Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Low expression of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 in aggressive pituitary adenoma
Youtu Wu1, Jiwei Bai, Zhenye Li
1Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China.
Objective:
The secreted frizzled-related proteins (sFRPs) are reported to be antagonists of a number of tumors. This study was designed to investigate the relationship of sFRP4 with aggressiveness of pituitary adenomas.
Material And Method:
Specimens were classified into three groups: normal control (n = 10), non-aggressive group (n = 42) and aggressive group (n = 26) according to preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/computed tomography. sFRP4 were investigated by PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The methylation status of the sFRP4 promoter region was observed by MassArray. Cell culture and 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine treatment was performed to observe the relationship of downregulation of sFRP4 with methylation of the sFRP4 gene.
Results:
PCR and Western blot results showed that sFRP4 expression was downregulated in aggressive pituitary adenomas, which was confirmed by IHC. Methylation of the sFRP4 promoter was increased in aggressive pituitary adenomas. And methylation of the sFRP4 promoter lead to downregulation of sFRP4 expression.
Conclusions:
sFRP4 expression is inversely related to the aggressiveness of pituitary adenomas, and act as a tumor suppressor.
More Related Videos
12:34Two-dimensional Gel Electrophoresis Coupled with Mass Spectrometry Methods for an Analysis of Human Pituitary Adenoma Tissue Proteome
Published on: April 2, 2018
05:44Isolation of Proximal Fluids to Investigate the Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Published on: November 5, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Hormones of the Pituitary Gland
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology
Abnormal Proliferation
Major Hormones and Their Functions
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...