Fas (CD95) expression is up-regulated on papillary thyroid carcinoma

Citation
Pl. Arscott et al., Fas (CD95) expression is up-regulated on papillary thyroid carcinoma, J CLIN END, 84(11), 1999, pp. 4246-4252
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrynology, Metabolism & Nutrition","Endocrinology, Nutrition & Metabolism
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
ISSN journal
0021972X → ACNP
Volume
84
Issue
11
Year of publication
1999
Pages
4246 - 4252
Database
ISI
SICI code
0021-972X(199911)84:11<4246:F(EIUO>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
Thyrocyte apoptosis signaled through the Fas receptor has been proposed as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity observed in thyroiditis, but the role the Fas pathway plays in thyroid cancer is not known. We examined Fas expressio n in thyroid tissue derived from patients with papillary carcinoma and foll icular cancer. More intense immunohistological staining for the Fas protein was observed on papillary cancer cells as compared with adjacent normal fo llicles. To further characterize the expression of Fas in papillary cancer, paired normal and cancerous thyroid tissues were obtained at thyroidectomy from several donors, digested, and placed into cell culture. Messenger RNA was analyzed by ribonuclease protection assays, and protein was identified by now cytometry. Fas expression was detected at levels up to 3-fold highe r in cancerous thyrocytes compared with paired normal cells. To determine w hether the expressed Fas antigen was functional, thyrocytes were treated wi th a monoclonal IgM anti-Fas antibody (clone CH11; Upstate Biotechnology, I nc., Lake Placid, NY) in the presence of interferon-gamma and cycloheximide . Whereas both normal and cancerous thyrocytes were induced to die after th is treatment, the cancerous thyrocytes were more sensitive to anti-Fas anti body. This work demonstrates that the Fas antigen is expressed and function al on papillary thyroid cancer cells and this may have potential therapeuti c significance.