Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
07:02

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2019

Frizzled-1 is down-regulated in follicular thyroid tumours and modulates growth and invasiveness

A Ulivieri1, L Lavra, R Dominici

  • 1Research Centre, S. Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy.

The Journal of Pathology
|February 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Loss of Frizzled-1 (FZD-1) gene expression is common in follicular thyroid tumors, suggesting its role in tumor growth and potential as a diagnostic marker.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) development mechanisms are unclear.
  • Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 7q21 is frequent in FTC.
  • Investigating gene expression changes associated with LOH is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the impact of LOH on gene expression in thyroid lesions.
  • To identify specific genes within the 7q21 region involved in follicular tumor progression.
  • To evaluate the role of Frizzled-1 (FZD-1) in follicular thyroid tumor pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of mRNA expression of six genes at 7q21.1-7q21.3 in 23 thyroid lesions (hyperplasias, adenomas, FTCs, PTCs).
  • Quantitative RT-PCR on an independent series of 69 follicular neoplastic lesions and 25 PTCs.
  • In vitro studies using FTC- and PTC-derived cell lines to assess FZD-1 protein and mRNA levels, invasiveness, and proliferation.

Main Results:

  • Frizzled-1 (FZD-1) gene exhibited the lowest mRNA expression among the analyzed genes.
  • FZD-1 down-regulation was confirmed in follicular neoplastic lesions and FTC cell lines.
  • Overexpression of FZD-1 reduced invasiveness and proliferation in FTC cells; RNA interference increased invasiveness in PTC cells.

Conclusions:

  • FZD-1 plays a significant role in the growth and progression of follicular thyroid tumors.
  • Reduced FZD-1 expression is a key event in follicular tumorigenesis.
  • FZD-1 may serve as a novel diagnostic marker for follicular thyroid tumors.

More Related Videos

An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development08:33

An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development

Published on: June 6, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones01:20

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones

Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology01:27

Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic state caused by elevated levels of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). It results from dysregulation at the thyroid, pituitary, or immune system level and affects multiple organ systems.PathophysiologyThe most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies, specifically thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb), a subtype of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb), bind to and activate TSH receptors...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...
Hypothyroidism II: Pathophysiology01:23

Hypothyroidism II: Pathophysiology

Hypothyroidism is a disorder characterized by insufficient production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, energy balance, and multiple organ systems.TypesHypothyroidism is classified based on the level of dysfunction. Primary hypothyroidism results from intrinsic thyroid gland dysfunction, causing reduced hormone production despite normal or increased stimulation. Secondary hypothyroidism arises from inadequate thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion by the pituitary. Tertiary...
Functions of Thyroid Hormones01:18

Functions of Thyroid Hormones

The thyroid hormone (TH) plays a pivotal role in the intricate orchestration of physiological processes, exerting profound effects on development, metabolism, and homeostasis throughout different life stages.
TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...