Expression of all-trans-retinoic acid receptor RNA in human thyroid cells

The expression of all-trans-retinoic acid receptor (RAR) RNA was investigated by Northern blot and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction in tissues and primary cultures of human thyrocytes. In normal and adenomatous samples the RAR alpha RNA was expressed, whereas the expression of RAR beta and gamma was undetectable. In carcinoma samples RAR alpha RNA expression could decline, whereas the RAR beta RNA expression could become detectable. TSH and retinoic acid did not significantly modify RAR alpha mRNA levels, whereas RA caused a significant decrease in basal and TSH-induced thyroid peroxidase (TPO) mRNA levels, and a decrease in DNA synthesis. These results demonstrate that RAR alpha gene is predominantly expressed in human thyrocytes, and suggest a molecular link between this gene and the negative regulation by RA of proliferation and function of follicular cells.