Fas and Bcl-2 protein expression in thyrocytes of patients with nodular goiter
Loading...
Date
Authors
Andrikoula, M.
Vartholomatos, G.
Tsangaris, G. T.
Bafa, M.
Tzortzatou-Stathopoulou, F.
Tsatsoulis, A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Type
Type of the conference item
Journal type
peer-reviewed
Educational material type
Conference Name
Journal name
European Journal of Endocrinology
Book name
Book series
Book edition
Alternative title / Subtitle
Description
OBJECTIVE: The relative expression of the apoptotic protein Fas and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were investigated in thyrocytes from patients with non-toxic nodular goiter (NTG, n=20) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT, n=5), who underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy for diagnostic reasons. On the basis of the clinical and cytological findings, the patients with NTG were sub-classified into the group of those with colloid nodules (n=9), degenerative nodules (n=6) and adenomatous nodules (n=5). METHODS: Fine-needle biopsy aspirates were examined by immunocytochemistry for Fas and Bcl-2 expression, using specific monoclonal antibodies. For the evaluation of Fas and Bcl-2 immuno-reactivity, an expression index, based on the number of cells with positive staining, was used: grade 1 included samples with positive staining in <20% of cells; grade 2 included samples with 20-50% positive cells; and grade 3 included samples with >50% positive cells. RESULTS: Fas protein expression was generally low (grade 1) in patients with nodular goiter, in contrast to patients with HT, in whom high expression was detected (grade 3). Only in aspirates from degenerative nodules (four out of six), and in which lymphocytes were also present, was Fas expressed at an intermediate level (grade 2). On the other hand, Bcl-2 protein was differentially expressed among the nodule subtypes. It was low in colloid and degenerative nodules (grade 1) but high in adenomatous ones (grades 2 and 3). Bcl-2 expression was also low in patients with HT (grade 1). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that in comparison to HT, where there is up-regulation of Fas and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein, Fas expression is low in human goiter, indicating low apoptotic activity. The regulation of Bcl-2 protein differs between adenomatous and colloid nodules, suggesting that this protein may play a role in the differentiation of thyroid nodules.
Description
Keywords
Adult, Aged, Antigens, CD95/*metabolism, Female, Goiter, Nodular/*metabolism/pathology, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/*metabolism, Thyroid Gland/*metabolism/pathology, Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/metabolism/pathology
Subject classification
Citation
Link
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11580996
http://www.eje-online.org/content/145/4/403.full.pdf
http://www.eje-online.org/content/145/4/403.full.pdf
Language
en
Publishing department/division
Advisor name
Examining committee
General Description / Additional Comments
Institution and School/Department of submitter
Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Σχολή Επιστημών Υγείας. Τμήμα Ιατρικής