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Immunohistochemical localization of thyroid hormone in rat thyroid gland.

Direct and indirect immunofluorescence techniques were used to localize the thyroid hormones triidothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in adult rat thyroid gland. Optimum dilutions of the antisera were established and four tissue fixatives were investigated for usefulness in this technique. Use of antibodies specific for either T3 or T4 resulted in brilliant fluorescence in the colloid pools and apical cytoplasm of follicular cells. In all cases, the adjacent parathyroid gland was devoid of fluorescence. This report demonstrates that these dipeptide hormones can be localized by using immunofluorescence techniques.

Animals↗

Changes in plasma thyrotrophin-releasing hormone, thyrotrophin, prolactin and thyroid hormone levels after intravenous, intranasal or rectal administration of synthetic thyrotrophin-releasing hormone in man.

Changes in plasma thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyrotrophin (TSH), prolactin and thyroid hormone levels after iv, intranasal, or rectal administration of synthetic TRH were studied in man. The plasma TRH concentration increased with all three routes, but remained at higher levels for a longer time after intranasal or rectal administration, in contrast to the rapid decrease after iv administration. Plasma TSH, prolactin and thyroid hormone levels increased significantly after intranasal or rectal administration and also remained elevated for a longer period than iv administration. These findings suggest that TRH administered intranasally or rectally enters the blood stream and stimulates TSH, prolactin and thyroid hormone release in man.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Thyroid hormone induces the expression of 4-1BB and activation of caspases in a thyroid hormone receptor-dependent manner.

Thyroid hormone has various effects on cell proliferation, growth and apoptosis. To gain more insight into the molecular dynamics caused by thyroid hormone, gene expression in HeLaTR cells that constitutively overexpressed the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) was analyzed. Gene expression profiling of the HeLaTR cells with an oligonucleotide microarray yielded 229 genes whose expression was significantly altered by T3. Among these genes, the expression of 4-1BB, which is known to initiate a signal cascade activating NF-kappaB, was significantly up-regulated by T3. Although treatment of the HeLaTR cells with T3 did not induce expression of NF-kappaB reporter luciferase, even in the presence of the 4-1BB-Ligand, it increased the caspase activities. An increase in the caspase activities was also observed in the HeLaTR cells transfected with 4-1BB cDNA, and the 4-1BB-Ligand further increased the caspase activities of the HeLaTR cells overexpressing the 4-1BB. Furthermore, up-regulation of 4-1BB and an increase in caspase activities also occurred in the rat FRTL cells that expressed only authentic TR. These results demonstrate that the expression of 4-1BB serves as the mediator of signals from T3 to activate caspases.

Animals↗

Regulation of differentiated thyroid function by iodide: preferential inhibitory effect of excess iodide on thyroid hormone secretion in sheep thyroid cell cultures.

Primary cultures of sheep thyroid cells have been used to study the inhibitory effects of iodide on thyroid function. Under the influence of TSH, iodide was concentrated with a cell to medium ratio of 20. When thyroid hormone secretion was measured from cells cultured without addition of exogenous iodide, preferential T3 secretion was evident. The optimum iodide concentration for T4 and T3 synthesis and secretion was 10(-6) M. Prior exposure to 10(-5) M or more iodide decreased subsequent iodide transport in a concentration-dependent manner compared to that in cells acutely exposed to iodide. Although cell to medium ratios were decreased, intracellular iodide concentrations continued to rise with increasing external iodide concentrations, and iodide available for thyroid hormone synthesis was not in limited supply. Iodide concentrations of 10(-4) M or greater inhibited iodothyronine synthesis and thyroid hormone secretion, assessed by both assay of trichloroacetic acid-insoluble Na125I activity in cells and RIA of T4 and T3 in the medium and cell layer. An intermediate concentration of 10(-5) M iodide had a marked inhibitory effect on T4 and T3 secretion, but iodothyronine formation on thyroglobulin was only slightly affected. Our results suggest a preferential inhibitory effect of elevated iodide concentrations on thyroid hormone secretion. The adaptive advantages of this selective inhibition would allow storage of iodothyronines in times of iodide sufficiency while maintaining euthyroidism.

Animals↗

Sulfated tyrosines of thyroglobulin are involved in thyroid hormone synthesis.

Thyroid hormone synthesis is under the control of thyrotropin (TSH), which also regulates the sulfation of tyrosines in thyroglobulin (Tg). We hypothesized that sulfated tyrosine (Tyr[S]) might be involved in the hormonogenic process, since the consensus sequence required for tyrosine sulfation to occur was observed at the hormonogenic sites. Porcine thyrocytes, cultured with TSH but without iodide in the presence of [(35)S]sulfate, secreted Tg which was subjected to in vitro hormonosynthesis with increasing concentrations of iodide. A 63% consumption of Tyr[S] (1 residue) was observed at 40 atoms of iodine incorporated into Tg, corresponding to a 40% hormonosynthesis efficiency. In addition, hyposulfated Tg secreted by cells incubated with sodium chlorate was subjected to in vitro hormonosynthesis. With 0.5 Tyr[S] residue (31% of the initial content), the efficiency of the hormonosynthesis was 29%. In comparison, when hormonosynthesis was performed by cells, with only 0.25 Tyr[S] residue (16% of the initial content), the hormonosynthesis efficiency fell to 18%. These results show that there exists a close correlation between the sulfated tyrosine content of Tg and the production of thyroid hormones.

Animals↗

Preparation of unoccupied thyroid-hormone receptor.

Thyroid hormone (3,5,3'-tri-iodothyronine; T3) regulates gene expression through binding to its specific receptor in the nucleus. In euthyroid animals, roughly half of all receptors are occupied by the hormone. Nuclear extracts thus yield mixtures of occupied and unoccupied receptors. We present here a simple method for transforming occupied receptors into unoccupied ones. In vitro, the T3-receptor complex dissociated in a half-dissociation time exceeding 100 h at 0 degrees C, and at temperatures that accelerated the dissociation the receptor was quickly inactivated. Long-chain-fatty-acyl-CoAs, on the other hand, greatly accelerated the dissociation of T3-receptor complex at 0 degree C. The receptor was extracted from rat liver nuclei, incubated with oleoyl-CoA to release the bound hormone, and passed through a small column of Lipidex, which strongly adsorbed both oleoyl-CoA and the dissociated hormone. The receptor was recovered in the flow-through fraction in its unoccupied form, as seen by the results of DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography and the loss of all previously bound [125I]T3. The maximum T3-binding capacity of the unoccupied receptor was about 1.5-fold that of the untreated sample, and the dissociation constant was unaltered. The results suggest that most nuclear thyroid-hormone receptors occupied by the hormone were transformed into unoccupied ones. From the T3-binding capacity before and after oleoyl-CoA treatment, the in vivo T3 occupancy of the receptor was estimated. The procedure is easy to perform, and the method should be useful for studies of unoccupied receptors.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Recessive inheritance of thyroid hormone resistance caused by complete deletion of the protein-coding region of the thyroid hormone receptor-beta gene.

Generalized resistance to thyroid hormone is a syndrome of reduced responsiveness of target tissues to thyroid hormone. The determination of amino acid sequences of the human thyroid receptor-beta (hTR beta), deduced from cDNA sequencing, has enabled evaluation of the genetic basis for this syndrome. Distinct point mutations in the ligand-binding domain of hTR beta have been identified in affected members of unrelated families, producing single amino acid substitutions that result in products with decreased or no hormone-binding activity. Inheritance in these families was autosomal dominant. We now report the molecular basis of generalized resistance to thyroid hormone in a consanguineous family unique for its autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Deletion of the entire coding region of both hTR beta alleles in homozygous affected members of the family was demonstrated by the failure to amplify the coding exons 3-8 by the polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for flanking intronic sequences and by the demonstration of the presence of only two noncoding exons in Southern blots hybridized with exon-specific probes. As expected, obligate heterozygotes were phenotypically normal, since, in contrast to alleles with point mutations, the deleted allele could not act in a dominant negative fashion. Survival and maintenance of a euthyroid state are presumably mediated through expression of the hTR alpha gene, present in affected subjects, and the maintenance of high thyroid hormone levels. Furthermore, the clinical manifestations were relatively more mild that those observed in a homozygous patient with a single amino acid deletion in the hTR beta gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Thyroid hormone regulates tubulin expression in mammalian liver. Effects of deleting thyroid hormone receptor-alpha or -beta.

Microtubules are made from polymers of alpha/beta dimers. We have observed in rat liver that, on the first day after birth, alpha-subunit is relatively high and beta-subunit low with respect to adult values. In the hypothyroid neonate, both subunits were found to be low, therefore indicating that thyroid hormone (TH) regulates these developmental changes. TH was also found to activate tubulin expression in adult liver, especially beta-subunit. To investigate the role of TH receptors (TRs) in tubulin expression, we analyzed mice lacking TRalpha or TRbeta compared with the wild type in both normal and TH-deprived adult animals. The results suggest that, in vivo, beta-tubulin protein expression in the liver is primarily under TRbeta positive control. In euthyroid mice lacking TRbeta, beta-tubulin expression was low. However, in the corresponding hypothyroid animals, it was found increased, therefore suggesting that the unliganded TRalpha might also upregulate beta-tubulin expression. Accordingly, TH administration to hypothyroid TRbeta-deprived mice reduced their high beta-tubulin expression. In parallel, the relatively high messenger level observed with these hypothyroid animals was reduced to the euthyroid level after T(3) treatment. The microtubular network of the mutant livers appeared, by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, generally disorganized and drastically reduced in beta-tubulin in mice lacking TRbeta. In conclusion, our results indicate that beta-tubulin is critically controlled by TRbeta in the liver and that both TRs are probably needed to maintain the microtubular network organization of the liver.

Animals↗

Persistence of a circadian rhythmicity for thyroid hormones in plasma and thyroid of hibernating male Rana ridibunda.

The presence and circadian rhythmicity of thyroid hormones was studied in plasma and the thyroid gland of male Rana ridibunda before and during hibernation. Hibernating January frogs do have a lower T3 and T4 content of their thyroid gland whereas plasma levels of T3 are maintained and of T4 increased compared to fed September or October frogs. It seems likely that the increased photoperiod in January will be responsible for this increased T4 secretion, since controlled laboratory experiments performed in December did not reveal any influence of low temperature on circulating T3 or T4 levels. Also feeding does not influence circulating levels and thyroid content of thyroid hormones in frogs kept at room temperature during the month of January. A circadian rhythmicity of T3 and T4 in the thyroid gland is present in fed October frogs and in non fed December frogs acclimated at 5 degrees C for 12 days with an acrophase for T3 at approximately 1500 h and for T4 at around 1900 h, whereas in plasma only T3 does have circadian variations (acrophase about midnight) but not T4. When December frogs are acclimated to room temperature for 12 days, frogs are active again, but do not eat and have a lower body weight than frogs hibernating at 5 degrees C. Their T3 content of the thyroid gland has disappeared, but T4 thyroid content and plasma levels of T3 and T4 are maintained. As in hibernating frogs, no circadian variations in T4 plasma concentrations are present whereas the circadian thyroid T4 rhythm disappears. At the same time a dampening in rhythmicity for plasma T3 as judged by the significantly lower amplitude occurs. It is concluded that the persistence of circulating levels of thyroid hormones and of a circadian cyclicity for T3 in plasma in non feeding hibernating frogs may reflect the special metabolic state e.g. availability of food reserves in these animals.

Animals↗

Identification of thyroid hormone transporters.

Thyroid hormone action and metabolism are intracellular events that require transport of the hormone across the plasma membrane. We tested the possible involvement of the Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (Ntcp) and organic anion transporting polypeptide (oatp1) in the hepatic uptake of the prohormone T4, the active hormone T3, and the metabolites rT3 and 3,3'-T2. Xenopus laevis oocytes were injected with 2.3 ng Ntcp or oatp1 cRNA and, after 2-3 days, incubated for 1 h at 25 degrees C with usually 0.1 microM 125I-labeled ligand. Uninjected oocytes showed marked uptake of iodothyronines and this was further increased by Ntcp and oatp1 cRNA, i.e., 1.9- and 2.8-fold for T4, 1.7- and 1.7-fold for T3, 1.8- and 6.0-fold for rT3, and 1.3- and 1.4-fold for 3,3'-T2, respectively. Mostly due to much lower uptake by uninjected oocytes, Ntcp and oatp1 cRNA induced larger, 12- to 76-fold increases in uptake of iodothyronine sulfates. The Ntcp cRNA-induced iodothyronine uptake was completely inhibited in Na+-deplete medium, whereas the oatp1 cRNA-induced uptake was not affected. These results suggest that hepatic uptake of thyroid hormones and their metabolites is mediated at least in part by Ntcp and oatp1.

Animals↗

Studies on changes of thyroid hormones in various liver diseases: usefulness of free thyroid hormones as liver function test.

Various thyroid parameters in liver disease which were morphologically diagnosed were measured, and their relationship to liver function was mainly studied. Serum T4 levels were elevated in acute hepatitis (AH), chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) and chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH) compared with in normal controls (C). Serum T3 levels were elevated in CAH and reduced in liver cirrhosis (LC). Serum reverse T3 (rT3) levels were elevated in AH and chronic liver diseases (CLD). T3/T4 ratios decreased in AH, CPH and CAH. RT3/T3 ratios increased in AH and CLD. Serum Free T3 (FT3) levels reduced in CLD in order of CPH, CAH and LC, and were low levels in AH with the same degree as LC. Moreover, serum FT3 levels revealed negative correlation with ICG-R15 and positive correlation with prothrombin time (PT) and serum albumin levels (Alb). Therefore serum FT3 level was considered to become a sensitive index of liver damage. Serum free T4 (FT4) levels did not change significantly in AH with high levels of transaminases and reduced in only LC. Therefore serum FT4 may become an index of severity of liver dysfunction. On the other hand, T3/T4 ratios and rT3/T3 ratios showed less correlation with liver function tests compared with free thyroid hormones.

Adult↗

[Molecular mechanism of thyroid hormone action].

Thyroid hormones (TH) are involved in normal differentiation, growth, and metabolism in several tissues of all vertebrates. Their actions are mediated by the TH receptors (TRs), members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. These receptors are transcription factors that bind to DNA on specific sequences, the TR response element (TREs), in promoters of target genes. Two genes encode TRs, alpha e beta, located in chromosomes 17 and 3, respectively. These isoforms show different functions and exhibit a tissue specific expression. TRs function as monomers, homodimers or heterodimers with retinoid X receptor (RXR) and modulate transcription activity (repression or activation) by interacting with co-repressor and co-activators, which associate with TR in the absence or presence of T3, respectively. Understanding the molecular mechanism of TR action and the definition of its crystallographic structure will provide new insights into transcription mechanisms and will facilitate the design of new drugs with greater therapeutic value.

Animals↗

Isolation of the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) thyroid hormone receptor alpha and beta transcripts and their responsiveness to thyroid stimulating hormone.

Thyroid hormones (THs) play key regulatory roles in growth, development and metabolism in vertebrates. Modulation of the cellular hormonal response is largely through the activity of two nuclear TH receptors, TRalpha and TRbeta, which act as transcription factors and alter gene expression programs. Little information is available regarding their structure and regulation in reptiles. We have cloned the expressed sequences encoding these two receptors in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. The encoded putative proteins share a high degree of amino acid sequence conservation with other vertebrates, however, both alligator TRs contain putative N-terminal truncations. This phenomenon is shared with the chicken for TRbeta, but not for TRalpha, making this the first demonstration of this type of TRalpha isoform. We measured the steady-state levels of TR transcripts in heart, lung, liver, thyroid, cliterophallus/phallus, and gonad of juvenile alligators 24 and 48 h after injection with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TRalpha transcript levels were increased in the heart, decreased in the lung and cliterophallus/phallus, and unaffected in the liver, thyroid, and gonad. TRbeta transcript levels were increased in the heart, lung, and gonad whereas estrogen receptor alpha transcript levels were elevated by TSH treatment only in the gonad. Modulation of these transcripts in the gonad is consistent with TH playing an important role in this tissue's function since seasonal TH fluctuations coincide with reproductive events. These data demonstrate that alligator tissues are differentially responsive to TSH by regulation of TR expression and provide an important comparative framework among vertebrates.

Alligators and Crocodiles↗

Effects of ligand and thyroid hormone receptor isoforms on hepatic gene expression profiles of thyroid hormone receptor knockout mice.

Little is known about the overall patterns of thyroid hormone (Th)-mediated gene regulation by the main Th receptor (Tr) isoforms, Tr-alpha and Tr-beta, in vivo. We used 48 complementary DNA microarrays to examine hepatic gene expression profiles of wild-type and Thra and Thrb knockout mice under different Th conditions: no treatment, treatment with 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T(3)), Th-deprivation using propylthiouracil (PTU), and treatment with a combination of PTU and T(3). Hierarchical clustering analyses showed that positively regulated genes fit into three main expression patterns. In addition, only a subpopulation of target genes repressed basal transcription in the absence of ligand. Interestingly, Thra and Thrb knockout mice showed similar gene expression patterns to wild-type mice, suggesting that these isoforms co-regulate most hepatic target genes. Differences in the gene expression patterns of Thra/Thrb double-knockout mice and Th-deprived wild-type mice show that absence of receptor and of hormone can have different effects. This large-scale study of hormonal regulation reveals the functions of Th and of Tr isoforms in the regulation of gene expression patterns.

Animals↗