VEGFc and VEGFR3 expression in human thyroid pathologies

In vertebrates, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their recep tors (VEGFRs) are major determinants of angiogenesis, In adults, the intera ction between VEGFc and VEGFR3 (previously FLT4) is more specifically invol ved in the biology of lymphatics. Using PCR amplification of reverse-transc ribed mRNA, we studied the expression of the VEGFR3 (including its short an d long forms) and VEGFc genes in 38 samples of various human thyroid pathol ogies. VEGFR3 mRNA was detected in all samples of adenomas, nodular goiters and focal goitrogenic alterations; in all samples of thyroid tissue from p atients with auto-immune diseases; and in some samples of adenocarcinomas. VEGFc mRNA was detected in most samples. We studied expression of the VEGFR 3 and VEGFc proteins in thyroid tumors using appropriate antibodies. Co-exp ression of VEGFR3 and VEGFc was observed in most samples. Int. J. Cancer 86 :47-52, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.