ABSTRACT
In recent years, the incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing. Researchers around the world have begun to pay more attention to the exploration of its pathogenesis, disease evolution and prognosis. Among them, research in the field of gene molecules has become a hotspot, which includes the mutations of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homologue B1 (BRAF) and the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter. However, this field is not mature, and there are many problems and challenges need to be solved. This paper explores the value of BRAF mutation in the treatment, recurrence, mortality and prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. In addition, we also explore the relationship between BRAF mutation and TERT promoter mutations and their influences in thyroid cancer. We hope this paper could help later scholars understand the current situation in this field and find a research direction in the future.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Mutation , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf , Genetics , Telomerase , Genetics , Thyroid Neoplasms , GeneticsABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its clinical significance.Methods Blood samples from 129 patients with RA,71 patients with other rheumatic diseases and 68 healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).The serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody in patients with RA were divided into high,medium and low groups,each group had 43 cases.The clinical symptoms,immunological findings and related imaging data of all cases were recorded.We investigated the relationship between the serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody and the clinical symptoms,immunological findings and related imaging changes of the RA group.Chi-square test,Mann-Whitney U test,Spearman's correlation test were used for statistical analysis.Results ① The serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody were significantly higher in RA group [A:1.093 (0.150-3.210)] than in other rheumatic diseases group [A:0.278 (0.093-0.455)] and healthy controls [A:0.202 (0.121-0.443)] (Z=-11.223,P=0.021 ; Z=-7.839,P=0.008 7).The serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody was not significantly different between patients with other rheumatic diseases group and healthy controls (Z=-0.905,P=0.445).② The difference in positive rate of rheumatoid factor (RF) in different groups of anti-BRAF antibody levels was statistically significant (λx2=10.14,P=0.006),namely the positive rate was significantlyhigher in the low-level group (88％) than in the high-level group (58％) (x2=10.03,P=0.002).Thepositive rate of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and anti-keratin antibody of the three groups was not significantly different (x2=0.721,P=0.697; x2=1.735,P=0.188).③ There was significant negative correlation between the levels of anti-BRAF antibody and the course of disease (r=-0.233,P=0.047),RF(r=-2.84,P=0.039),IgM (r=-0.234,P=0.038),and hemoglobin (r=-0.287,P=0.032).There was no significant correlation between the level of anti-BRAF antibody and the joint swelling index (r=-0.133,P=0.230),joint pain index (r=-0.173,P=0.100),other clinical and laboratory parameters.There was significantly negative correlation between the ESR and hemoglobin level.④ There was no significant difference of the level of anti-BRAF antibody between the normal group and patients with bone destruction in the RA group (Z=-0.642,P=0.521).⑤ There was no significant difference in the level of anti-BRAF antibody between the normal group and patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis group in the RA group (Z=-0.121,P=0.904).Conclusion The anti-BRAF antibody can be used for the diagnosis of RA as a new autoantibody,and it can also be used in the diagnosis of early or RF-negative RA.There is no correlation between the level of anti-BRAF antibody and bone destruction and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To detect v raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homologue B1 (BRAF) in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to investigate its clinical significance in RA.Methods Synovial fluid samples were obtained from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA).Serum samples were obtained from patients with RA,OA and heathy controls.The presence of BRAF in the synovial fluid and sera were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Western blotting was used to detect the expression of BRAF protein in the synovial tissue of RA and OA.The associations between the BRAF and the clinical features and laboratory parameters of RA were evaluated.Data analysis were performed using t test and Spearman's association analysis.Results ① The level of BRAF in the synovial fluid of RA [(84±59) ng/ml] was significantly higher than OA [(38±41) ng/ml] (t=3.290,P=0.002).② The level of BRAF in the sera of RA patients [(22.0±12.5) ng/ml] was also higher than OA [(6.8±7.5) ng/ml,t=3.882,P＜0.01] and healthy controls [(4.8±2.2) ng/ml,t=6.766,P＜0.01].③ In RA patients,the BRAF protein level in the synovial fluid [(102±52) ng/ml] was significantly higher than that in the serum [(21±12) ng/ml] (t=-4.316,P=0.003).④The expression level of BRAF in the synovial tissue of RA (0.284±0.045) was higher than that in OA patients (0.191±0.013,t=3.169,P=0.034).⑤ The level of BRAF in the synovial fluid had a negative correlation with disease duration (r=-0.40,P=0.019) and a positive correlation with rheumatoid factor (RF) levels (r=0.37,P=0.03).Conclusion The presence of BRAF in the synovial fluid and synovium of RA indicates that BRAF may play a role in the pathogenesis of RA,especially in the early stage.