TY - JOUR
T1 - Catecholamine-Synthesizing Enzymes Are Expressed in Parasympathetic Head and Neck Paraganglioma Tissue
AU - Osinga, Thamara E.
AU - Korpershoek, Esther
AU - De Krijger, Ronald R.
AU - Kerstens, Michiel N.
AU - Dullaart, Robin P F
AU - Kema, Ido P.
AU - Van Der Laan, Bernard F A M
AU - Van Der Horst-Schrivers, Anouk N A
AU - Links, Thera P.
PY - 2015/7/25
Y1 - 2015/7/25
N2 - Background/Aim: Increased dopamine production may be a feature of head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL). 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography scintigraphy has a high sensitivity for detecting HNPGLs. These observations strongly suggest that HNPGLs have the capacity for L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine uptake and conversion towards dopamine. Therefore, our aim was to demonstrate the presence of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, i.e. tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) in HNPGL tissue. Methods: A single-center study was performed among patients who underwent surgery for HNPGL at a single university referral center between 1994 and 2012. HNPGL tissue was immunohistochemically stained for TH, AADC and DBH. Data on paraganglioma-associated germline mutations, preoperative biochemical phenotype and imaging studies were retrieved. Catecholamine excess was defined as preoperative plasma and/or urinary levels of metanephrine, normetanephrine or 3-methoxytyramine above the upper reference limit. Results: Nineteen HNPGLs from 18 patients were evaluated. All tumor tissues (100%) stained positive for AADC, 6 (32%) for TH and 2 (11%) for DBH. Of 3 HNPGLs staining positive for DBH, 2 were also positive for AADC and TH. Catecholamine excess was only present in 1 patient (5%). The HNPGLs of this single patient only showed positive staining for AADC. Conclusions: Catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, in particular AADC, are expressed in the majority of HNPGL tissues.
AB - Background/Aim: Increased dopamine production may be a feature of head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL). 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography scintigraphy has a high sensitivity for detecting HNPGLs. These observations strongly suggest that HNPGLs have the capacity for L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine uptake and conversion towards dopamine. Therefore, our aim was to demonstrate the presence of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, i.e. tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) in HNPGL tissue. Methods: A single-center study was performed among patients who underwent surgery for HNPGL at a single university referral center between 1994 and 2012. HNPGL tissue was immunohistochemically stained for TH, AADC and DBH. Data on paraganglioma-associated germline mutations, preoperative biochemical phenotype and imaging studies were retrieved. Catecholamine excess was defined as preoperative plasma and/or urinary levels of metanephrine, normetanephrine or 3-methoxytyramine above the upper reference limit. Results: Nineteen HNPGLs from 18 patients were evaluated. All tumor tissues (100%) stained positive for AADC, 6 (32%) for TH and 2 (11%) for DBH. Of 3 HNPGLs staining positive for DBH, 2 were also positive for AADC and TH. Catecholamine excess was only present in 1 patient (5%). The HNPGLs of this single patient only showed positive staining for AADC. Conclusions: Catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, in particular AADC, are expressed in the majority of HNPGL tissues.
KW - Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase
KW - Dopamine β-hydroxylase
KW - Head and neck paragangliomas
KW - Tyrosine hydroxylase
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937976521&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000377703
DO - 10.1159/000377703
M3 - Article
C2 - 25677368
AN - SCOPUS:84937976521
SN - 0028-3835
VL - 101
SP - 289
EP - 295
JO - Neuroendocrinology
JF - Neuroendocrinology
IS - 4
ER -