Sox2+ Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Adult Mouse Pituitary Support Organ Homeostasis and Have Tumor-Inducing Potential

• DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2013.07.004
• Publication Date: 2013-10-03T17:30:48Z
• Authors: Cynthia Lilian An...; Danielle Matsushima; Seyedeh Neda Mous...; Massimo Signore; Albert Ian Mackin...; Marie Schaeffer; Carles Gaston-Mas...; Patrice Mollard; Thomas Stanley Ja...; Paul Le Tissier; Mehul Tulsidas Da...; Larysa Halyna Pevny; Juan Pedro Martin...
• Keywords: Progenitor; Homeostasis

Sox2 adult mouse pituitary cells can self-renew and terminally differentiate in vitro, but their physiological role in vivo and possible contribution to oncogenesis remain largely unknown. Using genetic lineage tracing, we show here that the Sox2 cell compartment of both the embryonic and adult pituitary contains stem/progenitor cells that are able to differentiate into all hormone-producing lineages and contribute to organ homeostasis during postnatal life. In addition, we show that targeted expression of oncogenic β-catenin in Sox2 cells gives rise to pituitary tumors, but, unexpectedly, the tumor mass is not derived from the Sox2 mutation-sustaining cells, suggesting a paracrine role of Sox2 cells in pituitary oncogenesis. Our data therefore provide in vivo evidence of a role for Sox2 stem/progenitor cells in long-term physiological maintenance of the adult pituitary, and highlight an unexpected non-cell-autonomous role for these cells in the induction of pituitary tumors.