGF-receptor)

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