Modulation of TSHR signaling by posttranslational modifications

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor: the Role in the Development of Thyroid Pathology and Its Correction

Abstract

One of the key elements responsible for the thyroid response to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is the TSH receptor (TSHR), which belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Binding of TSH or stimulatory autoantibodies to the TSHR extracellular domain triggers multiple signaling pathways in target cells that are mediated through various types of G proteins and β-arrestins. Inhibitory autoantibodies, in contrast, suppress TSHR activity, inducing hypothyroid states. Activating mutations lead to constitutively active TSHR forms and can trigger cancer. Therefore, the TSHR is one of the key targets for the regulation of thyroid function and thyroid status, as well as correction of diseases caused by changes in TSHR activity (autoimmune hyper- and hypothyroidism, Graves’ ophthalmopathy, thyroid cancer). TSH preparations are extremely rarely used in medicine due to their immunogenicity and severe side effects. Most promising is the development of low-molecular allosteric TSHR regulators with an activity of full and inverse agonists and neutral antagonists, which are able to penetrate into the allosteric site located in the TSHR transmembrane domain and specifically bind to it, thus controlling the ability of the receptor to interact with G proteins and β-arrestins. Allosteric regulators do not affect the binding of TSH and autoantibodies to the receptor, which enables mild and selective regulation of thyroid function, while avoiding critical changes in TSH and thyroid hormone levels. The present review addresses the current state of the problem of regulating TSHR activity, including the possibility of using ligands of its allosteric sites.

Integrative model of the FSH receptor reveals the structural role of the flexible hinge region

The follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) belongs to the glycoprotein hormone receptors, a subfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). FSHR is involved in reproductive processes such as gonadal development and maturation. Structurally, the extensive extracellular domain, which contains the hormone-binding site and is linked to the transmembrane domain by the hinge region (HR), is characteristic for these receptors. How this HR is involved in hormone binding and signal transduction is still an open question. We combined in vitro and in situ chemical crosslinking, disulfide pattern analysis, and mutation data with molecular modeling to generate experimentally driven full-length models. These models provide insights into the interface, important side-chain interactions, and activation mechanism. The interface indicates a strong involvement of the connecting loop. A major rearrangement of the HR seems implausible due to the tight arrangement and fixation by disulfide bonds. The models are expected to allow for testable hypotheses about signal transduction and drug development for GPHRs.

Thyrotropin Receptor p.N432D Retained Variant Is Degraded Through an Alternative Lysosomal/Autophagosomal Pathway and Can Be Functionally Rescued by Chemical Chaperones

Background: Loss-of-function mutations of thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) are one of the main causes of congenital hypothyroidism. As for many disease-associated G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), these mutations often affect the correct trafficking and maturation of the receptor, thus impairing the expression on the cell surface. Several retained GPCR mutants are able to effectively bind their ligands and to transduce signals when they are forced to the cell surface by degradation inhibition or by treatment with chaperones. Despite the large number of well-characterized retained TSHR mutants, no attempts have been made for rescue. Further, little is known about TSHR degradation pathways. We hypothesize that, similar to other GPCRs, TSHR retained mutants may be at least partially functional if their maturation and membrane expression is facilitated by chaperones or degradation inhibitors. Methods: We performed in silico predictions of the functionality of known TSHR variants and compared the results with available in vitro data. Western blot, confocal microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and dual luciferase assays were used to investigate the effects of degradation pathways inhibition and of chemical chaperone treatments on TSHR variants' maturation and functionality. Results: We found a high discordance rate between in silico predictions and in vitro data for retained TSHR variants, a fact indicative of a conserved potential to initiate signal transduction if these mutants were expressed on the cell surface. We show experimentally that some maturation defective TSHR mutants are able to effectively transduce Gs/cAMP signaling if their maturation and expression are enhanced by using chemical chaperones. Further, through the characterization of the intracellular retained p.N432D variant, we provide new insights on the TSHR degradation mechanism, as our results suggest that aggregation-prone mutant can be directed toward the autophagosomal pathway instead of the canonical proteasome system. Conclusions: Our study reveals alternative pathways for TSHR degradation. Retained TSHR variants can be functional when expressed on the cell surface membrane, thus opening the possibility of further studies on the pharmacological modulation of TSHR expression and functionality in patients in whom TSHR signaling is disrupted.

Magnetosome membrane engineering to improve G protein-coupled receptor activities in the magnetosome display system

Magnetotactic bacterium, Magnetospirillum magneticum, produces biogenic magnetic nanoparticles termed magnetosomes, which are primarily composed of a magnetite core and a surrounding lipid bilayer membrane. We have fabricated human transmembrane protein-magnetosome complexes by genetic engineering with embedding the transmembrane proteins of interest, in particular G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), in the magnetosome membrane. The magnetosomes provide a promising platform for high throughput ligand screening towards drug discovery, and this is a critical advantage of the magnetosome display system beyond conventional membrane platforms such as liposomes and lipid nano-discs. However, the human GPCRs expressed on the magnetosomes were not fully functionalized in bacterial membranes the most probably due to the lack of essential phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) for GPCR functionalization. To overcome this issue, we expressed two types of PC-producing enzymes, phosphatidylcholine synthase (PCS) and phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PMT) in M. magneticum. As a result, generation and incorporation of PC in cell- and magnetosome-membranes were demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, M. magneticum is the second bacterial species which had the PC-incorporated lipid membrane by genetic engineering. Subsequently, a GPCR, thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and PCS were simultaneously expressed. We found that PC in the magnetosome membrane assisted the binding of TSHR and its ligand, indicating that the genetic approach demonstrated in this study is useful to enhance the function of the GPCRs displayed on the magnetosomes.

The Molecular Function and Clinical Role of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor in Cancer Cells

The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and its cognate receptor (TSHR) are of crucial importance for thyrocytes to proliferate and exert their functions. Although TSHR is predominantly expressed in thyrocytes, several studies have revealed that functional TSHR can also be detected in many extra-thyroid tissues, such as primary ovarian and hepatic tissues as well as their corresponding malignancies. Recent advances in cancer biology further raise the possibility of utilizing TSH and/or TSHR as a therapeutic target or as an informative index to predict treatment responses in cancer patients. The TSH/TSHR cascade has been considered a pivotal modulator for carcinogenesis and/or tumor progression in these cancers. TSHR belongs to a sub-group of family A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which activate a bundle of well-defined signaling transduction pathways to enhance cell renewal in response to external stimuli. In this review, recent findings regarding the molecular basis of TSH/TSHR functions in either thyroid or extra-thyroid tissues and the potential of directly targeting TSHR as an anticancer strategy are summarized and discussed.

Regulation of TSHR Expression in the Thyroid and Thymus May Contribute to TSHR Tolerance Failure in Graves' Disease Patients via Two Distinct Mechanisms

Graves' disease (GD) involves the presence of agonistic auto-antibodies against the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), which are responsible for the clinical symptoms. While failure of TSHR tolerance is central to GD pathogenesis, the process leading to this failure remains poorly understood. Two mechanisms intimately linked to tolerance have been proposed to explain the association of SNPs located in TSHR intron 1 to GD: (1) differential alternative splicing in the thyroid; and (2) modulation of expression in the thymus. To elucidate the relative contribution to these two mechanisms to GD pathogenesis, we analyzed the level of full-length and ST4 and ST5 isoform expression in the thyroid (n = 49) and thymus (n = 39) glands, and the influence of intron 1-associated SNPs on such expression. The results show that: (1) the level of flTSHR and ST4 expression in the thymus was unexpectedly high (20% that of the thyroid); (2) while flTSHR is the predominant isoform, the levels are similar to ST4 (ratio flTSHR/ST4 = 1.34 in the thyroid and ratio flTSHR/ST4 in the thymus = 1.93); (3) next-generation sequencing confirmed the effect of the TSHR intron 1 polymorphism on TSHR expression in the thymus with a bias of 1.5 ± 0.2 overexpression of the protective allele in the thymus compared to the thyroid; (4) GD-associated intron 1 SNPs did not influence TSHR alternative splicing of ST4 and ST5 in the thyroid and thymus; and (5) three-color confocal imaging showed that TSHR is associated with both thymocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells in the thymus. Our findings confirm the effect of intron 1 polymorphisms on thymic TSHR expression and we present evidence against an effect on the relative expression of isoforms. The high level of ST4 expression in the thymus and its distribution within the tissue suggest that this would most likely be the isoform that induces central tolerance to TSHR thus omitting most of the hinge and transmembrane portion. The lack of central tolerance to a large portion of TSHR may explain the relatively high frequency of autoimmunity related to TSHR and its clinical consequence, GD.

Hyperthyroidism and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Thyrotropin Receptor D633H Mutant Mice

BACKGROUND

Constitutively active thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) mutations are the most common etiology of non-autoimmune hyperthyroidism (NAH). Thus far, the functionality of these mutations has been tested in vitro, but the in vivo models are lacking.

METHODS

To understand the pathophysiology of NAH, the patient-derived constitutively active TSHR D633H mutation was introduced into the murine Tshr by homologous recombination.

RESULTS

In this model, both subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism was observed, depending on the age, sex, and genotype. Homozygous mice presented hyperthyroidism at two months of age, while heterozygous animals showed only suppressed thyrotropin. Interestingly, at six months of age, thyroid hormone concentrations in all mutant mice were analogous to wild-type mice, and they showed colloid goiter with flattened thyrocytes. Strikingly, at one year of age, nearly all homozygous mice presented large papillary thyroid carcinomas. Mechanistically, this papillary thyroid carcinoma phenotype was associated with an overactive thyroid and strongly increased stainings of proliferation-, pERK-, and NKX2-1 markers, but no mutations in the "hot-spot" areas of common oncogenes (Braf, Nras, and Kras) were found.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to reveal the dynamic age-, sex-, and genotype-dependent development of NAH. Furthermore, the study shows that a constitutively active TSHR can trigger a malignant transformation of thyrocytes.

Rearrangement of the Extracellular Domain/Extracellular Loop 1 Interface Is Critical for Thyrotropin Receptor Activation

The thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with a characteristic large extracellular domain (ECD). TSHR activation is initiated by binding of the hormone ligand TSH to the ECD. How the extracellular binding event triggers the conformational changes in the transmembrane domain (TMD) necessary for intracellular G protein activation is poorly understood. To gain insight in this process, the knowledge on the relative positioning of ECD and TMD and the conformation of the linker region at the interface of ECD and TMD are of particular importance. To generate a structural model for the TSHR we applied an integrated structural biology approach combining computational techniques with experimental data. Chemical cross-linking followed by mass spectrometry yielded 17 unique distance restraints within the ECD of the TSHR, its ligand TSH, and the hormone-receptor complex. These structural restraints generally confirm the expected binding mode of TSH to the ECD as well as the general fold of the domains and were used to guide homology modeling of the ECD. Functional characterization of TSHR mutants confirms the previously suggested close proximity of Ser-281 and Ile-486 within the TSHR. Rigidifying this contact permanently with a disulfide bridge disrupts ligand-induced receptor activation and indicates that rearrangement of the ECD/extracellular loop 1 (ECL1) interface is a critical step in receptor activation. The experimentally verified contact of Ser-281 (ECD) and Ile-486 (TMD) was subsequently utilized in docking homology models of the ECD and the TMD to create a full-length model of a glycoprotein hormone receptor.

Molecular Insights into the Transmembrane Domain of the Thyrotropin Receptor

The thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is member of the leucine-rich repeat subfamily (LGR). In the absence of crystal structure, the success of rational design of ligands targeting the receptor internal cavity depends on the quality of the TSHR models built. In this subfamily, transmembrane helices (TM) 2 and 5 are characterized by the absence of proline compared to most receptors, raising the question of the structural conformation of these helices. To gain insight into the structural properties of these helices, we carried out bioinformatics and experimental studies. Evolutionary analysis of the LGR family revealed a deletion in TM5 but provided no information on TM2. Wild type residues at positions 2.58, 2.59 or 2.60 in TM2 and/or at position 5.50 in TM5 were substituted to proline. Depending on the position of the proline substitution, different effects were observed on membrane expression, glycosylation, constitutive cAMP activity and responses to thyrotropin. Only proline substitution at position 2.59 maintained complex glycosylation and high membrane expression, supporting occurrence of a bulged TM2. The TSHR transmembrane domain was modeled by homology with the orexin 2 receptor, using a protocol that forced the deletion of one residue in the TM5 bulge of the template. The stability of the model was assessed by molecular dynamics simulations. TM5 straightened during the equilibration phase and was stable for the remainder of the simulations. Our data support a structural model of the TSHR transmembrane domain with a bulged TM2 and a straight TM5 that is specific of glycoprotein hormone receptors.

Dual signal transduction pathways activated by TSH receptors in rat primary tanycyte cultures

Tanycytes play multiple roles in hypothalamic functions, including sensing peripheral nutrients and metabolic hormones, regulating neurosecretion and mediating seasonal cycles of reproduction and metabolic physiology. This last function reflects the expression of TSH receptors in tanycytes, which detect photoperiod-regulated changes in TSH secretion from the neighbouring pars tuberalis. The present overall aim was to determine the signal transduction pathway by which TSH signals in tanycytes. Expression of the TSH receptor in tanycytes of 10-day-old Sprague Dawley rats was observed by in situ hybridisation. Primary ependymal cell cultures prepared from 10-day-old rats were found by immunohistochemistry to express vimentin but not GFAP and by PCR to express mRNA for Dio2, Gpr50, Darpp-32 and Tsh receptors that are characteristic of tanycytes. Treatment of primary tanycyte/ependymal cultures with TSH (100  IU/l) increased cAMP as assessed by ELISA and induced a cAMP-independent increase in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 as assessed by western blot analysis. Furthermore, TSH (100  IU/l) stimulated a 2.17-fold increase in Dio2 mRNA expression. We conclude that TSH signal transduction in cultured tanycytes signals via Gαs to increase cAMP and via an alternative G protein to increase phosphorylation of ERK1/2.

Targeting the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor with small molecule ligands and antibodies

INTRODUCTION

The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is the essential molecule for thyroid growth and thyroid hormone production. Since it is also a key autoantigen in Graves' disease and is involved in thyroid cancer pathophysiology, the targeting of the TSHR offers a logical model for disease control.

AREAS COVERED

We review the structure and function of the TSHR and the progress in both small molecule ligands and TSHR antibodies for their therapeutic potential.

EXPERT OPINION

Stabilization of a preferential conformation for the TSHR by allosteric ligands and TSHR antibodies with selective modulation of the signaling pathways is now possible. These tools may be the next generation of therapeutics for controlling the pathophysiological consequences mediated by the effects of the TSHR in the thyroid and other extrathyroidal tissues.

Morphological and functional changes in pituitary-thyroid axis following prolonged exposure of female rats to constant light

Light regulates numerous physiological functions and synchronizes them with the environment, in part by adjusting secretion of different hormones. We hypothesized that constant light (CL) would disturb pituitary-thyroid axis. Our aim was to determine morphological and functional changes in this endocrine system in such extreme conditions and, based on the obtained results, to propose the underlying mechanism(s). Starting from the thirtieth postnatal day, female Wistar rats were exposed to CL (600 lx) for the following 95 days. The controls were maintained under the regular laboratory lighting conditions. After decapitation, pituitaries and thyroids were prepared for further histomorphometric, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence examinations. Concentration of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total T4 and T3 (TH) were determined. Thyroid tissue of light-treated rats was characterized by microfollicular structure. We detected no change in total thyroid volume, localization and accumulation of thyroglobulin, thyroid peroxidase, and sodium-iodide symporter in the follicular epithelium of CL rats. The volume of follicular epithelium and activation index were increased, while volume of the colloid and serum levels of TH decreased. In the pituitary, the relative intensity of TSH β-immunofluorescence signal within the cytoplasm of thyrotrophs increased, but their average cell volume and the relative volume density decreased. Serum TSH was unaltered. We conclude that exposure of female rats to CL induced alterations in pituitary-thyroid axis. Thyroid tissue was characterized by microfollicular structure. Serum TH levels were reduced without accompanying increase in serum TSH. We hypothesize that increased secretion and clearance of TH together with unchanged or even decreased hormonal synthesis, resulted in decreased serum TH levels in CL group. We assume this decrease consequently led to increased synthesis and/or accumulation of pituitary TSH. However, decreased average TSH cell volume and relative volume density, together with unchanged serum TSH, point to additional, negative regulation of thyrotrophs.

Soy isoflavones interfere with thyroid hormone homeostasis in orchidectomized middle-aged rats

We previously reported that genistein (G) and daidzein (D) administered subcutaneously (10mg/kg) induce changes in the angio-follicular units of the thyroid gland, reduce concentration of total thyroid hormones (TH) and increase thyrotropin (TSH) in serum of orchidectomized middle-aged (16-month-old) rats. To further investigate these effects, we now examined expression levels of the thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroperoxidase (Tpo), vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegfa) and deiodinase type 1 (Dio 1) genes in the thyroid; in the pituitary, genes involved in TH feedback control (Tsh β, Dio 1, Dio 2, Trh receptor); and in the liver and kidney, expression of T3-activated genes Dio 1 and Spot 14, as well as transthyretin (Ttr), by quantitative real-time PCR. We also analyzed TPO-immunopositivity and immunofluorescence of T4 bound to Tg, determined thyroid T4 levels and measured deiodinase enzyme activities in examined organs. Decreased expression of Tg and Tpo genes (p<0.05) correlated with immunohistochemical staining results, and together with decreased serum total T4 levels, indicates decreased Tg and TH synthesis following treatments with both isoflavones. However, expression of Spot 14 (p<0.05) gene in liver and kidney was up-regulated, and liver Dio 1 expression and activity (p<0.05) increased. At the level of pituitary, no significant change in gene expression levels, or Dio 1 and 2 enzyme activities was observed. In conclusion, both G and D impaired Tg and TH synthesis, but at the same time increased tissue availability of TH in peripheral tissues of Orx middle-aged rats.

Functional associations among G protein-coupled neurotransmitter receptors in the human brain

Background

The activity of neurons is controlled by groups of neurotransmitter receptors rather than by individual receptors. Experimental studies have investigated some receptor interactions, but currently little information is available about transcriptional associations among receptors at the whole-brain level.

Results

A total of 4950 correlations between 100 G protein-coupled neurotransmitter receptors were examined across 169 brain regions in the human brain using expression data published in the Allen Human Brain Atlas. A large number of highly significant correlations were found, many of which have not been investigated in hypothesis-driven studies. The highest positive and negative correlations of each receptor are reported, which can facilitate the construction of receptor sets likely to be affected by altered transcription of one receptor (such sets always exist, but their members are difficult to predict). A graph analysis isolated two large receptor communities, within each of which receptor mRNA levels were strongly cross-correlated.

Conclusions

The presented systematic analysis shows that the mRNA levels of many G protein-coupled receptors are interdependent. This finding is not unexpected, since the brain is a highly integrated complex system. However, the analysis also revealed two novel properties of global brain structure. First, receptor correlations are described by a simple statistical distribution, which suggests that receptor interactions may be guided by qualitatively similar processes. Second, receptors appear to form two large functional communities, which might be differentially affected in brain disorders.

Estrogens and stem cells in thyroid cancer

Recent discoveries highlight the emerging role of estrogens in the initiation and progression of different malignancies through their interaction with stem cell (SC) compartment. Estrogens play a relevant role especially for those tumors bearing a gender disparity in incidence and aggressiveness, as occurs for most thyroid diseases. Although several experimental lines suggest that estrogens promote thyroid cell proliferation and invasion, their precise contribution in SC compartment still remains unclear. This review underlines the interplay between hormones and thyroid function, which could help to complete the puzzle of gender discrepancy in thyroid malignancies. Defining the association between estrogen receptors' status and signaling pathways by which estrogens exert their effects on thyroid cells is a potential tool that provides important insights in pathogenetic mechanisms of thyroid tumors.

Measurement of thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins using a novel thyroid stimulating hormone receptor-guanine nucleotide-binding protein, (GNAS) fusion bioassay

Hyperthyroidism, defined by overproduction of thyroid hormones, has a 2-3% prevalence in the population. The most common form of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. A diagnostic biomarker for Graves' disease is the presence of immunoglobulins which bind to, and stimulate, the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR), a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). We hypothesized that the ectopically expressed TSHR gene in a thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) assay could be engineered to increase the accumulation of the GPCR pathway second messenger, cyclic AMP (cAMP), the molecule measured in the assay as a marker for pathway activation. An ectopically expressing TSHR-mutant guanine nucleotide-binding protein, (GNAS) Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell clone was constructed using standard molecular biology techniques. After incubation of the new clone with sera containing various levels of TSI, GPCR pathway activation was then quantified by measuring cAMP accumulation in the clone. The clone, together with a NaCl-free cell assay buffer containing 5% polyethylene glycol (PEG)6000, was tested against 56 Graves' patients, 27 toxic thyroid nodule patients and 119 normal patients. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, when comparing normal with Graves' sera, the assay yielded a sensitivity of 93%, a specificity of 99% and an efficiency of 98%. Total complex precision (within-run, across runs and across days), presented as a percentage coefficient of variation, was found to be 7·8, 8·7 and 7·6% for low, medium and high TSI responding serum, respectively. We conclude that the performance of the new TSI assay provides sensitive detection of TSI, allowing for accurate, early detection of Graves' disease.

Current loss-of-function mutations in the thyrotropin receptor gene: when to investigate, clinical effects, and treatment

Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) loss-of-function (LOF) mutations lead to a wide spectrum of phenotypes, ranging from severe congenital hypothyroidism (CH) to mild euthyroid hyperthyrotropinemia. The degree of TSH resistance depends on the severity of the impairment of the receptor function caused by the mutation and on the number of mutated alleles In this review data about genotype-phenotype correlation and criteria for clinical work-up will be presented and discussed. Complete TSH resistance due to biallelic LOF TSHR mutations must be suspected in all patients with severe not syndromic CH and severe thyroid hypoplasia diagnosed at birth by neonatal screening. Partial forms of TSH resistance show a more heterogeneous hormonal and clinical pattern . In these cases TSH serum levels are above the upper limit of normal range for the age but with a very variable pattern, free thyroxine (T4) concentrations are within the normal range and thyroid size can be normal or hypoplastic at ultrasound scan. An early substitutive treatment with L-T4 must be mandatory in all patients with severe CH due to complete uncompensated TSH resistance diagnosed at birth by neonatal screening. The usefulness of substitutive treatment appears much more controversial inpatients with subclinical hypothyroidism due to partial TSH resistance in whom the increased TSH concentration should be able to compensate the mild functional impairment of the mutant receptor. Together with standard criteria we recommend also an accurate clinical work-up to select patients who are candidates for a LOF TSHR mutation.

Targeting the thyrotropin receptor in thyroid disease

INTRODUCTION

The thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) is essential for thyroid growth and for the production of thyroid hormones. It is unique among the glycoprotein hormone receptors, in that some of the TSHRs undergo cleavage and shedding of the alpha subunit.

AREAS COVERED

This review discusses the structure and function of the TSHR, followed by an evaluation of its role in thyroid disease. Possible limitations of the TSHR as a therapeutic target are also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

The TSHR is involved in a number of hereditary and acquired disorders of the thyroid making it of potential importance as a therapeutic target in thyroid disease. Expression of the TSHR in several non-thyroidal tissues and the development of systemic manifestations of thyroid disease suggest that the TSHR is also of interest as a therapeutic target outside the thyroid.

TSH-induced gene expression involves regulation of self-renewal and differentiation-related genes in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent cells that are capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types including neuronal cells, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes. Despite recent advances in stem cell biology, neuroendocrine relations, particularly TSH interactions remain elusive. In this study, we investigated expression and biological consequence of TSH receptor (TSHR) interactions in mesenchymal stem cells of cultured human bone marrow. To the best of our knowledge, we demonstrated for the first time that human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells expressed a functional thyrotropin receptor that was capable of transducing signals through cAMP. We extended this study to explore possible pathways that could be associated directly or indirectly with the TSHR function in mesenchymal stem cells. Expression of 80 genes was studied by real-time PCR array profiles. Our investigation indicated involvements of interactions between TSH and its receptor in novel regulatory pathways, which could be the important mediators of self-renewal, maintenance, development, and differentiation in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. TSH enhanced differentiation to the chondrogenic cell lineage; however, further work is required to determine whether osteoblastic differentiation is also promoted. Our results presented in this study have opened an era of regulatory events associated with novel neuroendocrine interactions of hypothalamic-pituitary axis in mesenchymal stem cell biology and differentiation.

Shared sporadic and somatic thyrotropin receptor mutations display more active in vitro activities than familial thyrotropin receptor mutations

BACKGROUND

Germline thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) mutations are associated with sporadic congenital nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism and familial nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism. Somatic TSHR mutations are associated with toxic thyroid nodules (TTNs). The objective of the study was to define a relation of the clinical appearance and the in vitro activity (IVA) of the TSHR mutations described by several authors for these thyroid disorders.

METHODS

We analyzed the IVAs published as linear regression analysis (LRA) of the constitutive activity as a function of the TSHR expression and the basal cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) values to determine differences between exclusively somatic, exclusively familial, and shared sporadic and somatic TSHR-mutations. Further, we investigated correlations of the LRAs/basal cAMP values with clinical activity characteristics (CACs) of TTNs, such as largest diameter of the TTN and the age of the patient at thyroid surgery.

RESULTS

Shared sporadic and somatic mutations showed higher median LRA (14.5) and higher median basal cAMP values (fivefold) than exclusively familial mutations (6.1, p = 0.0002; 2.9-fold, p < 0.0001, respectively). Moreover, mutations shared between sporadic congenital nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism and toxic thyroid nodules (TTNs) showed higher median LRA/basal cAMP values (p < 0.0001) than exclusively somatic mutations in TTNs (5.1; 3.89-fold, respectively). Exclusively somatic mutations and exclusively familial mutations showed no significant difference in their median LRA values (p = 0.786) but a significant difference for basal cAMP values (p = 0.0006). The two examined CACs showed no correlation with the IVA characterized by LRA/basal cAMP values or with the presence or absence of a TSHR-mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic analysis of published constitutively activating TSHR-mutations, their CACs, and their IVA provides evidence for higher IVA of shared sporadic and somatic TSHR mutations as compared with familial TSHR mutations. CACs of somatic TSHR mutations in TTNs did not have a clear association with the IVA as characterized by LRA or basal cAMP values.

Identification and evaluation of constitutively active thyroid stimulating hormone receptor mutations

Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is a guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-domain receptor that controls the differentiation, growth, and function of the thyroid gland through stimulation of adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C pathways. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is the main TSHR ligand, and unliganded receptor remains silent due to the interaction of its large extracellular domain with the extracellular loops of the serpentine. The TSHR gene is highly mutagenic and constitutively active mutations have been extensively described. Naturally occurring TSHR-activating mutations can affect any part of the receptor, but most activating mutations affect the serpentine region, and the majority of these are located in the third intracellular loop or transmembrane domain six. We describe several simple and relatively cheap methods used in our laboratory to study constitutive TSHR mutations that include (1) screening of TSHR gene mutations in paraffin-embedded thyroid tissue samples, (2) measurement of TSHR constitutive activity in vitro, (3) measurement of TSHR expression at cell surface by flow cytometry analysis, (4) TSH binding to TSHR, and (5) TSHR phosphorylation analysis.

Molecular characterization and gene expression of thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) and a truncated TSHR-like in Senegalese sole

Thyroid hormones (THs) play a key role in larval development, growth and metamorphosis in flatfish. Their synthesis is tightly regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is a key protein in the control of thyroid function stimulating TH synthesis after binding its ligand, the thyrotropin. In teleost fish, numerous reports have associated the TSHR with gametogenesis. However, little information about its role during larval development is available. In this study, we report the cloning of two different cDNAs with high similarity to TSHR. Phylogenetic analysis clustered both cDNAs separately. One of them (referred to TSHR) grouped with TSHR orthologs in tetrapods and teleost fish and possessed the three typical conserved domains and regulatory motifs. The second receptor (referred to as TSHRtr-like) represented a novel truncated cDNA bearing the extracellular and part of the transmembrane domain. TSHRtr-like orthologs were only found in teleosts, which suggests that it could have appeared after fish-specific 3R genome duplication. Expression profiles of both genes are analyzed in juvenile tissues and during larval development using a real-time PCR approach. In juvenile fish, TSHR and TSHRtr-like are expressed ubiquitously although transcript levels varied between organs. In both cases, the highest mRNAs levels are detected in brain. During larval development, both genes are expressed to a high level during the first stages (2-3days after hatching) reducing progressively their abundance in the whole larvae during metamorphosis. This reduction in mRNA abundance is more accentuated for the TSHRtr-like gene. To evaluate the possible regulation of both receptors by T4 during sole metamorphosis, larvae are exposed to the goitrogen thiourea (TU). Only TSHRtr-like modifies its expression, increasing its transcripts at 11days after treatment. Moreover, adding exogenous T4 hormone to TU-treated larvae restores the TSHRtr-like steady-state levels similar to the untreated control. Overall, these results demonstrate the existence of two thyrotropin receptors differentially regulated by THs in teleosts.

Subunit interactions influence TSHR multimerization

The TSH receptor (TSHR) is the key molecule influencing thyroid growth and development and is an antigenic target in autoimmune thyroid disease. The TSHR exists in monomeric and multimeric forms, and it has been shown previously that multimeric complexes of the TSHR preferentially localize in lipid rafts. However, unlike other glycoprotein hormone receptors, the TSHR exists in several forms on the cell membrane due to intramolecular cleavage of its ectodomain, which causes the production of α- and β-subunits of various lengths. After cleavage and reduction of disulfide bonds, α-subunits consisting of the receptor ectodomain may be lost from the cell surface by receptor shedding, leading to accumulation of excess β-subunits within the membrane. Because cell surface expression of these various forms of the TSHR is critical to receptor signaling and autoimmune responses, we set out to model the influence of β-subunits on full-length TSHRs. To study this interaction, we generated three truncated ectodomain β-subunits linked to green fluorescent protein (named β-316, -366, and -409) as examples of native cleaved forms of the TSHR. These constructs were transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells in the presence and absence of the full-length receptor. Whereas the β-316 and β-366 forms showed cell surface expression, the expression of β-409 was primarily intracellular. Cotransfection of the β-subunits with a full-length hemagglutinin-tagged wild-type (WT) receptor (HT-WT-TSHR) in both transient and stable systems caused a significant decrease in surface expression of the full-length WT receptors. This decrease was not seen with control plasmid consisting of a plasma membrane-targeted protein tagged to red fluorescent protein. To ascertain if this response was due to homointeraction of the truncated β-constructs with the WT-TSHRs, we immunoprecipitated membranes prepared from the cotransfected cells using antihemagglutinin and then probed with anti-green fluorescent protein. These studies confirmed dimerization of the β-subunits with the WT full-length receptor, and this interaction was further observed in vivo by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. We then studied the functional consequences of this interaction on TSHR signaling by examining Gαs-mediated signals. The well-expressed truncated constructs, when coexpressed with full-length TSHR, did not alter constitutive cAMP levels, but there was a significant decrease in TSH-induced cAMP generation. Furthermore, we observed that truncated β-316 and β-366 had faster internalization rate, which may lead to a significant decrease in the expression of the full-length receptor on the cell surface, thus contributing to the decreased signaling response. However, the decrease in surface receptors may also be due to inhibition of newly formed receptors reaching the surface as result of receptor-receptor interaction. It is well known that under normal physiological conditions both cleaved and uncleaved TSHR forms coexist on the cell surface of normal thyrocytes. Our studies allow us to conclude, therefore, that multimerization of cleaved/ truncated forms of the β-subunits with the full-length TSHR has a profound influence on TSHR internalization and signaling. Hence, the degree of intramolecular cleavage must also modulate TSHR signaling.

The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor: impact of thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies on multimerization, cleavage, and signaling

The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) has a central role in thyrocyte function and is also one of the major autoantigens for the autoimmune thyroid diseases. We review the post-translational processing, multimerization, and intramolecular cleavage of TSHR, all of which may modulate its signal transduction. The recent characterization of monoclonal antibodies to the TSHR, including stimulating, blocking, and neutral antibodies, have also revealed unique biologic insights into receptor activation and the variety of these TSHR antibodies may help explain the multiple clinical phenotypes seen in autoimmune thyroid diseases. Knowledge of the structure/function relationship of the TSHR is beginning to provide a greater understanding of thyroid physiology and thyroid autoimmunity.

An inactivating mutation within the first extracellular loop of the thyrotropin receptor impedes normal posttranslational maturation of the extracellular domain

The TSH receptor (TSHR), a member of the large family of G protein-coupled receptors, controls both function and growth of thyroid cells; hence, mutations of this receptor result in thyroid dysfunction. Here, we took advantage of the description of a new inactivating TSHR mutation (Q489H) in two brothers with hypothyroidism, to precise maturation, intracellular trafficking, exporting pathways, and activation mechanisms of this receptor. Functional characterization of the Q489H-TSHR in transiently transfected HEK293 cells showed cell surface expression, normal TSH binding affinity, and its inability to generate intracellular cAMP in response to TSH stimulation. Western blot analysis of the whole membrane proteins or proteins expressed at the cell surface showed that Q489H-TSHR expressed in HEK293 transfected cells are restricted to mannose-rich uncleaved receptor. Analysis of the export pathway toward cell surface indicated that both Q489H and wild-type receptors followed the same intracellular route to cell surface throughout endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. This study shows that Q489H substitution impedes complete glycosylation of TSHR extracellular domain within the Golgi apparatus and that Q489H-TSHR expressed at the cell surface is unable to undergo intramolecular cleavage as well as to switch toward an active conformation under TSH stimulation. Altogether, our results show that 1) Q489H substitution within the first extracellular loop induces a misfolding of TSHR, blocking it into an inactive conformation and impeding complete glycosylation and intramolecular cleavage, and 2) a misfolded G protein-coupled receptor can bypass endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus quality control and reach the cell surface as an immature receptor.