Abstract
Background:
Hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1α and HNF-1β are related transcription factors that are mainly expressed in liver cells. Our previous study showed that HNF-1β was highly expressed in papillary thyroid cancer cell lines and tumors. HNF-1α mRNA, however, was not detected in differentiated thyroid cancer cell lines. The objective of this study was to determine whether HNF-1α is expressed in dedifferentiated anaplastic thyroid cancer cells.
Methods:
Total RNA isolated from six anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines and 38 surgical samples was analyzed for HNF-1α mRNA by conventional reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or real-time RT-PCR. HNF-1α DNA binding activity was measured by gel retardation assay and HNF-1α protein was identified by Western blotting.
Results:
HNF-1α mRNA was expressed in four of the six anaplastic cell lines. The presence of HNF-1α protein and DNA binding activity was detected in three lines with higher HNF-1α mRNA level. Three cell lines also expressed HNF-1β. HNF-1α transcripts were also detected in five out of six anaplastic tumors, but not in the papillary tumors except one with weak PCR signal.
Conclusion:
HNF-1α mRNA was detected in high frequency in anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines and tumors. HNF-1α might play a role in the pathogenesis of anaplastic thyroid cancer.
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