Cited by 48Pituitary Gland Disorders and TreatmentsDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationCancer Cells and Metastasis

Concise Review: Paracrine Role of Stem Cells in Pituitary Tumors: A Focus on Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngioma

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Martinez-Barbera, Juan Pedro, Andoniadou, Cynthia L.·2016·Stem Cells

Abstract

The existence of tissue-specific progenitor/stem cells in the adult pituitary gland of the mouse has been demonstrated recently using genetic tracing experiments. These cells have the capacity to differentiate into all of the different cell lineages of the anterior pituitary and self-propagate in vitro and can therefore contribute to normal homeostasis of the gland. In addition, they play a critical role in tumor formation, specifically in the etiology of human adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma, a clinically relevant tumor that is associated with mutations in CTNNB1 (gene encoding β-catenin). Mouse studies have shown that only pituitary embryonic precursors or adult stem cells are able to generate tumors when targeted with oncogenic β-catenin, suggesting that the cell context is critical for mutant β-catenin to exert its oncogenic effect. Surprisingly, the bulk of the tumor cells are not derived from the mutant progenitor/stem cells, suggesting that tumors are induced in a paracrine manner. Therefore, the cell sustaining the mutation in β-catenin and the cell-of-origin of the tumors are different. In this review, we will discuss the in vitro and in vivo evidence demonstrating the presence of stem cells in the adult pituitary and analyze the evidence showing a potential role of these stem cells in pituitary tumors.

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  • Expression of growth factors alone, including some that fall under the SASP umbrella, can induce tumours independently in a paracrine/non-cell autonomous manner.

    “Finally, there is evidence showing that the expression of growth factors alone, including some that fall under the SASP umbrella, can induce tumours independently in a paracrine/non-cell autonomous manner.51”

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  1. [21]Vila‐Porcile E. [The network of the folliculo‐stellate cells and the follicles of the adenohypophysis in the rat (pars distalis)]. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 1972; 129: 328‐ 369. 5042774

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Authors
Martinez-Barbera, J. P., & Andoniadou, C. L.
Affiliations
  • Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, Birth Defects Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
  • King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Andoniadou, Cynthia L.
Venue
Stem Cells
Published
2016-01-13
Volume
34
Issue
2
Pages
268-276
ISSN
  • 1066-5099 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-4918
OpenAlex
W2234670071
Cited by
48
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2
FWCI
0.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Stem Cells (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Children with Cancer UK CWCUK; (Grant W1055)
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
  • Medical Research Council MRC; (Grant 164126)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Pituitary Gland Disorders and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Keywords
adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma, pituitary stem cells, β-catenin, CTNNB1 mutation, cell of origin
MeSH terms
Animals, Craniopharyngioma, Humans, Mutation, Neoplasm Proteins, Pituitary Neoplasms, Neoplastic Stem Cells, Paracrine Communication, beta Catenin, Mice

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