Genetic relationship between Hashimoto`s thyroiditis and papillary thyroid carcinoma with coexisting Hashimoto`s thyroiditis

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 30;15(6):e0234566. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234566. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is present in the background of around 30% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). The genetic predisposition effect of this autoimmune condition is not thoroughly understood. We analyzed the microarray expression profiles of 13 HT, eight PTCs with (w/) coexisting HT, six PTCs without (w/o) coexisting HT, six micro PTCs (mPTCs), and three normal thyroid (TN) samples. Based on a false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05 and a fold change (FC) > 2, four comparison groups were defined, which were HT vs. TN; PTC w/ HT vs. TN; PTC w/o HT vs. TN; and mPTC vs. TN. A Venn diagram displayed 15 different intersecting and non-intersecting differentially expressed gene (DEG) sets, of which a set of 71 DEGs, shared between the two comparison groups HT vs. TN ∩ PTC w/ HT vs. TN, harbored the relatively largest number of genes related to immune and inflammatory functions; oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS); DNA damage and DNA repair; cell cycle; and apoptosis. The majority of the 71 DEGs were upregulated and the most upregulated DEGs included a number of immunoglobulin kappa variable genes, and other immune-related genes, e.g., CD86 molecule (CD86), interleukin 2 receptor gamma (IL2RG), and interferon, alpha-inducible protein 6 (IFI6). Upregulated genes preferentially associated with other gene ontologies (GO) were, e.g., STAT1, MMP9, TOP2A, and BRCA2. Biofunctional analysis revealed pathways related to immunogenic functions. Further data analysis focused on the set of non-intersecting 358 DEGs derived from the comparison group of HT vs. TN, and on the set of 950 DEGs from the intersection of all four comparison groups. In conclusion, this study indicates that, besides immune/inflammation-related genes, also genes associated with oxidative stress, ROS, DNA damage, DNA repair, cell cycle, and apoptosis are comparably more deregulated in a data set shared between HT and PTC w/ HT. These findings are compatible with the conception of a genetic sequence where chronic inflammatory response is accompanied by deregulation of genes and biofunctions associated with oncogenic transformation. The generated data set may serve as a source for identifying candidate genes and biomarkers that are practical for clinical application.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Hashimoto Disease / complications
  • Hashimoto Disease / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary / complications
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary / genetics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Up-Regulation

Grants and funding

HS (PI), AJ, KG, and JM (Co-Is) were supported by the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH) – King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology - the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - award number: 13-BIO2289-03. The authors also acknowledge with thanks Science and Technology Unit, King Abdulaziz University for technical support. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.