Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human thyroid disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, which is the inducible form of the COX enzyme for prostaglandin synthesis and a key mediator of epithelial cell growth, has been shown to be up-regulated in gastrointestinal cancers. Additionally, regular intake of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) is known to decrease the incidence of these cancers. Therefore, the goals of the present study were to determine the possible involvement of COX-2 in human thyroid diseases.

METHODS:

We used immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis to characterize the expression of COX-2 proteins in thyroid tissues from 64 patients with thyroiditis, benign tumors, and malignant tumors with or without metastasis. Immunoreactivity scores were calculated by multiplication of the determined grades.

RESULTS:

COX-2 proteins were not expressed in normal thyroid tissues. However, each type of tumor tissue showed intense bands of COX-2 protein expression in Western blot analyses, and the immunoreactivity scores were 7.67+/-1.17 (SD) for thyroiditis, 7.87+/-0.9 for benign tumors, 7.53+/-1.53 for follicular cancer, 7.63+/-1.11 for papillary cancer without metastasis, and 7.17+/-1.55 for papillary cancer with metastasis. No significant differences were found in the levels of COX-2 expression between different tumor tissue types.

CONCLUSION:

No significant correlations were observed between clinical and/or pathological characteristics of thyroid tumors and the intensity of COX-2 protein expression. In addition, we found no difference in COX-2 protein expression between thyroiditis and thyroid tumors. Thus, up-regulation of COX-2 protein synthesis in human thyroid diseases does not appear to be of clinical significance.

• Authors: K J Lee, Y S Jung, W H Kim, T I Yoon, H J Joo, E Y Soh
• Journal: Journal of endocrinological investigation (J Endocrinol Invest) Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 111-8 (Feb 2008) ISSN: 1720-8386 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 18362501 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cyclooxygenase 2

Topics

• Adenoma (metabolism)
• Blotting, Western
• Carcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Thyroid Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Thyroiditis, Autoimmune (metabolism)
• Up-Regulation