Expression And Clinical Significance Of Galectin-3 In Thyroiditis

Background: thyroiditis is mainly included with subacute thyroiditis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Hashimoto's thyroiditis has four main basic pathological changes:Lymphocytic infiltration with many lymphoid follicles formation. Follicular epithelium and follicular changes in the follicular contents into eosinophil; Diffuse interstitial infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells, extensive fibrosis proliferates. Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis is part of the main pathological features of follicular destruction was replaced by neutrophils, small abscess formated,Organized around the cells and multinucleated giant cells surrounded, granuloma is formated.Galectin-3, a multi-effect of endogenous galactosidase adhesion protein,are expressed In a variety of malignant and normal cells, regulating many biological and pathological processes, Including inflammation, it has a variety of immune activity, With the relationship of infected or inflammatory sites to swim out of the neutrophils. In the beginning of the natural immunity against infection is one of the most important reaction of phagocytic leukocytes, In particular, neutrophils and macrophages, which is additional in sites of infection. Exudation of leukocyte antigens through phagocytosis and release of various sterilization factor, such as reactive oxygen species / reactive nitrogen intermediate materials, to control the infection. The production of bactericidal factors can be triggerde by released extracellular galectin-3 in neutrophils and macrophages. Expression of macrophage inflammatory levels of galectin-3 and the relevance of these cells direct role in regulating the inflammatory process. Galectin-3 expression and a variety of general biological functions depend on its subcellular localization. Typically, extracellular galectin-3 regulates carbohydrate binding properties through its regulation of cell movement, cell adhesion, and cell - cell interactions. The cytoplasm of galectin-3 play a role in anti-apoptosis and regulation of several signal transduction pathways. These findings indicate that galectin-3 may be one of the fundamental elements of the the general cell proliferation or / and nuclear core development process. In addition, the nucleus of galectin-3 on tumor development is likely to be a key factor, It is through the expresstion of a particular gene affected transcription factorsThe study of galectin-3 in thyroid tumors diseases is more. In particular, papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma. In papillary thyroid carcinoma , expression of galectin-3 have higher specificity and sensitivity. Distinguish papillary carcinoma is the most effective, which can be used as positive markers for diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Based on the close relationship between the immune system and galectin-3, and galectin-3 in some other inflammatory disease,show it can expressed in inflammation diseases.Objective:In this study, detection of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute granulomatous thyroiditis expression of galectin-3, and to compare the two and its relationship with the relationship between the normal and malignant.Methods:We collected of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (is divided into Hashimoto's disease and lymphocytic thyroiditis), subacute granulomatous thyroiditis and thyroid papillary carcinoma specimens, galectin-3 antibody using immunohistochemical staining and to compare the situation staining.Result:galectin-3 staining of Hashimoto's thyroiditis concentrated in the follicular epithelium dense area, Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, mainly in the region of granuloma. And Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis compared(P<0.01), Hashimoto's thyroiditis and thyroid papillary carcinoma compared (P <0.01), there are significant differences in those. The Hashimoto's disease and lymphocytic thyroiditis compared (P> 0.5), there is no difference between the two.Conclusions:Galectin-3 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis reflect the expression of different mechanisms, stated in Hashimoto's thyroiditis is related with cancer, In sub-acute thyroiditis reflect an process of inflammatory reaction. Hashimoto's disease and lymphocytic thyroiditis is considered a disease of different stages. Hashimoto's disease usually have eosinophilic cells form, heavy fibrosis, lymphoid follicles often less. Lymphocytic thyroiditis has more lymphoid follicles, follicular epithelial damage was not serious.Comparison of Hashimoto's disease and lymphocytic thyroiditis of galectin-3 expression (P> 0.5), there was no difference between the two. Speculated that the degree of proliferation between the two may be quite, only at different stages. Which active proliferation may also be the basis of its malignant transformation. Comparison of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis (P <0.01), There is significant difference between the two, mainly subacute thyroiditis almost no staining of follicular epithelium, may be due to it is the sub-acute inflammation, the response of follicular epithelial hyperplasia is less, the proliferation follicular epithelium is weak. Comparison of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and papillary carcinoma, galectin-3 staining intensity was significantly higher in papillary carcinoma than Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Statistical data also show that (P <0.01) there was a significant difference between the two. Although autoimmune thyroiditis galectin-3 expression was significantly higher than that of subacute thyroiditis, but significantly lower than the intensity of thyroid papillary carcinoma.It shows that the higher intensity of the expression of galectin-3,the more close relationship with the cancer.It also shows that galectin-3 on cell proliferation has positive regulation.