Abstract:
Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1(Wip1) in thyroid carcinoma and biological effect of siRNA-targeting Wip1 on the thyroid carcinoma cell line.
Methods Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to detect the expression of Wip1 in 73 specimens of thyroid carcinoma tissues and normal thyroid tissues (5 cm away from the margin of thyroid carcinoma), respectively.Wip1 siRNA was transiently transfected into the papillary thyroid carcinoma cell by using a liposome-mediated method and then detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry (FCM) were also conducted to observe cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and cell cycle.
Results The positive rates of Wip1 protein were 80.8% in thyroid carcinoma tissues and 9.6% in the normal tissues (χ2=47.036, P < 0.05).The relative mRNA contents of Wip1 were 0.665 ± 0.046 and 0.225 ± 0.039 in carcinoma and normal tissues, respectively; these results significantly differed between the two types (t=12.637, P < 0.05).Significant correlation was not observed between Wip1 expression and other factors, such as patient's gender, age, and tumor size (P>0.05).However, significant correlations among Wip1 expression, lymph node metastasis, clinical stages and tumor differentiation (P < 0.05) were observed.RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that K1 cell-transfected Wip1 siRNA exhibited a relatively lower expression than normal cells (t=17.039, t= 14.637, P < 0.05).MTT assay results showed that the K1 cells transfected with Wip1 siRNA showed a lower survival fraction, higher cell apoptosis, higher percentage of G0/G1 phases, and lower cell concentration in G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05).
Conclusion Wip1 protein and mRNA were increased in thyroid carcinoma and are correlated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stages and tumor differentiation.Wip1 may be involved in proliferation, apoptosis, and cycle of thyroid cancer cells.