Lipid peroxidation and antioxidants status in human malignant and non-malignant thyroid tumours.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid epithelial cells produce moderate amounts of reactive oxygen species that are physiologically required for thyroid hormone synthesis. Nevertheless, when they are produced in excessive amounts, they may become toxic.


OBJECTIVE
The present study is aimed to compare the lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and non-protein thiols (reduced glutathione (GSH)) in human thyroid tissues with malignant and non-malignant disorders.


METHODS
The study used human thyroid tissues and blood samples from 157 women (147 diseased and 10 normal). Thyroid hormones, oxidative stress markers and antioxidants were estimated by standard methods.


RESULTS
LPO significantly increased in most of the papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC: 82.9%) and follicular thyroid adenoma (FTA: 72.9%) tissues, whilst in a majority of nodular goitre (69.2%) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT: 73.7%) thyroid tissues, it remained unaltered. GSH increased in PTC (55.3%), remained unaltered in FTA (97.3%) and all other goiter samples studied. SOD increased in PTC (51.1%) and all other malignant thyroid tissues studied. CAT remained unaltered in PTC (95.7%), FTA (97.3%) and all other non-malignant samples (HT, MNG, TMNG) studied. GPx increased in PTC (63.8%), all other malignant thyroid tissues and remained unaltered in many of the FTA (91.9%) tissues and all other non-malignant samples (HT, MNG, TMNG) studied.


CONCLUSIONS
In the case of non-malignant thyroid tumours, the oxidant-antioxidant balance was undisturbed, whilst in malignant tumours the balance was altered, and the change in r value observed in the LPO and SOD pairs between normal and PTC tissues and also in many pairs with multi-nodular goitre (MNG)/toxic MNG tissues may be used as a marker to differentiate/detect different malignant/non-malignant thyroid tumours.
Department of Endocrinology, Dr ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Department of Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University (TAMU), College Station, TX, USA aruldhasmm@gmail.com stan_stans@yahoo.com.
J A
JA
Stanley
Department of Endocrinology, Dr ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
R
R
Neelamohan
Department of Endocrinology, Dr ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
E
E
Suthagar
Department of Endocrinology, Dr ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
G
G
Vengatesh
Department of Endocrine Surgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
J
J
Jayakumar
Department of Endocrine Surgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
M
M
Chandrasekaran
Department of Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University (TAMU), College Station, TX, USA.
S K
SK
Banu
Department of Endocrinology, Dr ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
M M
MM
Aruldhas
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006042:Goiter / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008875:Middle Aged; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
GPx; GSH; Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; LPO; Oxidative stress; catalase; thyroid cancer; thyroid goitre