Immunohistochemical detection of human natural killer cell like immunoreactivity in human pituitary adenomas, using monoclonal antibody NK-1.

Natural killer (NK) cells are specialized lymphocytes which are characterized as non-T and non-B cells, as they lack classic T and B cell surface markers. Recently, NK like immunoreactivity has been identified in endocrine and neuronal tissues as well as in the tumors derived from the neuroectoderm and neuroendocrine system. We examined the expression of NK-1 like immunoreactivity in 6 normal pituitary glands and in 55 cases of neoplastic pituitaries (16 growth hormone (GH) producing adenomas, 14 prolactin (PRL) producing adenomas, 4 thyrotropin (TSH) producing adenomas, 5 adrenocortocitropin (ACTH) producing adenomas and 16 non-functioning adenomas) immunohistochemically. The expression of the S-100 protein, which is a marker for folliclo-stellate (FS) cells, which have been reported to secrete cytokines as immuno-endocrine modulators, were also examined. In normal pituitary glands, NK-1 was detected in all 6 tissues in the cytoplasm of about 5-10% of the anterior pituitary cells. By serial sectioning and double immunostaining, NK-1 immunopositivity was frequently found to be localized in ACTH cells. The colocalization with other anterior pituitary hormones such as GH. PRL, the beta-subunit of luteinizing hormone (LH beta), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH beta). TSH beta and alpha-subunit of glycoprotein (alpha SU) was not observed. The S-100 immunopositive FS cells, which were scattered among hormone producing cells, were closely associated with NK-1 immunoreactive cells in the normal pituitaries. Among the 55 cases of pituitary adenomas, NK-1 was present in all the types of pituitary tumors, and a total of 33 (60.0%) contained NK-1 positive tumor cells. The frequency of NK-1 immunoreactivity in the individual adenoma types was; 14 of 16 GH producing adenomas (87.5%), 7 of 14 PRL producing adenomas (50%). 3 of 4 TSH producing adenomas (75%), 3 of 5 ACTH producing adenomas (60%), and 5 of 16 nonfunctioning adenomas (31.3%). By double immunostaining, NK-1 was found to be frequently colocalized with ACTH in ACTH producing adenomas, and was colocalized with PRL in PRL producing adenomas, or with GH, PRL or the alpha-subunit in GH producing adenoma cells. NK-1 immunoreactive cells were observed in close association with S-100 immunopositive FS cells in the adenomas. Our results may indicate that NK-1 positive cells may have functions as a paracrine modulators of their neighboring cells, which includes S-100 positive FS cells.