c-Kit proto-oncogene is more likely to lose expression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma than three thyroid-specific genes: thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor.
Although c-kit proto-oncogene product is known to be weakly expressed on normal thyrocytes, its function is unclear. In order to investigate the significance of thyroid c-kit, c-kit gene expression in 37 various thyroid tissues was analyzed by comparing c-kit gene expression with the mRNA expression of three thyroid-specific genes: thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, c-kit mRNA was hardly detected by the usual northern blot method in 2 of 7 follicular carcinomas, 11 of 12 papillary carcinomas, and a medullary carcinoma. On the other hand, a high level of c-kit mRNA expression was found in all 17 benign thyroid tissues (4 normal thyroid tissues, 4 Graves' disease, 2 adenomatous goiters, and 7 follicular adenomas). This study found that c-kit proto-oncogene is more likely to lose expression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma than any thyroid-specific gene. Decreased c-kit gene expression may serve as an indicator for the de-differentiation of thyrocytes.
Tanaka
T
T
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Miyazaki Medical College, Japan.
Umeki
K
K
Yamamoto
I
I
Kotani
T
T
Sakamoto
F
F
Noguchi
S
S
Ohtaki
S
S
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit