Open AccessOverexpression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 through aberrant canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in heterotopic ossification of adrenal myelolipoma
Author(s) -
Yozo Mitsui,
Hiroaki Yanagimoto,
Miho Hiraki,
Naoko Arichi,
Noriyoshi Ishikawa,
Yuji Harada,
Riruke Maruyama,
Hìroaki Shiina
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
canadian urological association journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1920-1214
pISSN - 1911-6470
DOI - 10.5489/cuaj.1610
Subject(s) - heterotopic ossification , wnt signaling pathway , ossification , bone morphogenetic protein 2 , bone morphogenetic protein , catenin , beta catenin , immunohistochemistry , cytoplasm , pathology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , medicine , signal transduction , anatomy , genetics , gene , in vitro
The precise mechanism of heterotopic ossification caused by several types of tumours is largely unknown. However, recent studies have indicated that bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is closely linked to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in this rare phenomenon of bone formation. We report a rare case of adrenal myelolipoma (ML) in a 27-year-old woman with heterotopic bone formation. Immunohistochemical findings showed BMP2 expression in the cytoplasm of tumour cells, as well as the matrix adjacent to newly developed bone tissue. In addition, β-catenin was prominent in the cytoplasm and nuclei of BMP2-positive tumour cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of adrenal ML showing heterotopic ossification with accelerated expression of both BMP2 and β-catenin. Our case findings indicate that BMP2 overexpression via aberrant canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling may contribute to heterotopic bone formation occurring in adrenal ML.