Thyroglobulin

• OMIM: 188450
• UniProt: P01266
• MGI: 98733

Thyroglobulin (TG ) is a protein of the thyroid gland, to the synthesis of thyroid hormone, thyroxine and triiodothyronine occurs. In this process, the iodine atoms bonded to the Tyrosinanteile thyroglobulin ( Jodisation ) are. It is the main constituent of the colloid of the thyroid. It is produced in the thyroid cells.

The detection of human thyroglobulin proves the presence of thyroid tissue, and is therefore particularly well suited to the search for residual thyroid tissue after removal. Increased antibodies against thyroglobulin ( TG -Ab or TAK ) have an autoimmune disease of the thyroid towards such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Mutations in the TG gene can cause a goiter.

Properties

There is a ( heterogeneous ) of iodine -glycoprotein with a molecular mass of approximately 660 kDa. It should not be confused with the similar-sounding " thyroxine -binding globulin " (TBG ).

Under the influence of thyrotropin thyroglobulin is normally synthesized in the follicular cells of the thyroid gland as a precursor for thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Thyroglobulin as a tumor marker

In the context of cancer aftercare a main method is to search for residual tissue scintigraphy. However, cancerous cells may on the one hand the massive ability to Iodanreicherung have almost lost, on the other hand can be as small tissue recurrence or so deep below other tissues, that it is no longer scintigraphy to detect. Suspected in papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma thyroglobulin is an important additional investigation value.

In the treatment of thyroid carcinoma initially all thyroid tissue is removed surgically achievable. Depending on tumor histology and stage as possible any remaining thyroid cells are destroyed in the subsequent radioiodine therapy. Therefore, where subsequent checks thyroglobulin prove, so this is a clear indication of thyroid cells - benign or malignant.