GH is a member of the large family of growth factors that includes prolactin, placental lactogens, proliferins, and somatolactin. Additionally, GH is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by somatotropic cells within the lateral wings of the anterior pituitary gland. Release of GH into the circulation is mediated by the concerted actions of the hypothalamic hormones-GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SST), as well as through signals from the periphery-ghrelin and leptin. At least four alternatively spliced isoforms of GH are known. It is a multipotent and fundamental peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration (see Matsuzaki et al for review) 1. Body growth stimulation occurs through the primary pathway of stimulating the liver (and other tissues) to secrete IGF-1.
hGH effects on the body are anabolic as it stimulates amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in muscle and other tissues. Additionally, GH is used as a reporter protein – due to its external secretion from mammalian cells, it can be easily detected and quantitated via ELISA on sample supernatants. Such detection methods are detailed by Rajkovic’s group in their comparison studies of immunoprecipitation versus chromatography methods2. Carter-Su et al share a detailed summary of GH downstream signaling pathways and shed some insight that should help to drive the design of cytokine-based therapeutics3. Furthermore, Thompson’s group at the Woodland Hills Medical Center heavily relied upon the GH antibody in their immunohistochemical evaluations of pituitary adenomas4. With patient sample set of 32 cases, they coupled a systematic clinicopathological review with immunophenotypic typing in hopes of attaining more accurate classification methods. Their unique combination of pertinent imaging, clinical and immunohistochemical evaluation is a step toward more productive differential diagnoses for this particular tumor type.
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