Related Experiment Videos
Expression of the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase in human thyroid carcinoma
1Department of Molecular Pathology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Abstract:
Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) play a crucial role in regulating thyroid cell growth and differentiation. The Axl protein is a member of a new family of receptor tyrosine kinases, of which the ligand, Gas6, a protein S-related molecule, recently was proved to be a mitogenic factor for human thyroid cells. To further investigate the involvement of Axl in human thyroid carcinoma, we examined tissues obtained from 81 patients with thyroid carcinomas, 18 with adenomas, and 13 with adenomatous goiters by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. In addition, among the thyroid carcinomas, we compared Axl expression levels with the grade of differentiation and lymph node metastasis of the carcinoma. Axl was expressed faintly in adenomatous goiter and adenomas, but not in normal thyroid tissues. Among the 81 cases of thyroid carcinoma, 70 (86.4%) showed a positive staining for the Axl protein. Immunopositive (+ +) was detected in papillary carcinomas and anaplastic carcinomas. The level of Axl expression, however, had no correlation with the presence of lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinomas. In situ hybridization also confirmed the presence of axl mRNA in thyroid carcinoma tissues. These findings suggest that Axl expression may be closely involved in human thyroid tumorigenesis.
Insights
Axl protein, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is significantly upregulated in human thyroid carcinomas, suggesting its involvement in tumor development. Its expression was not correlated with lymph node metastasis in these cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) regulate thyroid cell growth and differentiation.
- Axl receptor tyrosine kinase and its ligand Gas6 are implicated in cell proliferation.
- The role of Axl in human thyroid carcinoma requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and role of Axl in human thyroid carcinoma.
- To correlate Axl expression with clinicopathological features of thyroid tumors.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to examine Axl expression.
- Tissues from 81 thyroid carcinomas, 18 adenomas, and 13 adenomatous goiters were analyzed.
- Axl expression was compared with tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis.
Main Results:
- Axl was not detected in normal thyroid tissue but showed faint expression in adenomas and goiters.
- Axl protein was expressed in 86.4% of thyroid carcinomas, including papillary and anaplastic types.
- Axl expression levels did not correlate with lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinomas.
- In situ hybridization confirmed the presence of axl mRNA in thyroid carcinoma tissues.
Conclusions:
- Axl expression is significantly elevated in human thyroid carcinomas.
- Axl may play a role in the tumorigenesis of human thyroid cancer.
- Further research into Axl's function in thyroid cancer is warranted.