Pendrin expression in nodular and non-nodular thyroid tissues

Introduction: Different mechanisms for the expression of pendrin which is an apical iodide transporter have been reported in nodular thyroid tissues compared to normal thyroid. The aim of the present study was to determine the alterations of pendrin expression in nodular and surrounding non-nodular thyroid tissues and clarify the role of pendrin in the functional behaviour of nodular lesions. Material and methods: Twenty-six nodular and paired non-nodular normal thyroid tissues were collected at the same centre. Patients were divided into two groups based on the function of the dominant thyroid nodule; hot nodules (n = 18) and cold nodules (n = 8). mRNA levels of pendrin were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. Pendrin protein expression was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. Results of dominant nodules were compared to non-nodular thyroid tissue of the same patient. Results: No statistically significant difference was found with respect to qualitative and quantitative measurements of pendrin expression between hot and cold nodules. However, percent immunohistochemical staining of pendrin was significantly higher in both hot and cold nodules compared to non-nodular thyroid tissue of the same patients. RT-PCR revealed comparable mRNA levels of pendrin gene between hot nodules and corresponding normal thyroid tissues. However, in cold nodules, significantly decreased mRNA levels of pendrin were observed compared to normal thyroid tissue. mRNA levels of pendrin showed significant positive correlation with TSH in corresponding non-nodular thyroid tissues. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that expression of pendrin could not be influenced by TSH in thyroid nodules and expression level of pendrin seems not to have an effect on nodule function. (Endokrynol Pol 2013; 64 (3): 208–214)Wstęp: W guzkowej tkance tarczycowej opisano odmienny od pozaguzkowej tkanki tarczycowej mechanizm ekspresji pendryny — transportera jodu zlokalizowanego w części szczytowej komórki. Celem badania było ustalenie zmian w ekspresji pendryny w guzkowej tkance tarczycowej i otaczającej ją pozaguzkowej tkance tarczycowej, aby wyjaśnić rolę pendryny w zachowaniu czynnościowym zmian guzkowych. Materiał i metody: W tym samym ośrodku pobrano 26 wycinków guzkowej tkanki tarczycowej i sparowanych wycinków pozaguzkowej prawidłowej tkanki tarczycowej. Pacjentów podzielono na dwie grupy w zależności od statusu czynnościowego guzka dominującego: grupę z guzkami gorącymi (n = 18) i grupę z guzkami zimnymi (n = 8). Poziom mRNA i pendryny oznaczono ilościowo metodą RT-PCR. Ekspresję białka pendryny oznaczono metodą immunohistochemiczną. Wyniki dla guzków dominujących porównano z wynikami dla tkanki pozaguzkowej u tego samego pacjenta. Wyniki: Nie stwierdzono statystycznie znamiennych różnic pomiędzy guzkami gorącymi i zimnymi, jeżeli chodzi o wyniki oznaczenia ilościowego i jakościowego ekspresji pendryny. Procentowe barwienie immunohistochemiczne w kierunku pendryny było natomiast znamiennie większe zarówno w przypadku guzków gorących, jak i zimnych w porównaniu z tkanką pozaguzkową u tych samych pacjentów. RT-PCR wykazało porównywalne poziomy mRNA genu kodującego pendrynę w guzkach gorących i prawidłowej tkance tarczycowej u tych samych pacjentów. Z kolei w przypadku guzków zimnych stwierdzono znamiennie niższe poziomy pendryny w porównaniu z prawidłową tkanką tarczycową. Stwierdzono też korelację dodatnią poziomu mRNA pendryny i poziomu TSH w korespondujących tkankach pozaguzkowych. Wnioski: W przeprowadzonym badaniu wykazano, że na ekspresję pendryny nie może mieć wpływu TSH w guzkach tarczycy oraz że poziom ekspresji pendryny nie wydaje się wpływać na czynność guzków. (Endokrynol Pol 2013; 64 (3):208–214

Response of Macroprolactinemia to Dopamine Agonists

Macroprolactinemia, defined as hyperprolactinemia with a predominance of the big big prolactin (macroprolactin) isoform, is considered idiopathic and poorly symptomatic. Although macroprolactinemia has been considered to be a cause of apparent resistance to antiprolactinemic drugs, prolactin (PRL) normalization with dopaminergic treatment cannot exclude macroprolactinemia. We report three cases with macroprolactinemia, whose PRL and macroprolactin levels were decreased and hyperprolactinemic symptoms were improved with dopamine agonists

Clodronic acid in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Background: Clodronic acid, a first-generation bisphosphonate, has been successfully used in the treatment of high bone turnover states, Paget's disease and osteolytic bone metastases. However, controversies remain over its optimal dosage and method of administration in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of clodronic acid treatment for 3 years on bone mineral density (BMD) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients Assessed to Be at Low or Intermediary Risk After Primary Treatment Are at Greater Risk of Long Term Recurrence If They Are Thyroglobulin Antibody Positive Or Do Not Have Distinctly Low Thyroglobulin at Initial Assessment

Background: In papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), recurrences during long-term follow-up (R-LTFU) occur even in those who appear to have an excellent prognosis after initial thyroid surgery and usually, radioactive iodine (i.e., "primary treatment"). Initial studies that predict R-LTFU are not well defined. Values for serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements when serum thyrotropin (TSH) is >30 mu U/mL, as a result of either recombinant TSH or L-thyroxine withdrawal, referred to here as stimulated Tg (STg), have been previously evaluated. The aim of the current study was to determine the parameters associated with R-LTFU in patients with PTC categorized as having low-risk disease 9 to 12 months after their primary treatment

The long term outcome of papillary thyroid carcinoma patients without primary central lymph node dissection: Expected improvement of routine dissection

Background. We investigated central compartment recurrence (CCR) and mortality rate in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) who had no central lymph node dissection (CLND) at the time of primary operation

THE ROLE OF 21-HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF BEHCET DISEASE

Objective: Acne-like skin lesions and more severe disease course in males suggest a role for sex hormones in the pathogenesis of Behcet disease (BD). HLA-B51 is the main genetic susceptibility factor for BD, and CYP21A2 gene responsible for most of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is located within the MHC locus on chromosome 6p21.3. We aimed to investigate the possible role of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B51 and causing androgen excess

Pendrin expression in nodular and non-nodular thyroid tissues

Introduction: Different mechanisms for the expression of pendrin which is an apical iodide transporter have been reported in nodular thyroid tissues compared to normal thyroid. The aim of the present study was to determine the alterations of pendrin expression in nodular and surrounding non-nodular thyroid tissues and clarify the role of pendrin in the functional behaviour of nodular lesions