Sox2+ Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Adult Mouse Pituitary Support Organ Homeostasis and Have Tumor-Inducing Potential
Menée in vitro et in vivo, cette étude met en évidence des mécanismes par lesquels des cellules surexprimant le facteur de transcription Sox2 sont susceptibles d'induire une tumeur de l'hypophyse
Sox2+ adult mouse pituitary cells can self-renew and terminally differentiate in vitro, but their physiological role in vivo and possible contribution to oncogenesis remain largely unknown. Using genetic lineage tracing, we show here that the Sox2+ cell compartment of both the embryonic and adult pituitary contains stem/progenitor cells that are able to differentiate into all hormone-producing lineages and contribute to organ homeostasis during postnatal life. In addition, we show that targeted expression of oncogenic
β-catenin in Sox2+ cells gives rise to pituitary tumors, but, unexpectedly, the tumor mass is not derived from the Sox2+ mutation-sustaining cells, suggesting a paracrine role of Sox2+ cells in pituitary oncogenesis. Our data therefore provide in vivo evidence of a role for Sox2+ stem/progenitor cells in long-term physiological maintenance of the adult pituitary, and highlight an unexpected non-cell-autonomous role for these cells in the induction of pituitary tumors.
"Sox2+ cells of the embryonic and adult pituitary include stem/progenitor cells "Sox2+ adult pituitary cells contribute to normal organ homeostasis "Targeted expression of activated
β-catenin in Sox2+ cells is tumorigenic
"
Tumorigenic activity of Sox2+ cells is non-cell-autonomous
Stem cells in the adult pituitary gland contribute to organ homeostasis and can also have tumor-inducing capacity.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1934590913003123