Objective: To investigate the potential of gene therapy of rat prolactinomas mediated by adenoviral vectors with a gene encoding rat tyrosine hydroxylase.
Methods: Recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus named Ad-GFP-TH with rat TH-cDNA and control adenovirus named Ad-GFP were constructed by homologous recombination in bacterial cells. The rat pituitary prolactinoma cell line MMQ are chosen as the target cells to study the effect of gene therapy on their growth and prolactin secretion mediated by Ad-GFP-TH.
Results: Recombinant Ad-GFP-TH and Ad-GFP were successfully reconstructed. Transfection of MMQ cells with Ad-GFP-TH not only restrained their growth but also decreased their PRL secretion.
Conclusion: Gene therapy may serve for a potential treatment for prolactinomas, especially invasive prolactinomas.