摘要目的 检测microRNA-221(miR-221)及白细胞介素(IL)-17在甲状腺乳头状癌中的表达并分析其相关性,探讨其在甲状腺乳头状癌发生发展中的作用及相关机制.方法 用real-time逆转录聚合酶链反应(real-time RT-PCR)、Western blot及免疫组织化学EnVision法检测40例甲状腺乳头状癌、20例结节性甲状腺肿和20例癌旁正常甲状腺组织中miR-221及IL-17的表达并分析其相关性.结果 (1)miR-221在甲状腺乳头状癌组织中的表达明显高于结节性甲状腺肿和癌旁正常甲状腺组织,并且与肿瘤TNM分期、包膜侵犯及淋巴结转移相关(P<0.05),而与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤大小及个数、腺内播散和脉管侵犯无关,而结节性甲状腺肿和癌旁正常甲状腺组织比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);(2)real-time RT-PCR及Western blot结果显示甲状腺乳头状癌组织中IL-17 mRNA及IL-17蛋白的表达量也明显高于结节性甲状腺肿和癌旁正常甲状腺组织(P<0.05),而结节性甲状腺肿和癌旁正常甲状腺组织比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);免疫组织化学染色结果显示IL-17在甲状腺乳头状癌组织中阳性表达,而在结节性甲状腺肿及癌旁正常甲状腺组织中为阴性,并且IL-17的表达与患者的年龄、性别、肿瘤大小及个数、腺内播散和脉管侵犯无关,而与肿瘤TNM分期、包膜侵犯及淋巴结转移相关;(3)在甲状腺乳头状癌中microRNA-221与IL-17的表达呈显著正相关(r=0.524,P=0.001).结论 miR-221可能通过影响多种细胞因子和炎性细胞调控IL-17的表达,参与甲状腺乳头状癌的发生、发展及侵袭等过程,不仅可以作为判断甲状腺乳头状癌预后的新指标,而且可作为一种潜在的分子靶点,为甲状腺乳头状癌的治疗提供一种新的思路,从而改善患者的预后.

abstractsObjective To study the expression of microRNA-221( miR-221) and IL-17 in papillary thyroid carcinoma ( PTC) and their roles in the carcinogenesis of PTC. Methods Real-time RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry ( IHC) were used to detect the expression of miR-221 and IL-17 in 40 cases of PTC, 20 adjacent normal thyroid tissues and 20 cases of nodular goiter, and the correlation with clinicopathologic features was analyzed. Results ( 1 ) The expression level of miR-221 was significantly higher in PTC compared with nodular goiter and adjacent normal thyroid tissue ( P<0. 05) , but not between the latter two ( P>0. 05) . The expression of miR-221 was related to TNM staging, capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis ( P<0. 05) but not to patients'age, sex, tumor size, multifocality, tumor spread and vascular invasion. (2)Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot showed that higher levels of IL-17 mRNA and IL-17 protein in PTC than nodular goiter and adjacent normal thyroid tissue ( P<0. 05) , but not between the latter two (P>0. 05). IHC assay showed positive expression of IL-17 in PTC but not in nodular goiter and adjacent normal thyroid tissue. IL-17 expression was related to TNM staging, capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis, but not to patients' age, sex, tumor size, tumor spread and vascular invasion. ( 3 ) Expression analysis revealed a significant correlation between the miR-221 and IL-17 expression ( r=0. 524, P=0. 001 ) . Conclusions The expressions of miR-221 and IL-17 are significantly higher and positively correlated in PTC, suggesting that miR-221 may regulate IL-17 expression by interacting with a variety of cytokines and inflammatory cells to participate in the development of PTC. miR-221 may be a potential novel prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for PTC.