Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical regulator of angiogenesis
and is involved in tumor development. To date, the role of VEGF in benign diseases
of the thyroid is not well known. The purpose of the present study is to determine
the expression of VEGF and its receptors in primary cultures of human thyrocytes.
Methods:
50 patients with uninodular (n=11), multinodular (n=15), recurrent goiter (n=14) and
Graves’ disease (n=10) were enrolled. Nodular and corresponding paranodular tissue
was obtained after surgery and investigated. RNA and protein were extracted from primary
thyrocyte cultures. PCR, western blot and ELISA were performed to evaluate VEGF isoforms
and VEGF receptor 1 and 2.
Results:
Significantly increased transcription and protein expression of VEGF and its receptors
were detected in nodular tissue of uninodular and recurrent goiter compared to the
corresponding normal tissue. Active secretion of VEGF by thyrocytes was confirmed
by ELISA. In multinodular goiter, no difference could be found between nodular and
corresponding paranodular tissue in terms of expression of VEGF or its receptors.
Furthermore, we found the highest levels of VEGF and its receptors in tissue obtained
from patients with Graves’ disease.
Conclusion:
Increased expression of VEGF and its receptors might be crucial in the proliferation
of thyrocytes and therefore may contribute to the development of goiter and goiter
recurrence.
Key words
VEGF - VEGF receptors 1 and 2 - goiter - recurrent - multinodular - Graves’ disease
