AAS ›› 2015, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6): 785-790.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2015.06.010

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Expression and significance of receptor tyrosine kinase Axl and its ligand Gas6 in thyroid papillary carcinoma

ZHANG Wen-jing1 SUN Lin2 ZHANG Jing1 WU Jing-fang 1*   

  1. 1.Department of Histology and Embryology; 2. Department of Anatomy,Hebei North University,Hebei Zhangjiakou 075000,China
  • Received:2015-04-14 Revised:2015-07-06 Online:2015-12-06 Published:2015-12-06
  • Contact: WU Jing-fang E-mail:175676204@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To analyze the role and correlation of Axl and Gas6 during the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by detecting the expressions of Axl and Gas6 in the PTC tissues. Methods The expressions of Axl and Gas6 proteins in PTC were detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemical SP method, and the relationships with the clinical pathology characteristics were analyzed. The transcriptional level changes of Axl mRNA and Gas6 mRNA were tested by Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Results 1. The results of immunohistochemistry staining showed Axl proteins were expressed in different strength in all PTC tissues. Axl positive proteins were mainly located in the cancer cell membrane, A few were found in the cytoplasm. In nodular goiter(NG) and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors Axl expression was weakly positive or negative.Gas6 was mainly expressed in PTC cells cytoplasm, and negative expression in NG and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors. Axl and Gas6 positive expression rate in PTC was significantly higher than in NG and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors(P<0.01)whose expressions were no significant difference between in NG and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors(P>0.05). The abnormal expressions of Axl and Gas6 were unrelated to the age, sex and size of the tumor (P>0.05) of PTC patients, but associated with the lymph node metastasis and pathological stage (P<0.05). 2. The results of Western blotting showed the Axl and Gas6 proteins in PTC tissues were significantly more than in NG and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors with statistical significance. (P<0.05), but no statistical difference between in NG and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors (P>0.05).3. The results of Real-time PCR showed the transcriptional expression levels of the Axl mRNA and Gas6 mRNA in PTC tissues were significantly higher than in NG and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors with statistical significance(P<0.05), but no statistical difference between in NG and normal tissues adjacent to the tumors (P>0.05). Conclusion Axl and Gas6 exist in PTC and NG tissues,and their expressons are stronger in PTC tissues than in NG.The higher expressions of Axl and Gas6 have the positive correlation with the lymph node metastasis and clinicopathologic stage. Axl and Gas6 play an important role in the process of PTC,including the occurrence, development,invision and metastasis.

Key words: Anexelekto receptor tyrosine kinase, Growth arrest specific gene 6, Thyroid papillary carcinoma, Western blotting, Real-time PCR, Human