title: Differential expression of connexin 43 in human autoimmune thyroid disease.
abstract: Gap junctions provide a pathway for cell-to-cell communication. Reduced thyroid epithelial cell-cell communication has been reported in some animal models of autoimmune thyroid disease. In order to assess whether this change was similar to human autoimmune thyroid disease, we identified some connexin proteins and their corresponding mRNA in human thyroid gland. The aim of our study was to explore the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in the thyroid gland from normal and diseased human thyroid tissue by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression levels of Cx43 in Grave's disease were significantly increased in comparison with those of normal thyroid tissue. There was a significant decrease in expression of Cx43 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, compared with normal thyroid tissue. These data indicate that changes of Cx43 expression in human autoimmune thyroid disease were associated with variations in thyroid function and hormone secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The First Clinical Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Guo-Yan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hui-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Yin