朊蛋白在乳头状甲状腺癌中的表达及与临床进展的关系

Expression of prion protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its relationship with clinical progression

目的分析朊蛋白在乳头状甲状腺癌组织中的表达及与相关临床因素的关系。方法分别收集60例经病理确诊的乳头状甲状腺癌以及60例甲状腺良性病变患者标本,应用免疫组织化学方法、免疫印迹方法及免疫荧光方法对患者样本中的朊蛋白进行检测并进行分析,同时对朊蛋白的表达与患者相关临床因素的关系之间进行统计学分析。结果免疫组织化学检测显示乳头状甲状腺癌组织朊蛋白阳性高于甲状腺良性病变组织(χ^(2)=36.310、P<0.001)、免疫印迹以及免疫荧光的方法均显示朊蛋白在乳头状甲状腺癌组织中的表达明显高于甲状腺良性病变患者[免疫印迹:(1.288±0.153)U/L比(0.667±0.036)U/L,t=6.855,P<0.01;免疫荧光:[绿色荧光,20X:(12.911±1.947)U/L比(36.322±3.797)U/L,t=9.502,P<0.001;红色荧光,20X:(6.259±2.062)U/L比(28.229±2.611)U/L,t=11.437,P<0.001];并且朊蛋白在临床III级乳头状甲状腺癌组织中的表达明显高于I期及II期的患者,并均具有统计学差异(I期比III期:χ^(2)=6.301、P<0.05;II期比III期:χ^(2)=5.683、P<0.05);与是否具有淋巴转移无相关性,与患者的年龄、性别均无统计学差异。结论朊蛋白在乳头状甲状腺癌中的表达增加,并且与肿瘤的临床分期具有相关性,该研究为朊蛋白作为乳头状甲状腺癌靶向诊断及治疗的分子标记奠定了实验基础。

Objective To analyze the expression of prion protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its relationship with related clinical factors.Methods Specimens from 60 patients with papillary thyroid cancer(PTC)diagnosed by pathology and 60 patients with benign thyroid lesions(BTL)were collected,and the prion proteins in the samples were detected and analyzed by immunohistochemistry,Western blotting and immunofluorescence.Statistical analysis was performed on the relationship between protein expression and patient-related clinical factors.Results Immunohistochemistry showed a higher rate of prion positivity in papillary thyroid cancer tissue than in benign thyroid lesions(χ^(2)=36.310,P<0.001).Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence method show that prion protein expression is significantly higher in papillary thyroid cancer tissue than in patients with benign thyroid lesions[Immunoblot:(1.288±0.153)U/L vs.(0.667±0.036)U/L,t=6.855,P<0.01;Immunofluorescence:[Green fluorescence,20X:(12.911±1.947)U/L vs.(36.322±3.797)U/L,t=9.502,P<0.001;Red fluorescence,20X:(6.259±2.062)U/L vs.(28.229±2.611)U/L,t=11.437,P<0.001].The expression of prion protein was significantly higher in clinical grade III papillary thyroid cancer tissues than in stage I and II patients,and all were significantly different(Stage I over III:χ^(2)=6.301,P<0.05;Stage II over III:χ^(2)=5.683,P<0.05).There was no correlation with the presence or absence of lymphatic metastases and no statistically significant correlation with the age or sex of the patients.Conclusions Prion protein expression was increased in papillary thyroid carcinoma and correlated with clinical stage of the tumor.This study provides experimental evidence for prion protein as a molecular marker for targeted diagnosis and treatment of papillary thyroid cancer.