eng Rončević, Jelena Djorić, Ilona Šelemetjev, Sonja Živaljević, Vladan Božić, Vesna Išić Denčić, Tijana Janković Miljuš, Jelena info:eu-repo/semantics/article https://phaidrabg.bg.ac.rs/o:26354 doi:10.3390/diagnostics12081953 ABSTRACT Papillary thyroid carcinoma represents a challenge from a prognostic standpoint. Molecular alterations responsible for PTC advancement include MMP-9 genetic promoter polymorphisms that bind transcription factors with varying degrees of affinity and, hence, constitute a predisposition for MMP-9 expression. We examined how two promoter polymorphisms (the -1562 C/T transition and -131 (CA)n tandem repeats) as well as levels of the c-Jun transcription factor and its modified form acetylated at Lys271 influence MMP-9 expression and PTC progression. A significant proportion of PTC samples were heterozygous for the (CA)n tandem repeat number, had a transcription-promoting T allele at -1562, and expressed high levels of c-Jun, acetylated c-Jun, and MMP-9 protein. The T allele at the -1562 position accompanied the elevated MMP-9 protein expression, while high acetylated c-Jun levels accompanied the high MMP-9 protein levels on mRNA. The -1562 C/T transition, MMP-9, and acetylated c-Jun were associated with the presence of extra-thyroid invasion and degree of tumor infiltration, while the T allele and acetylated c-Jun also correlated with tumor stage. We conclude that the -1562 MMP-9 polymorphism and levels of acetylated c-Jun affect PTC progression via modulation of MMP-9 levels. Genotyping the MMP-9 at -1562 and estimating the levels of MMP-9 and acetylated c-Jun in PTC may prove beneficial in identifying high-risk patients. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Predictive significance of two MMP-9 promoter polymorphisms and acetylated c-Jun transcription factor for papillary thyroid carcinoma advancement application/pdf 1995251 bytes MDPI Diagnostics 12(8) 2022 papillary thyroid carcinoma, MMP-9, promoter polymorphism, transcription factors, carcinoma progression