The pituitary gland cell type enriched transcriptome

The pituitary gland is a small endocrine gland located at the base of the brain, with a crucial role in regulating many bodily functions. It consists of two main lobes: the anterior lobe, which produces and releases several important hormones such as growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and the posterior lobe, which is highly enervated, and stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus. Connected to the hypothalamus through blood vessels and nerve fibres, the pituitary gland forms part of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, controlling various physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response. โ€‹

1463 genes were predicted to have cell type specificity in the pituitary gland.

  • 13 cell types profiled
  • 360 very highly enriched genes
  • 389 highly enriched genes
  • 714 moderately enriched genes

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Pituitary gland cell type enriched transcriptome: Summary

Genes with predicted cell type specificity within pituitary gland are detailed in Table 1. Identified genes are subdivided into 3 specificity categories, based on the difference between the enrichment score in the corresponding cell type, compared to the other cell types profiled in the tissue (see Methods Summary page for details):

  • Predicted specificity: ยดVery highยด - Differential score vs. other profiled cell types within the tissue >0.35
  • Predicted specificity: ยดHighยด - Differential score vs. other profiled cell types within the tissue >0.25
  • Predicted specificity: ยดModerateยด - Differential score vs. other profiled cell types within the tissue >0.15


Table 1. Number of genes in each specificity category in the pituitary gland cell types.

Cell type
Very high
High
Moderate
Total enriched
Somatotropes 91 36 12 139
Lactotropes 16 37 77 130
Gonadotropes 72 41 39 152
Corticotropes 93 71 75 239
Thyrotropes 15 45 56 116
Undifferentiated cells (Pituitary gland) 2 22 144 168
Endothelial cells 7 21 95 123
Smooth muscle cells 2 4 13 19
Fibroblasts 2 16 81 99
Macrophages 12 24 47 83
Neutrophils 7 11 9 27
T-cells 1 8 53 62
Plasma cells 40 53 13 106
All cell types 360389714 1463


Figure 1. Bar plot of the number of enriched genes in the cell types of the pituitary gland, divided by specificity category

0.020406080100120140160180200220genesSomatotropesLactotropesGonadotropesCorticotropesThyrotropesUndifferentiated cells (Pituitary gland)Endothelial cellsSmooth muscle cellsFibroblastsMacrophagesNeutrophilsT-cellsPlasma cellsVery highHighModerate

Pituitary gland cell type enriched transcriptome: Illustrative examples

Corticotropes

Corticotropes make up about 20% of the anterior pituitary cells. These cells synthesize and release adrenocorticotropic hormone, cleaved from Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), which stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol and other steroid hormones. Other genes classified as having specificity in corticotropes included the neuropeptide galanin (GAL).

0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
POMC - Pituitary gland

POMC
0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
GAL - Pituitary gland

GAL

Gonadotropes

Gonadotropes secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHB) and luteinizing hormone (LHB), which are essential for reproductive function.

0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
FSHB - Pituitary gland

FSHB
0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
LHB - Pituitary gland

LHB

Lactotropes

Lactotropes produce and release prolactin (PRL), which is important for milk production in mammals, and they express the transcription factor Pituitary-specific positive transcription factor 1 (POU1F1).

0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
PRL - Pituitary gland

PRL
0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
POU1F1 - Pituitary gland

POU1F1

Somatotropes

Somatotropes are the most abundant cell type in the anterior pituitary, comprising 30-50% of the gland. They produce and secrete growth hormone (GH1), which is crucial for regulating body growth and metabolism. Other genes classified as having specificity in somatotropes included Delta Like Non-Canonical Notch Ligand 1 (DLK1).

0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
GH1 - Pituitary gland

GH1
0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
DLK1 - Pituitary gland

DLK1

Thyrotropes

Thyrotropes constitute 3-5% of the anterior pituitary cells. They produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSHB), which regulates the function of the thyroid gland, and they express the transcription factor GATA Binding Protein 2 (GATA2).

0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
TSHB - Pituitary gland

TSHB
0.30.40.50.60.70.80.91.0Enrichment
GATA2 - Pituitary gland

GATA2