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[Ghrelin expression in the tissues of different thyroid diseases]
Yu-fang Zhang1, Hai-ning Wang, Tian-pei Hong
1Department of Endocrinology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083.
Summary
Ghrelin is found in malignant thyroid cancers but not in benign or inflammatory thyroid diseases. This suggests ghrelin may be involved in thyroid cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Context:
- Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), has diverse physiological roles.
- Thyroid diseases encompass a spectrum from inflammatory and benign conditions to malignant neoplasms.
- Understanding the expression patterns of novel peptides like ghrelin in various thyroid pathologies is crucial for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements.
Purpose:
- To investigate the expression of ghrelin in different types of thyroid tissues, including normal controls and various thyroid diseases.
- To determine the potential role and implication of ghrelin expression in the pathogenesis of thyroid neoplasms.
Summary:
- Ghrelin expression was assessed in 57 thyroid tissue specimens from patients with subacute thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, nodular goiter, thyroid adenoma, lymphoma, and various thyroid carcinomas (papillary, follicular, medullary, undifferentiated).
- Immunohistochemical staining revealed ghrelin was undetectable in normal thyroid tissue and all benign and inflammatory thyroid disease categories.
- Ghrelin-positive staining was observed in tumor cells across all investigated types of malignant epithelial thyroid neoplasms.
Impact:
- Ghrelin expression is significantly associated with malignant epithelial thyroid neoplasms.
- The findings suggest ghrelin may play a role in the occurrence and progression of thyroid carcinoma.
- This study highlights ghrelin as a potential biomarker or therapeutic target in thyroid cancer research.
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