title: Oncogenic activation of MAP kinase by BRAF pseudogene in thyroid tumors.
abstract: Activating BRAF mutations have been reported in 40% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). The involvement of BRAF pseudogene in thyroid tumorigenesis has not previously been studied. We investigated BRAF pseudogene expression in 68 thyroid tumors: 16 multinodular goiters, 43 classic PTCs, 6 follicular variants of PTC, and 3 anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. BRAF pseudogene function was studied by Western blots, soft agar assay, and tumorigenesis in nude mice. BRAF pseudogene expression was detected in 7 multinodular goiters, 18 classic PTC, and 1 follicular variants of PTC. There is an inverse correlation between BRAF pseudogene expression and BRAF mutation. The pseudogene transcripts were more frequently detected in tumors without BRAF mutation than those with BRAF mutation. Furthermore, BRAF pseudogene expression could activate the MAP kinase signaling pathway, transform NIH3T3 cells in vitro, and induce tumors in nude mice. These data suggest that BRAF pseudogene activation may play a role in thyroid tumor development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Minjing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Essa Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Baitei
authors.forename: Ali S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alzahrani
authors.forename: Futwan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Mohanna
authors.forename: Nadir R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Farid
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Yufei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006042:Goiter / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011544:Pseudogenes / Q000502:physiology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases