Oncogenic Activation of MAP Kinase by BRAF Pseudogene in Thyroid Tumors

Autor: Minjing Zou, Essa Y. Baitei, Ali S. Alzahrani, Futwan Al-Mohanna, Nadir R. Farid, Brian Meyer, Yufei Shi
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2009
Předmět:
Zdroj: Neoplasia: An International Journal for Oncology Research, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 57-65 (2009)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1476-5586
1522-8002
DOI: 10.1593/neo.81044
Popis: Activating BRAF mutations have been reported in 40% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). The involvement of BRAF pseudogene in thyroid tumorigenesis has not previously been studied. We investigated BRAF pseudogene expression in 68 thyroid tumors: 16 multinodular goiters, 43 classic PTCs, 6 follicular variants of PTC, and 3 anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. BRAF pseudogene function was studied by Western blots, soft agar assay, and tumorigenesis in nude mice. BRAF pseudogene expression was detected in 7 multinodular goiters, 18 classic PTC, and 1 follicular variants of PTC. There is an inverse correlation between BRAF pseudogene expression and BRAF mutation. The pseudogene transcripts were more frequently detected in tumors without BRAF mutation than those with BRAF mutation. Furthermore, BRAF pseudogene expression could activate the MAP kinase signaling pathway, transform NIH3T3 cells in vitro, and induce tumors in nude mice. These data suggest that BRAF pseudogene activation may play a role in thyroid tumor development.
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