| Objective The main purpose of this study was to observe the expression of uteroglobin-related protein 1(UGRP1)in thyroid cells of patients with thyroid nodules,and to explore the relationship between the expression of UGRP1 and the properties,functions and the mutation of BRAFV600 E gene in patients of thyroid nodules.Methods131 patients with thyroid nodules were selected and their thyroid functions,antibody levels and ultrasonic characteristics of thyroid nodules were recorded.According to the results of fine needle aspiration cytology and clinical data,the patients with thyroid nodules were divided into four groups: thyroid nodule group(47 cases),Hashimoto thyroiditis group(38cases)and thyroid carcinoma group(46 cases).The normal thyroid tissues adjacent to benign nodules were divided into normal thyroid group(22 cases).The expression of UGRP1 in thyroid cells was detected by immunohistochemical method,and the mutation of BRAFV600 E gene of suspected malignant nodules was detected by fluorescence PCR method(36 cases).According to the expression of UGRP1 in thyroid cells,the patients were divided into UGRP1 positive expression group(30 cases)and UGRP1 negative expression group(101cases).The correlations between UGRP1 expression and the properties,function,antibody levels,ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules and BRAFV600 E gene mutation were analyzed respectively.Results1.There were significant differences in the expression of UGRP1 in different groups of thyroid tissues.The positive expression rates of UGRP1 were 4.3%(2/47)in thyroid nodule group,71.1%(27/38)in Hashimoto thyroiditis group,2.2%(1/46)in thyroid cancer group and 0% in normal thyroid group,respectively.The positive rates of UGRP1 expression were 34.1%(29/85)in benign thyroid nodule group and 2.2%(1/46)in malignant thyroid nodule group,respectively.2.The clinical data showed that there was no significant difference in thyroid function between UGRP1 positive expression group and UGRP1 negative expression group(P>0.05).The levels of TPOAb and ATG in UGRP1 positive expression group were higher than those in UGRP1 negative expression group.3.The results of thyroid ultrasound showed that there were significant differences in echo,shape,boundary,calcification,aspect ratio,enlarged lymph nodes and TI-RADS grades between UGRP1 positive group and negative group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in the number,size,texture and blood flow of nodules between the two groups(P>0.05).4.The results of Real-time PCR showed that there were 3 cases(100.0%)of BRAFV600 E gene wild type in UGRP1 positive group,and there was no mutant type.But in UGRP1 negative groupthere were8 cases(24.2%)of BRAFV600 E gene wild type and 25 cases(75.8%)of BRAFV600 E gene mutant type.There was a correlation between UGRP1 expression and BRAFV600 E gene mutation(P<0.05,C=0.414).The UGRP1 expression of BRAFV600 E gene mutant in thyroid nodules tended to be negative.5.The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that the positive expression of UGRP1 was a protective factor for the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma in patients with thyroid nodules(OR=0.036,P< 0.05),but the thyroid function and antibody level were not related to the diagnosis of thyroid cancer(P> 0.05).Conclusion1.In thyroid nodules,UGRP1 was highly expressed in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.UGRP1 may be one of the reference indexes to distinguish Hashimoto’s thyroiditis from normal thyroid and other nodules.2.The levels of thyroid autoantibody in thyroid nodules with UGRP1 positive expression were higher than that in thyroid nodules with negative expression,suggesting that the expression of UGRP1 may be related to the occurrence and development of autoimmune thyroiditis,and its mechanism needs to be further studied.3.The ultrasonic features and molecular marker BRAF gene detection of thyroid nodules with positive expression of UGRP1 tended to be benign nodules.The expresstion levels of UGRP1 may be helpful to evaluate thebenign and malignant thyroid nodules. |
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