Identification of molecules affecting ACTH secretion and establishment of novel therapy of pituitary adenomas

我们专注于促肾上腺皮质激素，并试图识别和抑制在分泌颗粒的形成和细胞内运输中发挥主要作用的新分子。利用异体载体将GFP融合的野生ACTH和高分子量ACTH导入AtT20细胞，建立了持续高表达ACTH的细胞。激光共聚焦显微镜下观察促肾上腺皮质激素分泌颗粒在细胞内的定位以及CRH和细胞外高钾刺激下ACTH的分泌。全内反射荧光显微镜下观察质膜下ACTH分泌颗粒的动态变化。

We focused on adrenocorticotropic hormone and tried to identify and suppress novel molecules playing major roles on formation and intracellular transport of secretory granules. Cells continuously overexpressing ACTH were newly established through transfection to AtT20 cells of GFP-fused wild ACTH and high molecular weight ACTH using episomal vector. Under confocal laser microscopy, intracellular localization of ACTH secretory granules and secretion of ACTH stimulated by CRH and extracellular high potassium were observed. The dynamics of ACTH secretory granules under plasma membrane was also observed under total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.