Core I gene is overexpressed in Hürthle and non-Hürthle cell microfollicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas of the thyroid.
BACKGROUND
Most of the steps involved in the initiation and progression of Hürthle (oncocytic, oxyphilic) cell carcinomas of the thyroid remain unknown.


METHODS
Using differential display and semiquantitative RT-PCR we found, among other alterations, overexpression of the gene encoding the Core I subunit of the complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in a follicular carcinoma composed of Hürthle cells.


RESULTS
Similar high levels of Core I gene expression were detected in nine follicular carcinomas (seven with Hürthle cell features), in seven microfollicular adenomas (one with Hürthle cell features) and in one micro/macrofollicular adenoma, in contrast to a lower/normal expression in nine papillary carcinomas (three with Hürthle cell features) and five macrofollicular adenomas (one of which displaying Hürthle cell features). No significative correlation was found between Core I overexpression and the proliferative activity of the lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that Core I overexpression in thyroid tumours is not associated with malignancy, Hürthle cells or proliferative activity. The pathogenetic mechanism linking Core I overexpression to the microfollicular pattern of growth of thyroid tumours remains to be clarified.
Máximo
Valdemar
V
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal. vmaximo@ipatimup.pt
Preto
Ana
A
Crespo
Ana
A
Rocha
Ana Sofia
AS
Machado
José Carlos
JC
Soares
Paula
P
Sobrinho-Simões
Manuel
M
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I