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Objective:To explore new methods of treating Graves′ disease (GD) by targeting thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).Methods:The small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting TSHR and the ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) were designed and synthesized. Thirty GD model mice were randomly divided into siRNA treatment group, ICAM-1 mAb treatment group, and untreated GD group (10 mice in each group), and 10 normal mice were taken as blank control. Serum thyroxine (T 4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), TSH receptor-stimulating antibody (TSAb) and TSH-stimulation blocking antibody (TSBAb) were measured before and after treatment. At the end of the treatment, body mass and heart rate of mice in each group were measured, and thyroid uptake of 99Tc mO 4-, thyroid size and pathological changes were evaluated. Independent-sample t test, paired t test and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze data. Results:After three treatments, the body mass of mice in siRNA group and ICAM-1 mAb group were significantly lower than that of normal mice ( F=3.50, P=0.025); the heart rates of the mice in two groups were significantly lower than that of untreated GD mice ( F=24.73, P<0.001). Heart rate of mice treated with siRNA decreased significantly, close to that of normal mice. After treatment, the serum T 4((27.58±1.94) vs (65.71±6.89) μg/L, (27.24±3.50) vs (70.84±8.46) μg/L), TSAb ((331.44±43.38) vs (457.33±45.85) mU/L, (275.16±45.80) vs (443.91±42.32) mU/L) and TSBAb ((13.94±1.11) vs (15.83±5.92) mU/L, (14.59±1.02) vs (17.05±6.16) mU/L) levels of mice in both siRNA group and ICAM-1 mAb group significantly decreased ( t values: 4.45-10.87, all P<0.05), while the serum TSH levels of mice in two groups significantly increased ((0.13±0.05) vs (0.04±0.05) mU/L, (1.46±0.34) vs (0.06±0.03) mU/L; t values: -2.22, -5.87, P values: 0.007, <0.001). The elevated TSH level and decreased TSAb level of mice treated with ICAM-1 mAb were significantly different from those treated with siRNA ( t values: 1.03, -1.63, P values: 0.002, 0.031). After treatment, the uptake of 99Tc mO 4- in part of the thyroid lobes of mice was decreased, and the enlargement degree of the corresponding lobes was reduced. The thyroid pathology of mice in the treated groups showed that the absorption vacuoles of thyroid follicles were reduced, and the phenomenon of thinner colloids was improved. No obvious damage was observed in the heart, liver and kidneys of the mice. Conclusions:Both the siRNA targeting TSHR and ICAM-1 mAb have therapeutic effects on GD model mice. The siRNA is better at controlling heart rate, and ICAM-1 mAb is better at increasing TSH and decreasing TSAb. Each of the above treatment methods is safe and effective, which can provide new ideas for GD targeted therapy.
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Background Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disease.Current research on the pathogenesis focuses on common autoantigen.Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is necessary for the function of IGF-1,also IGF-1 plays an important role in signaling pathway of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR).Objective This study was to investigate the effects of IGF-1 on the proliferation,expression of IGF-1R and TSHR on cultured orbital fibroblasts (OFs) derived from TAO.Methods Human orbital tissue was obtained from 17 TAO patients who received orbital adipectomy and 4 normal controls who received cosmetic surgery in West China Hospital from March 2016 to June 2016.OFs were cultured by explant culture with DMEM/F12 containing 5％ fetal bovine serum and identified by immunochemistry.The OFs were treated with different concentrations of IGF-1.IGF-1 at different concentrations (0,50,100,125 μg/L) was added into the medium,respectively,and the proliferation of the cells (absorbancy) was detected by MTS.The percentages of IGF-1R and TSHR expressions in the cells were assayed by flow cytometry.Results Cultured cells appeared to be spindle-like in shape and grew well with abundant cytoplasm.The characteristics of the cells derived from TAO patients were consistant with normal ones.The cells showed the positive response for vimentin and absent respose for desmin,S-100,myoglobin and cytokeratin.The proliferative values of OFs were gradually elevated with the increase of IGF-I dose in both TAO group and normal group (Fgroup =219.639,P＜0.001;F ion =17.752,P＜0.001) with the optimal effects in 100 μg/L IGF-1.The expression levels of IGF-1R in the OFs were (0.009 1 ±0.008 7)％,(0.095 3±0.023 3) ％,(0.083 7±0.022 7) ％ and (0.070 9 ± 0.024 1) ％ in the TAO group,and those in the normal group were (0.0023± 0.0006)％,(0.0093±0.0012)％,(0.0073±0.0015)％ and (0.0083±0.0012)％ after treatment of 50,100,125 μg/L IGF-1.The expression levels of IGF-1 R were significantly higher after treatment of 50,100 and 125 μtg/L IGF-1 than those treatment of 0 μg/L IGF-1 in both TAO group and normal group,and the expression levels of IGF-1R in the OFs were significantly increased in the TAO group compared with the normal group (all at P＜0.05).No statistical difference was seen in the TSHR expression between the TAO group and normal group after treatment of 0,50,100 and 125 μg/L IGF-1 (Fgroup =0.133,P ＞ 0.05;F ion =0.004,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions IGF-1 can promote the proliferation of OFs and up-regulate the expression of IGF-1R in OFs.However,IGF-1 dose not play a regulating effect on the expression of TSHR in OFs.
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Thymic hyperplasia is frequently observed in Graves' disease. However, detectable massive enlargement of the thymus is rare, and the mechanism of its formation has remained elusive. This case showed dynamic changes in thymic hyperplasia on serial computed tomography images consistent with changes in serum thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) antibodies and thyroid hormone levels. Furthermore, the patient's thymic tissues underwent immunohistochemical staining for TSH-R, which demonstrated the presence of thymic TSH-R. The correlation between serum TSH-R antibody levels and thymic hyperplasia sizes and the presence of TSH-R in her thymus suggest that TSH-R antibodies could have a pathogenic role in thymic hyperplasia.
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Graves Disease/complications , Receptors, Thyrotropin/blood , Thymus Gland/diagnostic imaging , Thymus Hyperplasia/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Hormones , Thyroidectomy , Thyrotropin/blood , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Background Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is a kind of clinically common and incurable ocular disease,and its incidence is at top place.The etiology and pathologic mechanism of TAO are still unknown because of shortness of replicative animal models and difficulty to acquire the ocular tissues in the early stage of the disease.To better understand the pathogenesis of TAO and investigate effective treatable measures, an appropriate animal model should be developed.Objective This study was to immunize female BALB/c mice with the recombinant plasmid of human thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) extracellular domain in cationic liposomes for the establishement of TAO models.Methods Thirty-two 6-to 8-week-old female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to four groups according to computer random allocation.pcDNA3.1 +/hTSHR289 of 100 μg in an adjuvant cationic liposomes was injected via anterior tibialis muscle and peritoneal cavity separately in the recombinant plasmid injection group in 0, 3,6 weeks, and pcDNA3.1 or cationic liposomes was injected in the liposomes injection group or the blank plasmid group in the same way, respectively, and normal saline solution was injected in the blank control group.Body weight of the mice was measued before and 1 month,2,3 and 4 months after initial injection.The manifestations were observed after modeling.The mice were sacrificed 17 weeks after initial injection,and the histopathology examination was carried out on the thyroid gland and orbital tissue.The heart blood was collected from the mice,and serum contents of total thyroxin 4 (TT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)were assayed by ELISA.Results Protrusion, eyelid swell and keratitis occurred in 12 eyes of 6 mice in the recombinant plasmid injection group after immunization.A significant difference in the body weight of the mice was found among the blank control group, blank plasmid group, liposomes injection group and recombinant plasmid injection group (Fgroup =3.425, P =0.028), and the body weight was considerably reduced in the recombinant plasmid injection group in comparison with the blank control group, blank plasmid group,liposomes injection group (Ftime =0.838 ,P=0.023).The serum levels of TT4 were (7.75±1.00), (7.96±0.76), (6.76±1.10) and (4.43±2.88) μg/dlin the blank control group, liposomes injection group, blank plasmid group, and recombinant plasmid injection group, and those of TSH were (6.36±2.58),(4.83±3.96),(6.63±1.71) and (1.60 ±1.76) ng/ml, showing significant differences among the groups (F =7.150, P＜0.001;F =5.521, P＜0.01) , and the serum levels of TT4 and TSH were remarkably lower in the recombinant plasmid injection group than those of the blank control group,liposomes injection group and blank plasmid group (all at P ＜ 0.05).Histopathology revealed the lymphocyte infiltration of thyroid gland in 6 mice and proliferation of orbital adipose tissue, infiltration of lymphocytes and mastocytes,deposition of hyaluronic acid as well as swell, breakage and inflammatory cell infiltration of extraocular muscle in 15 eyes of the recombinant plasmid injection group.Conclusions A murine model of TAO can be successfully induced by immunization with recombination plasmid pcDNA3.1 +/hTSHR289 and cationic liposomes.The histopathology characteristics and ocular findings of the animal models are similar to human TAO.
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Objective To explore the clinical value of changes of serum thyroid function and immune content from patients with gestational hyperthyroidism.Methods A total of 146 cases of patients with hyperthyroidism during pregnancy and 73 cases of patients with recurrence of hyperthyroidism after delivery were chosen as the experimental group,and 73 cases of patients without recurrence of hyperthyroidism after delivery were chosen as the control group.The thyroid function and thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb)concentrations at different period of pregnancy for two groups were tested.The thyroid function and TSAb concentrations after pregnancy of the two groups were also tested.Results At the mid and late period of pregnancy,the concentrations of free triiodothyronine (FT3)and free tetraiodothyronine (FF4) were significantly lower than early pregnancy.The concentrations of hypersensitive thyroid stimulating hormone (sTSH) and TSAb were increased gradually.The concentrations of FT3,FT4,and TSAb after pregnancy were all significantly higher than control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions FT3,FT4,sTSH,and TSAb can be used for early diagnosis of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy,and have a certain predictive value for relapse after secretion.
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BACKGROUND: We analyzed whether thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) is expressed in a skeletal muscle cell line and if TSH has influence on the differentiation of muscle cells or on the determination of muscle fiber types. METHODS: TSH-R gene expression was detected with nested real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in C2C12, a mouse skeletal muscle cell line. The effect of TSH on myotube differentiation was assessed by microscopic examination of myotube formation and through the measurement of expression of muscle differentiation markers, i.e., myogenin and myoD, and muscle type-specific genes, i.e., MyHC1, MyHC2a, and MyHC2b, with quantitative RT-PCR before and after incubation of C2C12 myotube with TSH. RESULTS: TSH-R was expressed in the mouse skeletal muscle cell line. However, treatment with TSH had little effect on the differentiation of muscle cells, although the expression of the muscle differention marker myogenin was significantly increased after TSH treatment. Treatment of TSH did not affect the expression of muscle type-specific genes. CONCLUSION: TSH-R is expressed in a mouse skeletal muscle cell line, but the role of TSH receptor signaling in skeletal muscle needs further investigation.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Antigens, Differentiation , Cell Line , Gene Expression , Muscle Cells , Muscle Fibers, Skeletal , Muscle, Skeletal , Muscles , Myogenin , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Receptors, Thyrotropin , Thyroid Gland , ThyrotropinABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes of iodide uptake and the expression of thyroidspecific genes in poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) cells after transfection of human TSH receptor (hTSHR) gene in vitro. Methods The recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid PcDNA3. 1/hTSHR-cDNA was transformed into DH5a bacterial for amplification and then the recombinant plasmid was extracted. The recombinant was identified with PCR amplifying, restriction enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/hTSHR was transfected into FTC-133 cell line by lipofectin methodin vitro. Immunofluorescence, iodide uptake studies and real time-PCR were applied to detect target protein expression. Statistical analysis was performed with t-test using SPSS 13. 0 software. Results Kpn Ⅰ and Xba Ⅰ restriction enzyme digestion, PCR amplifying and DNA sequencing confirmed that pcDNA3. 1/hTSHR was successfully constructed. After transfection of the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3. 1/hTSHR-cDNA and the stimulation of hTSH, the tumor cells displayed the expression of hTSHR protein at cell surface and cytoplasm. The iodine uptake in pcDNA3. 1/hTSHR transfected cells was 2. 9 times higher than that of control(pcDNA3.1(+) transfected cells) group(t = 28.63, P ＜0. 01). The expression of TSHR,NIS, TPO and Tg (mRNA levels) in pcDNA3. 1/hTSHR transfected cells were also significantly elevated by 1.74 (t =5.959, P＜0.01), 7.2 (t =3.807,P＜0.05), 2.88 (t=4.769,P＜0. 01) and 2.67 times (t=6.388,P ＜0.01) respectively compared to those of the control group. Conclusion The study demonstrates that iodide uptake may be reactivated by hTSHR receptor gene transfection in poorly differentiated FTC cell.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Graves' disease (GD) is caused by thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI). We used a recently introduced, technically enhanced TSI bioassay to assess its diagnostic value and determine the cut-off in patients in high iodine intake area. METHODS: In a cross-sectional setting, we collected serum from 67 patients with untreated GD, 130 with GD under treatment, 22 with GD in remission, 42 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 12 with subacute thyroiditis, 20 with postpartum thyroiditis, and 93 euthyroid controls. TSI was measured using the Thyretaintrade mark bioassay, which is based on Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with chimeric TSHR (Mc4). TSI levels are reported as a specimen-to-reference ratio percentage (SRR%). RESULTS: The TSI levels in patients with GD (either treated or not) were significantly higher than those of the remaining patients (p < 0.05). The new bioassay showed a sensitivity of 97.0% and a specificity of 95.9% with a cut-off value of 123.0 SRR% for GD. A weak correlation was found between TSI and thyrotropin-binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII) (rs = 0.259, p = 0.03), but no correlation was found between TSI and tri-iodothyronine or free thyroxine. CONCLUSIONS: The Mc4-CHO bioassay showed comparable diagnostic value for GD with the conventional TBII assay. We propose a cut-off of 123.0 SRR% in areas where iodine intake is high.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Cricetinae , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Biological Assay , Biomarkers/blood , CHO Cells , Case-Control Studies , Cricetulus , Cross-Sectional Studies , Genes, Reporter , Graves Disease/diagnosis , Hashimoto Disease/diagnosis , Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating/blood , Luciferases/genetics , Postpartum Thyroiditis/diagnosis , Predictive Value of Tests , Protein Binding , Radioimmunoassay , Receptors, Thyrotropin/genetics , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism , Republic of Korea , Sensitivity and Specificity , Thyroiditis, Subacute/diagnosis , TransfectionABSTRACT
Objective To study the expression of the tumor suppressor gene TSHR and pl6 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and explore the relationship of the tumorigenesis and the promoter aberrant methylation of the two above genes. Methods RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of two tumor suppressor genes in 50 cases of PTC, 20 cases of nodular goiter and 12 cases of thyroid adenoma tissue. The promoter methylation status of the two genes were detected by methylation-specific PCR technique (MSP) (which of p16 by nested PCR). The promoter hypermethylation of the two genes was tested by randomly gene sequencing. Results Hypermethylation of promoter region were detected from 68.0 % (34/50) TSHR gene and 54.0 % (27/50) pl6 gene in PTC, while 21.9 % (7/32) and 15.60 % (5/32) in controls. The rate of promoter methylation in PTC was significantly higher than that in controls (χ2 = 16.61, P <0.05 vs χ2 =12.08 P <0.05). The relative mRNA expression of TSHR gene and pl6 gene were (0.41±0.11) and (0.51±0.17) in PTC, respectively, while those were (0.63 ±0.08) and (0.72 ±0.22) in controls, respectively. The mRNA expression of the TSHR gene and pl6 gene was obviously lower in PTC than that in controls (t = 3.86, P < 0.05 vs t =3.66, P <0.05). By the sequencing, it was confirmed that the CG in methylated promoter of the two genes was not changed, while the CG in unmethylated promoter was changed into TG. Conclusion Methylation of the TSHR gene and p16 gene in promoter region is a common molecule event and may be invovled in the genesis and development of human PTC.
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Objective To study the relationship of levels of acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChRAb) and thyroid antibodies in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and thyroidism. Methods Thyroid function of FT3, FT4 and TSH, and thyroid antibodies including TSH receptor antibody ( TRAb), thyroid globulin antibody (TGAb) and thyroid microsome antibody (TMAb) were detected in 100 patients with MG and 100 healthy controls. Among them, 32 patients were further tested for AChRAb. The relationship between AChRAb and each of TRAb, TGAb and TMAb was analyzed along with their relevant clinical characteristics. Results Of 100 patients with MG, 12 cases ( 12% ) were hyperthyroidism and 4 cases (4%) were hypothyroidism, and 71 cases (71%) were thyroid antibodies positive. The percent of thyroid antibodies positive cases was significantly higher than that of thyroidism cases (χ2=4. 788, P < 0. 05 ). Analysis on AChRAb and TRAb in 32 AChRAb tested cases demonstrated a linear correlation (r= 0. 609, P = 0. 0002). Conclusions The incidence of thyroid antibody positive in MG cases is significantly higher than incidence of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in MG. AChRAb and TRAb has a linear correlation.
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Objective To study the antigenicity of human thyrotropin receptor(hTSHR)amino terminus (amino acid 29～280)and its association with Graves' disease.Methods Total thyroid RNA was prepared from human normal thyroid tissue.RNA was then reversely transcripted and cDNA was subjected to PCR amplification.PCR product was cloned into pcDNA3.1 and the recombinant plasmid was named pcDNA3.1/hTSHR188～940bp. Balb/c mice were immunized with peDNA3.1/hTSHR188～940bp. The levels of serum thyroxin,anti-TSHR antibody(TRAb)and thyroid stimulating antibody(TSAb)were measured,and the pathological changes of thyroid tissue were also observed.Results A 753 bp fragment encoding hTSHR ectodomain amino end was obtained after PCR amplification.Confirmed by Hind Ⅲ restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing,pcDNA3.1/hTSHR188～940bphad been constructed successfully,with the correct sequence and direction of hTSHR188～940bp.In the Balb/c mice treated with pcDNA3.1/hTSHR188～940bp,elevated TRAb in week 6(0.148±0.018)were observed compared with those at week o(0.106±0.006,P＜0.01),and kept a higher level till week 10(0.134±0.011,P＜0.01).T4 and TSAb index values were significantly increased in week 10.Serum T4 concentration increased from(41.02±7.97)μg/L in week 0 to(62.20±12.77)μg/L in week 10(P＜0.01);TSAb index values rose from 0.864±0.076 at week 0 to 1.392±0.615(P＜0.01).Thyroid pathological examination showed that proliferated thyroid follicular epithelial cells and foll icular eapacity increased.Inflammatory cells were occasionally found.Conclusions There are antigen epitopes in hTSHR ectodomain amino acid 29～280,which can stimulate the production of TSAb.And the latter induces hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease like manifestations.It suggests that hTSHR ectodomain amino acid 29～280 is closely associated with Graves' disease,and maybe one of important etiological factors leading to the disease.
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AIM: The selective recognition of the sense peptides which are located in special regions of thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) by their corresponding antisense peptides has been investigated. Three pairs of sense and antisense peptides were named TR1 (aa37-45) and RT1 (aa45-37), TR2 (aa353-366) and RT2 (aa366-353), TR3 (aa648-655) and RT3 (aa655-648). METHODS: To prepare three affinity chromatography columns, antisense peptides were immobilized, called RT1-sepharose 4B, RT2-sepharose 4B and RT3-sepharose 4B, respectively and investigate the retardative behavior for each of native peptide TR1, TR2 or TR3 on above columns with stepwise elution. RESULTS: Each of the three immobilized antisense peptides recognized and retarded its corresponding sense peptide-TR1, TR2 or TR3 instead of those non-complementary peptides. Immobilized RT1 recognized free TSHR protein molecule as well. In additional, bovine thyrotropin was recognized by immobilized TR1. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that molecular recognition theory exsits in thyrotropin receptor system. It may be useful to isolate biological molecules and to locate epitopes of TSH on TSHR molecule. Otherwise, antisense peptide may be used for treatment of experimental autoimmunolized thyroid disease (AITD) in the rat. [
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Purpose: To confirm the therapeutic effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone(TRH) on the experimental spinal cord injury. Method: Wistar rats were subjected to incomplete spinal cord injury using the modified Allen method. The effects were observed by means of neurologic scoring, quantitative enzyme histocytoehemistry、quantitative immunohistocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Results: 1) The treated group exhibited significantly higher scores than the control group. 2) Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity of anterior horn cells in the treated group was higher than that of the control group invarious time, and its activity restored to normal level two weeks after injury; Acid phosphatase(AePase) activity was lower than that of the control group in various time. and its activity restored to normal level four weeks after injury. The content of Nissl's bodies in anterior horn cells in the treated group was higher than that of the control goup one week after injury. 3)The number of axon in a certain area of spinal white matter in the treated group was more than that of the control group. 4)Ultrastructural observation showed that both the nerve tissue injury and the extent of hemorrhage were milder in the treated group than that of the control group. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of TRH on the spinal cord injury" are shown not only in the improving recovery of motor function, but also in the morphology.
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AIM: To study the characterization of thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) and its active fragment TSHR aa352-366 as immunogens in BALB/c mice. METHODS: BALB/c mice were injected peritoneally with TSHR aa352-366-KLH (hemocyanin from keyhole limpets) and the mixture of TSHR aa352-366-KLH and guinea pig TSHR every 15 days, respectively. The levels of thyroid hormones and TSHR antibodies and TSHR mRNA were measured, and the pathological changes of thyroid tissue were observed. RESULTS: In the group injected with TSHR aa352-366-KLH, the serum levels of TT_3 and TT_4 decreased (P
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DNA was extracted from thyroid nodular tissue in 16 patients with toxic multinodular goitor (TMG). After PCR, the product of PCR was sequenced, and 3 cases with point mutation (A1964T) and 2 cases with insertion mutation (a G was inserted after nucleotide 1928) in TSH receptor gene were found. It is postulated that these mutations may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TMG.
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Phe) polymorphism and GD in Han population of Chongqing area.