RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Differential Transcriptional and Protein Expression of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor in Ovarian Carcinomas
JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
JO Int J Gynecol Cancer
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 851
OP 856
DO 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000139
VO 24
IS 5
A1 Revekka, Gyftaki
A1 Christina, Liacos
A1 Ekaterini, Politi
A1 Michalis, Liontos
A1 Katerina, Saltiki
A1 Theocharis, Papageorgiou
A1 Nikolaos, Thomakos
A1 Dimitrios, Haidopoulos
A1 Alexandros, Rodolakis
A1 Maria, Alevizaki
A1 Aristotelis, Bamias
A1 Athanasios, Dimopoulos Meletios
YR 2014
UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/24/5/851.abstract
AB Objective Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates normal thyroid function by binding to its receptor (thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor -TSHR) that is expressed at the surface of thyroid cells. Recently, it has been demonstrated that TSHR is abundantly expressed in several tissues apart from the thyroid, among them the normal ovarian surface epithelium. The role of TSHR expression outside the thyroid is not completely understood. The current study examines possible alterations of TSHR expression in ovarian carcinomas and its implication in ovarian carcinogenesis.Materials and Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry analysis of TSHR expression were performed in 34 ovarian carcinoma specimens and 10 normal ovarian tissues (controls).Results Significant reduction in TSHR messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was detected in ovarian carcinomas (mean [SD]: 0.518 [0.0934] vs normal, 49.4985 [89.1626]; P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U test), whereas TSHR protein levels were significantly increased (percentage of positive cells: cancer, 73.55% [20.09%], vs normal, 54.54% [21.14%]; intensity: cancer, 2.52 [0.508], vs normal 1 [0]; P = 0.012, Mann-Whitney U test). No significant differences in TSHR mRNA were found according to history of thyroid disease.Conclusions Our study describes for the first time alterations in TSHR expression both at mRNA and protein levels in ovarian carcinomas. The discrepancy between the decreased levels of the TSHR mRNA and the increased protein expression has already been described in thyroid carcinomas and might be due to alterations in its degradation by the ubiquitin system or other unknown mechanisms. Further analysis could elucidate the role of these findings in ovarian carcinogenesis.