RSUME regulates VEGF-A in pituitary tumours

RSUME is a small RWD-domain containing protein. The anterior pituitary had been identified as one of the organs with the strongest basal RSUME expression suggesting a specific and important but not yet identified physiological and pathophysiological role of this protein in normal and tumoural pituitary. Shan et al. investigated the expression and role of RSUME in pituitary tumours. In this study, they demonstrate RSUME expression in pituitary adenomas and its involvement in the regulation of HIF-1α and VEGF-A production in these tumours, suggesting an important role of RSUME in the process of pituitary adenoma neovascularisation.

Their study suggests that the novel RWD-domain containing protein RSUME is a new and important player in pituitary tumour pathogenesis. It is overexpressed in human pituitary adenomas and critically regulates HIF-1α expression and VEGF-A production under hypoxia. Through supporting pituitary tumour neovascularisation, RSUME might be critically involved in pituitary adenoma progression. Therefore, it represents a new putative therapeutic target for the development of novel anti-angiogenic treatment concepts of human pituitary tumours. Shan et al. (2012) Endocrine-Related Cancer 19 13-27.

Read the full article at DOI: 10.1530/ERC-11-0211.