ARTICLE |
Correspondence to:
Dubravka S. Cveji, Inst. for the Application of Nuclear EnergyINEP, Banatska 31b, PO Box 46, 11080 ZemunBelgrade, Yugoslavia. E-mail: dubravka@inep.co.yu
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Summary |
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High levels of expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3, the ß-galactoside-binding proteins, have been recently described in malignant thyroid tumors but not in adenomas nor in normal thyroid tissue. However, there are no data about the expression of these galectins during fetal thyroid development. In this study we analyzed immunohistochemically the presence of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in human fetal thyroid glands (1637 weeks of gestation). Weak to moderate cytoplasmic staining for galectin-1 was observed in follicular cells of all fetal thyroids. Galectin-3 could not be detected in thyroid follicular cells of any fetal thyroid investigated. Both galectins were detected in stromal tissue, but staining for galectin-1 was more intense. The absence of galectin-3 in thyroid cells during fetal development suggests that galectin-3 is expressed de novo during malignant transformation of thyroid epithelium, and that galectin-1 could be considered an oncofetal antigen. The results obtained indicated potential roles for galectin-1 and galectin-3 during the investigated period of human fetal thyroid gland development. Both galectins might participate in developmental processes regarding stromal fetal thyroid tissue organization, whereas galectin-1 might have a function in thyroid epithelium maturation.
(J Histochem Cytochem 51:479483, 2003)
Key Words: galectin-1, galectin-3, human fetal thyroid, immunohistochemistry
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Introduction |
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Galectins are a family of animal lectins that have two typical properties: affinity for ß-galactosides and sequence homology in the carbohydrate recognition domain (
One of the striking properties of galectins is developmental regulation of their expression, localization, and activity (
In this study we examined immunohistochemically the expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in human fetal thyroid, in an attempt to determine whether or not galectin expression in thyroid carcinoma represents a de novo expression. The results obtained indicated a characteristic pattern of distribution in the cells and extracellular compartment, suggesting involvement of galectins in particular developmental processes in the human thyroid gland.
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Materials and Methods |
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Tissue Samples
A total of 23 thyroid glands were obtained from human fetuses (gestational age range of 16 to 37 weeks) with local ethical committee approval. Fetuses were obtained from spontaneous or therapeutic abortions for sociallegal causes and they had no visible developmental abnormalities. The gestational ages of fetuses were estimated from the maternal menstrual history and measurement of fetal size. The thyroid tissue was fixed in Bouin's solution and processed after paraffin embedding.
Immunohistochemistry
The following antibodies were used: (a) a rabbit anti-human placental galectin-1 antiserum and (b) a rat monoclonal antibody (MAb) M3/38 against galectin-3. A polyclonal antibody to galectin-1 was produced and characterized in our laboratories as described earlier (
A rat MAb M3/38 (IgG2a subclass) is a hybridoma supernatant produced by TIB 166 (American Type Culture Collection; Rockville, MD) against murine macrophage cell surface antigen Mac-2 (
Immunostaining was performed on 46-µm-thick sections using the avidinbiotinperoxidase complex (ABC) technique (
After deparaffination and rehydration, endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 0.3% H2O2/methanol followed by nonimmune serum for 20 min to block nonspecific binding. The sections were then incubated with primary antibody to galectin-1 or to galectin-3 at 4C overnight at a dilution of 1:600 and 1:200, respectively. This was followed by incubation with biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG for galectin-1 detection or biotinylated horse anti-mouse IgG for galectin-3 detection. Both second antibodies were from Vector Laboratories. Next, the sections were incubated with avidinbiotinylated peroxidase complex for 30 min. Between each step, sections were washed three times in PBS. The reaction was visualized using 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB Peroxidase Substrate Kit; Vector Laboratories). After counterstaining with hematoxylin, slides were dehydrated, coverslipped, and examined with a ReichertJung microscope supplied with a Photostar automatic camera system (Vienna, Austria). Negative controls included omission of the primary antibody and the use of nonimmune serum, both resulting in complete absence of staining. Staining of thyroid epithelium or stromal compartment, after evaluation by two observers independently was scored as follows: -, no staining; +, weak staining; ++, moderate staining; and +++, strong staining.
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Results |
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The results of the immunohistochemical analysis of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in human fetal thyroid tissue are presented in Table 1. Some representative photomicrographs are shown in Fig 1A1F.
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Light microscopic examination of fetal thyroid tissue revealed a more or less organized follicular structure, which was generally in accordance with the gestational ages of the fetuses.
Immunohistochemical staining using a polyclonal antibody against galectin-1 was observed in all cases examined (Table 1; Fig 1A, Fig 1C, and Fig 1E). Galectin-1 was localized in the cytoplasm of thyroid epithelial cells. Cytoplasmic staining was diffuse, ranging from weak (12 cases) to moderate (11 cases). Nuclear staining was not found. The apical part of the cell membrane, which faces the follicle lumen, was occasionally stained. Immunoreactivity was also found in stromal cells, extracellular matrix, and host-derived nonthyroid cells. The intensity of staining in the stromal compartment varied from weak to moderate or strong, as shown in Table 1.
Immunostaining using an MAb against galectin-3 showed positivity only in the extracellular compartment (Fig 1B and Fig 1F). Thyroid epithelium was negative in all fetal thyroid tissues examined. Staining for galectin-3 in the stromal compartment varied from weak (12 cases) to moderate (four cases) and in general was less intense than staining for galectin-1. In seven cases no immunoreactivity was found either in follicular cells or in the stromal compartment (Fig 1D).
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Discussion |
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This immunohistochemical study has for the first time analyzed galectin-1 and galectin-3 expression in human fetal thyroid glands. The results obtained demonstrate that they are differentially expressed during the investigated period of fetal life.
During thyroid gland development, the histological differentiation of the follicular epithelium can be considered to pass through three stages (
The follicular phase is a period during which maturation of the thyroid epithelium progresses in terms of multiplication of follicles and enlargement of the follicular lumen (
The results of our work and available data about galectin expression in normal and transformed adult thyroid tissue indicate that galectin-1 could be considered as an oncofetal antigen with regard to thyroid epithelial cells. As for galectin-3, it appears to be neoexpressed during malignant transformation of thyroid epithelium. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of galectin-3 expression in thyroid cells in the early stages of embryonic/fetal life (before 16 weeks).
Although galectin-1 and galectin-3 share structural and biochemical similarities, their different expression patterns and cellular localization suggest different biological roles in the fetal thyroid. Identification of their endogenous ligands at a specific developmental stage or in pathological conditions, and in relation to thyroid cell cytosol and extracellular matrix, will be informative regarding their possible roles in fetal thyroid gland development.
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Acknowledgments |
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Supported by the Ministry of Science, Technologies and Development of the Republic of Serbia, project 1504 "Glycobiological aspects of physiological and pathophysiological processes."
We are grateful to Dr M. E. Huflejt (La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology; San Diego, CA) for providing a monoclonal antibody against galectin-3. We also thank Dr Milo Cvetkovi
(Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics) and Dr Radoslav Radosavljevi
(Department of Histopathology, Clinical Center of Serbia) for their help in obtaining human fetal thyroid glands and providing necessary data about the fetuses.
Received for publication July 23, 2002; accepted October 2, 2002.
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