MicroRNA expression profile in the normal thyroid and its benign lesions

Studies of molecular mechanisms of thyroid diseases contribute to the discovery of diagnostic and prognostic markers of its various disorders. MicroRNA (miRNA) – endogenous non-coding small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and are considered as biomarkers of benign and malignant conditions. Currently, aberrations of the microRNA expression in the settings of subclinical autoimmune and hyperplastic processes remain largely unexplored. The latter is necessary for studying the molecular mechanisms of benign thyroid conditions, as well as for developing criteria for selection of reference thyroid tissue samples for subsequent studies.

Aim: To determine the expression pattern of selected microRNAs in a follicular nodular disease, autoimmune thyroiditis and combination of a follicular nodular disease with focal chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, as well as in the presence of latent focal chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and diffuse hyperplastic changes.

Materials and methods: The expression of 18 microRNAs in 72 samples of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded thyroid tissue was studied using quantitative PCR. Normalizing microRNAs were selected using the NormiRazor web application. The Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni correction was used to compare normalized values of microRNA expression levels (ΔCt).

Results: Minimal morphological alterations in the thyroid tissue were accompanied by abnormal expression of most of the studied microRNAs, depending on the nature of the pathological process. In combined lesions of the thyroid tissue, the presence of autoimmune inflammation influenced microRNAs expression in the greatest extent.

Conclusion: The present findings identify the necessity for developing stringent criteria for selecting reference samples of thyroid tissue for molecular studies, and may aid in subsequent studies aimed at developing approaches to the analysis of microRNA expression in various pathological conditions.

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