Emerging Targets in Pituitary Adenomas: Role of the CXCL12/CXCR4-R7 System

Figure 2

CXCL12/CXCR4 system represents a regulatory pathway for pituitary both in physiological functions and tumorigenesis. CXCL12 originating from hypothalamic neurons or systemic circulation represents a regulatory factor of anterior pituitary function. Autocrine and paracrine mechanisms control proliferative and secretagogue activities in normal pituitary cells expressing either CXCR4 alone or CXCR4 and CXCL12. Overexpression of CXCR4 and its ligand induces autocrine/paracrine proliferation in pituitary tumor cells and likely contributes to adenoma development.