title: Differential gene expression by oxyphil and chief cells of human parathyroid glands.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parathyroid oxyphil cells, whose function is unknown, are thought to be derived from chief cells. Oxyphil cells increase in number in parathyroid glands of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are even more abundant in patients receiving treatment for hyperparathyroidism with calcitriol and/or the calcimimetic cinacalcet.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined oxyphil and chief cells of parathyroid glands of CKD patients for differential expression of genes important to parathyroid function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parathyroid tissue from CKD patients with refractory hyperparathyroidism was immunostained for gene expression studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunostaining for PTH, PTHrP, calcium-sensing receptor, glial cells missing 2, vitamin D receptor, 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase, and cytochrome c was quantified and expression reported for oxyphil and chief cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of all proteins analyzed, except for the vitamin D receptor, was higher in oxyphil cells than in chief cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human parathyroid oxyphil cells express parathyroid-relevant genes found in the chief cells and have the potential to produce additional autocrine/paracrine factors, such as PTHrP and calcitriol. Additional studies are warranted to define the secretory properties of these cells and clarify their role in parathyroid pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes Jewish Hospital, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Haughey
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D024862:Oxyphil Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein / Q000097:blood; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000502:physiology; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C119532:GCM2 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing; D014157:Transcription Factors