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An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
Expression of CD56 (NKH-1) differentiation antigen in human thyroid epithelium
J Zeromski1, M Bagnasco, F Paolieri
1Department of Immunopathology, University Medical School, Poznan, Poland.
Insights
The CD56 antigen, typically found on natural killer (NK) cells, was unexpectedly detected on thyroid follicular cells. This finding in Graves
Area of Science:
- Immunohistochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Leu-19 (CD56) monoclonal antibody (MoAb) is a standard marker for natural killer (NK) cells.
- The expression of CD56 on non-NK cells, particularly in endocrine tissues, is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CD56 antigen on human thyroid follicular cells.
- To determine if CD56 expression varies in different thyroid conditions.
Main Methods:
- Alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) immunohistochemical technique on frozen human tissue sections.
- Utilized Leu-19 (CD56) MoAb as the primary antibody.
- Confirmed findings using cytofluorimetric assessment of isolated thyroid cells.
Main Results:
- Distinct CD56 expression was observed on the cell membranes of thyroid epithelial follicular cells across 11 examined organs.
- CD56 staining showed a diffuse pattern in Graves' disease and colloidal goiter, and a focal pattern in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
- Other NK cell markers (CD16, CD57) showed minimal reactivity with thyroid stromal cells.
Conclusions:
- CD56 antigen is expressed on human thyroid follicular cells, distinct from its known role on NK cells.
- The differential expression patterns in various thyroid pathologies suggest a potential functional role.
- CD56 expression on thyroid cells may be involved in neural-endocrine interactions within the thyroid gland.
Abstract:
Leu-19 (CD56) MoAb is well known to recognize gp220 expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and is widely used as a NK cell marker. The expression of CD56 antigen was tested by means of sensitive alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) immunohistochemical technique and the above mentioned MoAb as a primary antibody, on frozen sections of various fresh human tissues. Out of 11 organs examined only thyroid gland provided a distinct reaction confined to cell membranes of epithelial follicular cells. The reaction had a diffuse pattern in cases of Graves' disease and colloidal goitre while in Hashimoto's thyroiditis presented as a focal pattern. Other anti-NK cell MoAbs such as VD4 (CD16) and Leu-7 (CD57) reacted only with single cells of thyroid stroma. The results of APAAP staining were confirmed by the cytofluorimetric assessment of isolated thyroid cells. It is speculated that CD56 expression on thyroid cells may have a functional significance, perhaps related to neural-endocrine interactions.
