Cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 expressions in the human thyroid gland

Abstract

We investigated the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in normal thyroid tissue, follicular adenoma and well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas and evaluated the difference in COX-1 and COX-2 expression. Ten normal thyroid tissues, ten follicular adenomas, ten papillary carcinomas and ten follicular carcinomas were analyzed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA. In addition, immunohistochemical staining was performed to find the expression of the two enzymes in normal thyroid tissues and thyroid neoplasia. Expression of COX-1 mRNA in the normal thyroid tissues, follicular adenomas and both well-differentiated carcinomas was similar and weak. However, COX-2 mRNA was strongly expressed in the well-differentiated carcinomas compared to those of normal thyroid tissue and follicular adenoma.