MAPK pathway control of stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the embryonic pituitary provides insights into the pathogenesis of papillary craniopharyngioma

作者：Haston Scott^*; Pozzi Sara; Carreno Gabriela; Manshaei Saba; Panousopoulos Leonidas; Gonzalez Meljem Jose Mario; Apps John R; Virasami Alex; Thavaraj Selvam; Gutteridge Alice; Forshew Tim; Marais Richard; Brandner Sebastian; Jacques Thomas S; Andoniadou Cynthia L; Martinez Barbera Juan Pedro^*

来源：Development, 2017, 144(12): 2141-2152.

DOI：10.1242/dev.150490

• Pituitary development
• Mouse
• Papillary craniopharyngioma
• Sox2
• Tumour

Despite the importance of the RAS-RAF-MAPK pathway in normal physiology and disease of numerous organs, its role during pituitary development and tumourigenesis remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the over-activation of the MAPK pathway, through conditional expression of the gain-of-function alleles BrafV600E and KrasG12D in the developing mouse pituitary, results in severe hyperplasia and abnormal morphogenesis of the gland by the end of gestation. Cell-lineage commitment and terminal differentiation are disrupted, leading to a significant reduction in numbers of most of the hormone-producing cells before birth, with the exception of corticotrophs. Of note, Sox2(+) stem cells and clonogenic potential are drastically increased in the mutant pituitaries. Finally, we reveal that papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP), a benign human pituitary tumour harbouring BRAF p. V600E also contains Sox2(+) cells with sustained proliferative capacity and disrupted pituitary differentiation. Together, our data demonstrate a crucial function of the MAPK pathway in controlling the balance between proliferation and differentiation of Sox2(+) cells and suggest that persistent proliferative capacity of Sox2(+) cells may underlie the pathogenesis of PCP.

• 出版日期2017-6-15