title: Significantly high expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in benign nodules of the thyroid: relevance in the development of goitre recurrence?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a critical regulator of cell proliferation and influences the development of tumors. The role of PDGF in benign thyroid diseases is presently not well-determined. The purpose is to evaluate PDGF isoforms and receptors in primary culture of thyrocytes isolated from human thyroid tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with uninodular (n = 11), multinodular (n = 15) and recurrent goitre (n = 14) were investigated. Nodular and corresponding paranodular thyroid tissues were characterized. RNA and protein were extracted from primary thyrocyte monoculture. RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA were performed to evaluate PDGF isoforms AA, BB, CC, DD and PDGF receptors α and β.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher mRNA expression of PDGF-AA, -BB, -CC and PDGFR molecules α and β was measured by RT-PCR in thyrocytes from uninodular and recurrent nodular tissue compared with corresponding paranodular tissue. Elevated PDGF protein and PDGFR-α and -β were confirmed by western blot. Likewise, higher secretion of PDGF-AA and -BB was detected in the supernatant of thyrocyte culture from all nodular tissue compared with paranodular tissue. Interestingly, comparison of nodular and corresponding paranodular tissues in multinodular goitre did not show significant difference of expression levels of PDGF isoforms or receptors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the overexpression of PDGF isoforms and receptors may play a crucial role in the development of thyroid nodules and recurrent goitre.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. patrizia.malkomes@kgu.de
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malkomes
authors.forename: Elsie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oppermann
authors.forename: Wolf-Otto
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Bechstein
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha