Introduction: The studies of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) gene expression profile have shown changes in expression of genes involved in transport of several ions. The aim of our study was a real-time PCR evaluation of three of them: KCNJ2, SLC4A4 and SLC34A2.
Material and methods: The analysis was carried out in PTC tumors and normal thyroid samples gained from 38 patients. Real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) was performed (Taqman) with beta-glucuronidase (GUS) as the reference gene.
Results: We observed 20 x increase of SLC34A2 expression in PTC. This gene encodes Na+/PO(4) (3-) cotransporter. Considerable increase of gene expression has been shown also for KCNJ2, encoding a potassium ion channel. SLC4A4, which encodes the Na+/HCO(3) (2-) cotransporter, exhibited a 7-fold decrease in PTC.
Conclusions: The performed study revealed that SLC34A2 gene exhibited the most distinct change in expression and may become a molecular marker of papillary thyroid cancer.