title: Expression and correlation of sodium/iodide symporter and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor in human thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) in human thyroid cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  NIS and TSHR mRNA levels quantified by real-time PCR as well as NIS and TSHR proteins evaluated by immunohistochemistry were examined in surgical specimens including 38 benign nodules, 32 thyroid carcinomas and 36 normal thyroid samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NIS and TSHR mRNA levels in thyroid carcinomas were significantly lower than in benign nodules and normal thyroid samples (P <0.001). Interestingly, we found that NIS and TSHR mRNA expression in benign nodules had similar levels to those in normal thyroid tissues. However, NIS and TSHR protein expression in benign nodules and thyroid carcinomas was stronger than in normal thyroid samples (P <0.05) but mainly located in cytoplasm. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between NIS and TSHR in benign nodules and normal thyroid samples (r = 0.551 and 0.667, respectively, P = 0.001 and 0.000, respectively) but there was no such correlation in thyroid carcinomas (r = 0.222, P = 0.376).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In thyroid carcinomas, NIS and TSHR mRNA levels were lower but the proteins were overexpressed. The NIS protein mainly locates in the cytoplasm, which therefore lacks the ability of transporting and absorbing iodine in patients with thyroid carcinoma. In addition, there was no correlation between NIS and TSHR in thyroid cancer, which may explain why, even after TSH stimulation, 10-20% of these malignant tumors are unable to concentrate enough radioiodine for effective therapy.
authors: Institute of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Gansu, China.
authors: Zhi-Feng
authors: ZF
authors: Wang
authors: Qin-Jiang
authors: QJ
authors: Liu
authors: Shi-Qi
authors: SQ
authors: Liao
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Yang
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Ge
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: He
authors: Cai-Ping
authors: CP
authors: Tian
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000099209:Sodium-Iodide Symporters
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D027981:Symporters; D000099209:Sodium-Iodide Symporters