Genetic disregulation of gene coding tumor necrosis factor alpha receptors (TNF alpha Rs) in follicular thyroid cancer--preliminary report.

UNLABELLED: TNF alpha receptors participate in programmed cell death. TNF R2 efficiently assists TNF R7 effects by ligand passing. Structure of TNF alpha receptors influences TNF activity in vivo and the structure of TNF R2 gene may suggest post-transcription modification based on alternative splicing. The aim of the study was to analyse the expression of gene coding TNF alpha receptors R2 and R7 by estimation of mRNA expression of differentiated thyroid carcinomas in comparison to surrounding tissue free from neoplastic infiltration and search for differently spliced TNF alpha R2/R7 isophorms. The study included seven patients with histopathologically confirmed follicular thyroid cancer. Tissue samples removed from tumor region were obtained from the follicular thyroid cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment. The samples were divided into two parts. The first one was routinely examined histopathologically, the second was used for RNA extraction and the number of TNF and its receptors mRNA copies were subsequently quantified.
RESULTS: 1) The presence of TNF alpha expression was observed in all examined samples, in contrast to TNF R1 expression; 2) The high level of TNF alpha expression was noted both for typical and sought TNF R2/R7 isoforms and 3) A considerable number of samples displayed higher levels of TNF R2 isoforms than TNF R2/R7 mRNA expression. Genetic disregulation observed in neoplastic disease usually concerns dysfunction of cytokines receptor genes.