Increased expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in multinodular non toxic goiter.

Thyroid cell growth and function both in vivo and in vitro, are mainly regulated by TSH. Recent studies have shown that growth factors including insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1) have an important role in the control of thyrocyte proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the IGF-1 gene by Northern analysis and the IGF-1 tissue protein by radioimmunoassay in multinodular euthyroid goiters.

Ttf1 gene-expression in human proliferating thyroid-diseases.

TTF1 mRNA expression in the thyroid gland from 30 patients with thyroid proliferating diseases and 4 healthy donors used as normal controls was investigated using Northern blot analysis. Six patients affected by malignant thyroid carcinomas and six patients with adenoma were examined; moreover 18 patients with non malignant proliferating disease such as multinodular goiters were investigated. Determination of TTF1 mRNA revealed a significant decrease of the steady state mRNA levels in carcinomas and adenomas as compared to normal tissues.