PAX8

PAX8 stands for the acronym "Paired Box Protein 8". PAX8 is a protein which, as a transcription factor, primarily controls the transcription of certain genes in the thyroid gland.

The PAX8 gene belongs to a family of transcription factors that encode proteins containing a so-called paired box domain, an octapeptide that influences the development of follicular thyroid cells and further influences the expression of thyroid-specific genes. PAX8 plays an important role not only in the adult organism but also during thyroid and kidney organogenesis.

Mutations of the PAX8 gene are associated with thyroid malformations, thyroid adenomas and thyroid carcinomas.

Antibodies against the PAX8 protein serve as markers for renal cell carcinomas (clear cell, papillary) and ovarian carcinomas.

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