doi:10.1369/jhc.5A6734.2005
Volume 54 (3): 355-361, 2006 Copyright ©The Histochemical Society, Inc.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1
Department of Surgical Sciences, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (KK,PB,GW,GÅ,PH); Department of Surgery, Vitebsk State Medical University, Vitebsk, Belarus (KK); and Department of Surgery, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany (HD) Correspondence to: Per Hellman, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, University Hospital, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden. E-mail: per.hellman{at}surgsci.uu.se
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1- -hydroxylase expression have recently been shown to be upregulated in several tumors and thought to represent an important endogenous response to tumor progression. Little is known about the expression of these proteins in thyroid carcinoma, although previous reports have documented evidence of the biological effect of vitamin D in thyroid cells. Using paraffin-embedded and frozen sections of papillary thyroid carcinoma, we utilized real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry to characterize the expression of VDR and 1- -hydroxylase in thyroid follicular cells, with special emphasis on papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). VDR and 1- -hydroxylase expression were increased in PTC compared with normal thyroid tissue and especially high in areas of lymphocyte infiltration. Expression of VDR and 1- -hydroxylase in PTC may be compatible with an overall favorable prognosis for this tumor type and may constitute important prerequisites for using vitamin D and/or vitamin D analogs in the treatment of PTC. (J Histochem Cytochem 54:355361, 2006)
Key Words: thyroid carcinoma vitamin D 1-
PAPILLARY THYROID CARCINOMA (PTC) is the most common malignant thyroid neoplasm, especially in countries with sufficient iodine supply (Gimm and Dralle 2001
Active vitamin D3 and its analogs have recently become potentially therapeutic agents for treatment of patients with various tumors such as colon or breast carcinoma (Thomas et al. 1999
In the present study we have investigated expression of VDR and 1
Patients and Tumors Thirty five patients (26 females) with PTC, mean age of 44 ± 18 years, were chosen for analysis because they represented different tumor stages. The patients lived in Sweden or Germany and had not been exposed to irradiation from the Chernobyl accident. Paraffin-embedded specimens from primary tumor (n=35) or lymph node metastases (n=9) were collected and processed for immunohistochemistry. Immediately snap-frozen tumors as well as normal thyroid tissue were used for evaluation of mRNA expression. Paraffin-embedded specimens and frozen tissue were partially derived from different patients. All tumors were classified according to the tumornodemetastasis (TNM) stage, as well as the tumor stage adjusted for age according to the American Joint Commission on Cancer/International Union against Cancer (Rosai et al. 1992 -hydroxylase and VDR.
Immunohistochemistry
Negative control sections included use of primary 1
For immunostaining of VDR, we utilized a well-characterized rabbit Ig polyclonal antibody (C20; Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Santa Cruz, CA) on 49 sections (7 from lymph node metastases). After blocking of endogenous peroxidase activity the tissue was hydrolyzed in 2 M HCl at 37C for 30 min. Nonspecific antibody binding was blocked with normal goat serum (1:10) for 20 min (Thomas et al. 1999 Negative control sections for VDR staining included use of primary antibody incubated with an excess of specific blocking peptide (sc-1008p; Santa Cruz Biotechnology) or replacement of the primary antibody with a nonspecific antiserum. Slides were developed using 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazol and counterstained with Mayer's hematoxylin.
Kidney tissue is known to express 1
Real-time Quantitative RT-PCR Analysis Each cDNA sample was analyzed in triplicate. All reagents were supplied in the TaqMan PCR core Reagent Kit (Applied Biosystems). PCR reactions had a final volume of 50 µl and contained 5 µl cDNA template, TaqMan buffer A1 x, 5.5 mM MgCl2, 200 µM of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, 400 µM dUTP, 100 nM probe, 200 nM of each primer, 0.01 U AmpErase UNG, and 0.05 U AmpliTaq Gold.
Statistical Analyses and Ethics
1 -Hydroxylase immunohistochemical staining was not detected in normal thyroid follicular cells and was positive in 33/38 samples with PTC. Follicular thyroid cells without any evidence of malignant changes on the same section but outside the PTC tumor were considered as normal cells. High expression was seen in 10 PTC specimens (26.3%), medium expression in 17 (44.7%), and low expression in 6 (15.8%), whereas 5 (13.2%) were considered negative. The staining was generally diffuse and cytoplasmic, and in nine cases the expression was more intense close to the tumor capsule. In 10 primary PTC specimens, lymphocyte infiltration was evident, and all these specimens were highly positive for 1 -hydroxylase staining (Figure 1
). In several sections, the area of the tumor with lymphocyte infiltration demonstrated higher 1 -hydroxylase expression than areas without lymphocytes. No clear correlation between staining intensity and TNM stage was seen. There was no clear correlation between staining intensity for 1 -hydroxylase and uptake levels of radioiodine.
Immunohistochemistry for VDR revealed positive staining in 43/44 PTC specimens. High expression was evident in 26 cases (59.1%), medium in 13 (29.5%), and low in 4 (9.1%), whereas one (2.3%) was considered negative. Immunohistochemical expression of VDR was most obvious in the cytoplasm but in 20% of the cells also in the nucleus. In four (9.1%) specimens, an enhanced VDR expression was detected close to the tumor border, in the vicinity of the capsule. Similar to the 1 -hydroxylase staining, PTC cells within areas of lymphocyte infiltration demonstrated more intense VDR expression (n=10; Figure 1). Normal thyroid follicular cells, designated similarly as for 1 -hydroxylase staining, were usually negative, as well as in normal thyroid sections from patients not suffering from PTC. However, in seven sections (15.9%), small areas of normal follicular cells situated outside the tumor capsule and adjacent to a highly positive tumor demonstrated positive, albeit low, staining.
Immunohistochemical staining of 1
Real-time Quantitative RT-PCR
Results from the real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis for VDR showed more evident difference among the three sample groups (Figure 3 ). VDR/GAPDH ratios varied considerably within the PTC as well as the normal thyroid tissue (mean 17.7 ± 10.0 and 5.9 ± 2.4, respectively). Data for the PTC samples were spread within a larger range than the normal thyroid tissue, and it was possible to divide them among three groups expressing high, medium, and low VDR mRNA levels compared with normal thyroid tissue. VDR/GAPDH ratio was significantly lower in the lymph node PTC metastases (1.5 ± 0.3) compared with both normal thyroid tissue (5.9 ± 2.4) and primary PTC (17.7 ± 10.0; p<0.05). However, primary tumors associated with the investigated lymph node metastases were spread among the groups expressing high, medium, and low VDR mRNA levels. Within the investigated specimens, a group of six primary PTC tumors displayed concomitantly low 1 -hydroxylase/GAPDH and VDR/GAPDH ratios. TNM stage of these tumors did not differ from the rest of the tumors.
Overall, no correlation between 1 -hydroxylase/GAPDH and VDR/GAPDH ratios and stage of disease, age, or sex were found.
The present study demonstrates expression of 1 -hydroxylase and VDR in PTC at both the protein and mRNA levels. Although mRNA expression levels did not differ significantly between primary PTC and normal thyroid tissue, immunohistochemistry revealed evident signs of higher expression of 1 -hydroxylase and VDR proteins in PTC. The results demonstrate the presence of molecular prerequisites for a role of vitamin D in the thyroid, particularly in PTC.
VDR is expressed in normal thyroid follicular cells and PTC cells in culture (Lamberg-Allardt et al. 1991
The enzyme 1
Immunohistochemistry results indicated a higher difference between tumor and normal thyroid tissue 1
Immunohistochemistry revealed low, scarce, or even absent VDR staining in normal thyroid. However, using the more sensitive technique of quantitative RT-PCR, expression was nevertheless demonstrated. It is interesting to note the higher VDR expression in normal thyroid follicular cells just outside the tumor capsule and the increased VDR expression in PTC cells close to areas of lymphocyte infiltration, in parallel to what was noted for the 1
Effects of vitamin D in the thyroid may be important in relation also to known effects of retinoic acids. In a subset of patients, retinoic acid may increase the uptake of radioiodine into tumor cells, possibly by affecting the iodine symporter or increasing the differentiation level. In several systems, retinoic acid and vitamin D act in concert through heterodimerization of their respective receptors. Although no correlation between expression levels of 1
The higher protein expression of 1
In summary, the expression of 1
The Swedish Institute and the Swedish Cancer Foundation supported this work. We are greatly indebted to Birgitta Bondeson, Daniel Lindberg, and Peter Lillhager for excellent technical assistance and advice.
Received for publication May 17, 2005; accepted November 8, 2005
Bearhs O (1997) Manual for Staging of Cancer. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins Bell NH (1998) Renal and nonrenal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 Bland R, Walker EA, Hughes SV, Stewart PM, Hewison M (1999) Constitutive expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1 Cross HS, Bareis P, Hofer H, Bischof MG, Bajna E, Kriwanek S, Bonner E, et al. (2001) 25-Hydroxyvitamin D(3)-1 Cross HS, Pavelka M, Slavik J, Peterlik M (1992) Growth control of human colon cancer cells by vitamin D and calcium in vitro. J Natl Cancer Inst 84:13551357 Cross HS, Peterlik M, Reddy GS, Schuster I (1997) Vitamin D metabolism in human colon adenocarcinoma-derived Caco-2 cells: expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1 Dackiw AP, Ezzat S, Huang P, Liu W, Asa SL (2004) Vitamin D3 administration induces nuclear p27 accumulation, restores differentiation, and reduces tumor burden in a mouse model of metastatic follicular thyroid cancer. Endocrinology 145:58405846 Friedrich M, Reichrath J, Chen T, Tanpricha V, Gherson I, Tilgen W (2001) Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-hydroxylase in breast tissue. In Norman A, Bouillon R, Thomasset M, eds. Vitamin D Endocrine System: Structural, Biological, Genetic and Clinical Aspects. Los Angeles, Riverside Printing and Reprographics, University of California, 189191 Gimm O, Dralle H (2001) Differentiated thyroid carcinoma. In Holzheimer R, Mannick J, eds. Surgical Treatment: Evidence Based and Problem Oriented. München, W. Zuckschwerdt Verlag, 443450 Kawa S, Yoshizawa K, Tokoo M, Imai H, Oguchi H, Kiyosawa K, Homma T, et al. (1996) Inhibitory effect of 220-oxa-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Gastroenterology 110:16051613[CrossRef][Medline] Lamberg-Allardt C, Valtonen E, Polojarvi M, Stewen P (1991) Characterization of a 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 receptor in FRTL-5 cells. Evidence for an inhibitory effect of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 on thyrotropin-induced iodide uptake. Mol Cell Endocrinol 81:2531[CrossRef][Medline] Li XY, Boudjelal M, Xiao JH, Peng ZH, Asuru A, Kang S, Fisher GJ, et al. (1999) 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 increases nuclear vitamin D3 receptors by blocking ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation in human skin. Mol Endocrinol 13:16861694 Liu W, Asa SL, Fantus IG, Walfish PG, Ezzat S (2002) Vitamin D arrests thyroid carcinoma cell growth and induces p27 dephosphorylation and accumulation through PTEN/akt-dependent and -independent pathways. Am J Pathol 160:511519 Marino M, Zheng G, McCluskey RT (1999) Megalin (gp330) is an endocytic receptor for thyroglobulin on cultured Fisher rat thyroid cells. J Biol Chem 274:1289812904 Miller GJ, Stapleton GE, Hedlund TE, Moffat KA (1995) Vitamin D receptor expression, 24-hydroxylase activity, and inhibition of growth by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in seven human prostatic carcinoma cell lines. Clin Cancer Res 1:9971003[Abstract] Nykjaer A, Dragun D, Walther D, Vorum H, Jacobsen C, Herz J, Melsen F, et al. (1999) An endocytic pathway essential for renal uptake and activation of the steroid 25-(OH) vitamin D3. Cell 96:507515[CrossRef][Medline] Okano K, Usa T, Ohtsuru A, Tsukazaki T, Miyazaki Y, Yonekura A, Namba H, et al. (1999) Effect of 22-oxa-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on human thyroid cancer cell growth. Endocr J 46:243252[Medline] Pourgholami MH, Akhter J, Lu Y, Morris DL (2000) In vitro and in vivo inhibition of liver cancer cells by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Cancer Lett 151:97102[CrossRef][Medline] Reichel H, Koeffler HP, Barbers R, Norman AW (1987) Regulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 production by cultured alveolar macrophages from normal human donors and from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 65:12011209[Abstract] Reichrath J, Friedrich M, Chen T, Gherson I, Tilgen W, Schmidt W (2001) Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1alpha-hydroxylase in cervical tissue. In Norman A, Bouillon R, Thomasset M, eds. Vitamin D Endocrine System: Structural, Biological, Genetic and Clinical Aspects. Los Angeles, Riverside Printing and Reprographics, University of California, 186188 Reitsma PH, Rothberg PG, Astrin SM, Trial J, Bar-Shavit Z, Hall A, Teitelbaum SL, et al. (1983) Regulation of myc gene expression in HL-60 leukaemia cells by a vitamin D metabolite. Nature 306:492494[CrossRef][Medline] Rosai J, Carcangiu ML, DeLellis RA (1992) Tumors of the thyroid gland. In Atlas of Tumor Pathology, 3rd series. Fascicle 5. Washington, DC, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Schwartz GG, Whitlatch LW, Chen TC, Lokeshwar BL, Holick MF (1998) Human prostate cells synthesize 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 from 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 7:391395 Segersten U, Correa P, Hewison M, Hellman P, Dralle H, Carling T, Åkerström G, et al. (2002) 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3)-1 Simon D, Koehrle J, Reiners C, Boerner AR, Schmutzler C, Mainz K, Goretzki PE, et al. (1998) Redifferentiation therapy with retinoids: therapeutic option for advanced follicular and papillary thyroid carcinoma. World J Surg 22:569574[CrossRef][Medline] Studzinski GP, McLane JA, Uskokovic MR (1993) Signaling pathways for vitamin D-induced differentiation: implications for therapy of proliferative and neoplastic diseases. Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr 3:279312[Medline] Suzuki S, Takenoshita S, Furukawa H, Tsuchiya A (1999) Antineoplastic activity of 1,25(OH)2D3 and its analogue 22-oxacalcitriol against human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell lines in vitro. Int J Mol Med 4:611614[Medline] Thomas MG, Sylvester PA, Newcomb P, Longman RJ (1999) Vitamin D receptor expression in colorectal cancer. J Clin Pathol 52:181183[Abstract] Verlinden L, Verstuyf A, Van Camp M, Marcelis S, Sabbe K, Zhao XY, De Clercq P, et al. (2000) Two novel 14-Epi-analogues of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Res 60:26732679 Verstuyf A, Segaert S, Verlinden L, Bouillon R, Mathieu C (2000) Recent developments in the use of vitamin D analogues. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 9:443455[CrossRef][Medline] Zehnder D, Bland R, Williams MC, McNinch RW, Howie AJ, Stewart PM, Hewison M (2001) Extrarenal expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3)-1
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||