Fetal cells enter the maternal circulation during pregnancy and can persist in the maternal blood or tissues for decades, creating a physiologic microchimerism. Because papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is more frequent in women, the role of persisting fetal male cells in this tumor has been investigated. Tumor tissue specimens were obtained from 63 women with PTC who had a male pregnancy before the diagnosis. Male cells, identified by PCR amplification of a male-specific gene, the sex-determining region Y, was detected in 47.5% of women. By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses, the total number of microchimeric cells was significantly higher in neoplastic tissue than in controlateral normal sections. By combined FISH and immunohistochemistry (immuno-FISH), male cells expressing thyroglobulin were found in tumor and normal tissues, whereas male microchimeric cells stained with the CD45 antigen were detected only in tumor sections. Microchimeric cells negative for either marker were detected both in tumor and normal tissues. Moreover, both CD45+ and Tg+ fetal cells did not express MHC II antigens. In conclusion, fetal microchimerism has been documented in a high proportion of women with PTC. The immuno-FISH studies indicate that CD45+/MHC II– male cells found in neoplastic tissues might be committed to destroy tumor cells, whereas Tg+/MHC II– cells could have a repair function. Finally, microchimeric cells negative for either CD45 or Tg could have "progenitor-like" properties able to transdifferentiate in different cellular types. Although a pathogenetic mechanism cannot be excluded, the whole of the present results indicates a protective role of microchimerism in thyroid cancer.
Fetal cell microchimerism in papillary thyroid cancer : a possible role in tumour demage and tissue repair / V. Cirello, M.P. Recalcati, M. Muzza, S. Rossi, M. Perrino, L. Vicentini, P.L.M. Beck Peccoz, P. Finelli, L. Fugazzola. - In: CANCER RESEARCH. - ISSN 0008-5472. - 68:20(2008), pp. 8482-8488. [10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-0672]
Fetal cell microchimerism in papillary thyroid cancer : a possible role in tumour demage and tissue repair
V. CirelloPrimo
;M. Muzza;P.L.M. Beck Peccoz;P. FinelliPenultimo
;L. Fugazzola
2008
Abstract
Fetal cells enter the maternal circulation during pregnancy and can persist in the maternal blood or tissues for decades, creating a physiologic microchimerism. Because papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is more frequent in women, the role of persisting fetal male cells in this tumor has been investigated. Tumor tissue specimens were obtained from 63 women with PTC who had a male pregnancy before the diagnosis. Male cells, identified by PCR amplification of a male-specific gene, the sex-determining region Y, was detected in 47.5% of women. By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses, the total number of microchimeric cells was significantly higher in neoplastic tissue than in controlateral normal sections. By combined FISH and immunohistochemistry (immuno-FISH), male cells expressing thyroglobulin were found in tumor and normal tissues, whereas male microchimeric cells stained with the CD45 antigen were detected only in tumor sections. Microchimeric cells negative for either marker were detected both in tumor and normal tissues. Moreover, both CD45+ and Tg+ fetal cells did not express MHC II antigens. In conclusion, fetal microchimerism has been documented in a high proportion of women with PTC. The immuno-FISH studies indicate that CD45+/MHC II– male cells found in neoplastic tissues might be committed to destroy tumor cells, whereas Tg+/MHC II– cells could have a repair function. Finally, microchimeric cells negative for either CD45 or Tg could have "progenitor-like" properties able to transdifferentiate in different cellular types. Although a pathogenetic mechanism cannot be excluded, the whole of the present results indicates a protective role of microchimerism in thyroid cancer.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Cancer Research 2008.pdf
accesso riservato
Tipologia:
Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione
448.07 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
448.07 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.