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Fang Y, Wan JP, Wang Z, Song SY, Zhang CX, Yang L, Zhang QY, Yan CY, Wu FY, Lu SY, Sun F, Han B, Zhao SX, Dong M, Song HD. Deficiency of the HGF/Met pathway leads to thyroid dysgenesis by impeding late thyroid expansion. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3165. [PMID: 38605010 PMCID: PMC11009301 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47363-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms of bifurcation, a key step in thyroid development, are largely unknown. Here we find three zebrafish lines from a forward genetic screening with similar thyroid dysgenesis phenotypes and identify a stop-gain mutation in hgfa and two missense mutations in met by positional cloning from these zebrafish lines. The elongation of the thyroid primordium along the pharyngeal midline was dramatically disrupted in these zebrafish lines carrying a mutation in hgfa or met. Further studies show that MAPK inhibitor U0126 could mimic thyroid dysgenesis in zebrafish, and the phenotypes are rescued by overexpression of constitutively active MEK or Snail, downstream molecules of the HGF/Met pathway, in thyrocytes. Moreover, HGF promotes thyrocyte migration, which is probably mediated by downregulation of E-cadherin expression. The delayed bifurcation of the thyroid primordium is also observed in thyroid-specific Met knockout mice. Together, our findings reveal that HGF/Met is indispensable for the bifurcation of the thyroid primordium during thyroid development mediated by downregulation of E-cadherin in thyrocytes via MAPK-snail pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Fang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, China
| | - Jia-Ping Wan
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Shi-Yang Song
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cao-Xu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Qian-Yue Zhang
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Chen-Yan Yan
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Feng-Yao Wu
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Sang-Yu Lu
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Feng Sun
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Shuang-Xia Zhao
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Mei Dong
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Huai-Dong Song
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Ramachandran J, Zhou W, Bardenhagen AE, Nasr T, Yates ER, Zorn AM, Ji H, Vokes SA. Hedgehog regulation of epithelial cell state and morphogenesis in the larynx. eLife 2022; 11:e77055. [PMID: 36398878 PMCID: PMC9718526 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The larynx enables speech while regulating swallowing and respiration. Larynx function hinges on the laryngeal epithelium which originates as part of the anterior foregut and undergoes extensive remodeling to separate from the esophagus and form vocal folds that interface with the adjacent trachea. Here we find that sonic hedgehog (SHH) is essential for epithelial integrity in the mouse larynx as well as the anterior foregut. During larynx-esophageal separation, low Shh expression marks specific domains of actively remodeling epithelium that undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characterized by the induction of N-Cadherin and movement of cells out of the epithelial layer. Consistent with a role for SHH signaling in regulating this process, Shh mutants undergo an abnormal EMT throughout the anterior foregut and larynx, marked by a cadherin switch, movement out of the epithelial layer and cell death. Unexpectedly, Shh mutant epithelial cells are replaced by a new population of FOXA2-negative cells that likely derive from adjacent pouch tissues and form a rudimentary epithelium. These findings have important implications for interpreting the etiology of HH-dependent birth defects within the foregut. We propose that SHH signaling has a default role in maintaining epithelial identity throughout the anterior foregut and that regionalized reductions in SHH trigger epithelial remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janani Ramachandran
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at AustinAustinUnited States
| | - Weiqiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Anna E Bardenhagen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at AustinAustinUnited States
| | - Talia Nasr
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, and Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiUnited States
| | - Ellen R Yates
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at AustinAustinUnited States
| | - Aaron M Zorn
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, and Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiUnited States
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Steven A Vokes
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at AustinAustinUnited States
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Sox9 is involved in the thyroid differentiation program and is regulated by crosstalk between TSH, TGFβ and thyroid transcription factors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2144. [PMID: 35140269 PMCID: PMC8828901 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06004-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
While the signaling pathways and transcription factors involved in the differentiation of thyroid follicular cells, both in embryonic and adult life, are increasingly well understood, the underlying mechanisms and potential crosstalk between the thyroid transcription factors Nkx2.1, Foxe1 and Pax8 and inductive signals remain unclear. Here, we focused on the transcription factor Sox9, which is expressed in Nkx2.1-positive embryonic thyroid precursor cells and is maintained from embryonic development to adulthood, but its function and control are unknown. We show that two of the main signals regulating thyroid differentiation, TSH and TGFβ, modulate Sox9 expression. Specifically, TSH stimulates the cAMP/PKA pathway to transcriptionally upregulate Sox9 mRNA and protein expression, a mechanism that is mediated by the binding of CREB to a CRE site within the Sox9 promoter. Contrastingly, TGFβ signals through Smad proteins to inhibit TSH-induced Sox9 transcription. Our data also reveal that Sox9 transcription is regulated by the thyroid transcription factors, particularly Pax8. Interestingly, Sox9 significantly increased the transcriptional activation of Pax8 and Foxe1 promoters and, consequently, their expression, but had no effect on Nkx2.1. Our study establishes the involvement of Sox9 in thyroid follicular cell differentiation and broadens our understanding of transcription factor regulation of thyroid function.
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Pierreux CE. Shaping the thyroid: From peninsula to de novo lumen formation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 531:111313. [PMID: 33961919 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A challenging and stimulating question in biology deals with the formation of organs from groups of undifferentiated progenitor cells. Most epithelial organs indeed derive from the endodermal monolayer and evolve into various shape and tridimensional organization adapted to their specialized adult function. Thyroid organogenesis is no exception. In most mammals, it follows a complex and sequential process initiated from the endoderm and leading to the development of a multitude of independent closed spheres equipped and optimized for the synthesis, storage and production of thyroid hormones. The first sign of thyroid organogenesis is visible as a thickening of the anterior foregut endoderm. This group of thyroid progenitors then buds and detaches from the foregut to migrate caudally and then laterally. Upon reaching their final destination in the upper neck region on both sides of the trachea, thyroid progenitors mix with C cell progenitors and finally organize into hormone-producing thyroid follicles. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors controlling thyroid organogenesis have been identified in several species, but the fundamental cellular processes are not sufficiently considered. This review focuses on the cellular aspects of the key morphogenetic steps during thyroid organogenesis and highlights similarities and common mechanisms with developmental steps elucidated in other endoderm-derived organs, despite different final architecture and functions.
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Szczepanek-Parulska E, Budny B, Borowczyk M, Zawadzka K, Sztromwasser P, Ruchała M. Compound heterozygous GLI3 variants in siblings with thyroid hemiagenesis. Endocrine 2021; 71:514-519. [PMID: 32696176 PMCID: PMC7881956 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-020-02422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Thyroid hemiagenesis (THA) is an inborn absence of one thyroid lobe of largely unknown etiopathogenesis, affecting 0.05-0.5% population. The aim of the study was an identification of genetic factors responsible for thyroid maldevelopment in two siblings with THA. METHODS We evaluated a three-generation THA family with two sisters presenting the disorder. Proband (Patient II:3) was diagnosed at the age of 45 due to neck asymmetry. Left lobe agenesis and nontoxic multinodular goiter were depicted. Proband's sister (Patient II:6) was euthyroid, showed up at the age of 39 due to neck discomfort and left-sided THA was demonstrated. Affected individuals were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (WES) (Illumina, TruSeq Exome Kit) and all identified variants were evaluated for pathogenicity. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm WES data and check segregation among first-degree relatives. RESULTS In both siblings, a compound heterozygous mutations NM_000168.6: c.[2179G>A];[4039C>A] (NP_000159.3: p.[Gly727Arg];[Gln1347Lys]) were identified in the GLI3 gene, affecting exon 14 and 15, respectively. According to the American College of Medical Genetics, variants are classified as of uncertain significance, and were found to be very rare (GnomAD MAF 0.007131 and 0.00003187). The segregation mapping and analysis of relatives indicated causativeness of compound heterozygosity. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated for the first time a unique association of THA phenotype and the presence of compound heterozygous mutations p.[Gly727Arg];[Gln1347Lys] of GLI3 gene in two siblings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Szczepanek-Parulska
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego Street, 60-355, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Bartłomiej Budny
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego Street, 60-355, Poznan, Poland
| | - Martyna Borowczyk
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego Street, 60-355, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Zawadzka
- MNM Diagnostics Sp. z o.o, 64 Macieja Rataja Street, 61-695, Poznan, Poland
| | - Paweł Sztromwasser
- MNM Diagnostics Sp. z o.o, 64 Macieja Rataja Street, 61-695, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Biostatistics and Translational Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 15 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
| | - Marek Ruchała
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego Street, 60-355, Poznan, Poland
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López-Márquez A, Carrasco-López C, Fernández-Méndez C, Santisteban P. Unraveling the Complex Interplay Between Transcription Factors and Signaling Molecules in Thyroid Differentiation and Function, From Embryos to Adults. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:654569. [PMID: 33959098 PMCID: PMC8095082 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.654569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid differentiation of progenitor cells occurs during embryonic development and in the adult thyroid gland, and the molecular bases of these complex and finely regulated processes are becoming ever more clear. In this Review, we describe the most recent advances in the study of transcription factors, signaling molecules and regulatory pathways controlling thyroid differentiation and development in the mammalian embryo. We also discuss the maintenance of the adult differentiated phenotype to ensure the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones. We will focus on endoderm-derived thyroid epithelial cells, which are responsible for the formation of the thyroid follicle, the functional unit of the thyroid gland. The use of animal models and pluripotent stem cells has greatly aided in providing clues to the complicated puzzle of thyroid development and function in adults. The so-called thyroid transcription factors - Nkx2-1, Foxe1, Pax8 and Hhex - were the first pieces of the puzzle identified in mice. Other transcription factors, either acting upstream of or directly with the thyroid transcription factors, were subsequently identified to, almost, complete the puzzle. Among them, the transcription factors Glis3, Sox9 and the cofactor of the Hippo pathway Taz, have emerged as important players in thyroid differentiation and development. The involvement of signaling molecules increases the complexity of the puzzle. In this context, the importance of Bmps, Fgfs and Shh signaling at the onset of development, and of TSH, IGF1 and TGFβ both at the end of terminal differentiation in embryos and in the adult thyroid, are well recognized. All of these aspects are covered herein. Thus, readers will be able to visualize the puzzle of thyroid differentiation with most - if not all - of the pieces in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arístides López-Márquez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada en Enfermedades Neuromusculares, Unidad de Patología Neuromuscular, Servicio de Neuropediatría, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Carlos Carrasco-López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Méndez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Santisteban
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Pilar Santisteban,
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7
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Ikonomou L, Herriges MJ, Lewandowski SL, Marsland R, Villacorta-Martin C, Caballero IS, Frank DB, Sanghrajka RM, Dame K, Kańduła MM, Hicks-Berthet J, Lawton ML, Christodoulou C, Fabian AJ, Kolaczyk E, Varelas X, Morrisey EE, Shannon JM, Mehta P, Kotton DN. The in vivo genetic program of murine primordial lung epithelial progenitors. Nat Commun 2020; 11:635. [PMID: 32005814 PMCID: PMC6994558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14348-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Multipotent Nkx2-1-positive lung epithelial primordial progenitors of the foregut endoderm are thought to be the developmental precursors to all adult lung epithelial lineages. However, little is known about the global transcriptomic programs or gene networks that regulate these gateway progenitors in vivo. Here we use bulk RNA-sequencing to describe the unique genetic program of in vivo murine lung primordial progenitors and computationally identify signaling pathways, such as Wnt and Tgf-β superfamily pathways, that are involved in their cell-fate determination from pre-specified embryonic foregut. We integrate this information in computational models to generate in vitro engineered lung primordial progenitors from mouse pluripotent stem cells, improving the fidelity of the resulting cells through unbiased, easy-to-interpret similarity scores and modulation of cell culture conditions, including substratum elastic modulus and extracellular matrix composition. The methodology proposed here can have wide applicability to the in vitro derivation of bona fide tissue progenitors of all germ layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laertis Ikonomou
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Michael J Herriges
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Sara L Lewandowski
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Robert Marsland
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Carlos Villacorta-Martin
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Ignacio S Caballero
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - David B Frank
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Reeti M Sanghrajka
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Keri Dame
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Maciej M Kańduła
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Chair of Bioinformatics Research Group, Boku University, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Hicks-Berthet
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Matthew L Lawton
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Constantina Christodoulou
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | - Eric Kolaczyk
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Xaralabos Varelas
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Edward E Morrisey
- Penn Center for Pulmonary Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - John M Shannon
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Pankaj Mehta
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Darrell N Kotton
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- The Pulmonary Center and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
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Haerlingen B, Opitz R, Vandernoot I, Trubiroha A, Gillotay P, Giusti N, Costagliola S. Small-Molecule Screening in Zebrafish Embryos Identifies Signaling Pathways Regulating Early Thyroid Development. Thyroid 2019; 29:1683-1703. [PMID: 31507237 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2019.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background: Defects in embryonic development of the thyroid gland are a major cause for congenital hypothyroidism in human newborns, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Organ development relies on a tightly regulated interplay between extrinsic signaling cues and cell intrinsic factors. At present, however, there is limited knowledge about the specific extrinsic signaling cues that regulate foregut endoderm patterning, thyroid cell specification, and subsequent morphogenetic processes in thyroid development. Methods: To begin to address this problem in a systematic way, we used zebrafish embryos to perform a series of in vivo phenotype-driven chemical genetic screens to identify signaling cues regulating early thyroid development. For this purpose, we treated zebrafish embryos during different developmental periods with a panel of small-molecule compounds known to manipulate the activity of major signaling pathways and scored phenotypic deviations in thyroid, endoderm, and cardiovascular development using whole-mount in situ hybridization and transgenic fluorescent reporter models. Results: Systematic assessment of drugged embryos recovered a range of thyroid phenotypes including expansion, reduction or lack of the early thyroid anlage, defective thyroid budding, as well as hypoplastic, enlarged, or overtly disorganized presentation of the thyroid primordium after budding. Our pharmacological screening identified bone morphogenetic protein and fibroblast growth factor signaling as key factors for thyroid specification and early thyroid organogenesis, highlighted the importance of low Wnt activities during early development for thyroid specification, and implicated drug-induced cardiac and vascular anomalies as likely indirect mechanisms causing various forms of thyroid dysgenesis. Conclusions: By integrating the outcome of our screening efforts with previously available information from other model organisms including Xenopus, chicken, and mouse, we conclude that signaling cues regulating thyroid development appear broadly conserved across vertebrates. We therefore expect that observations made in zebrafish can inform mammalian models of thyroid organogenesis to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of congenital thyroid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Haerlingen
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Opitz
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabelle Vandernoot
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Achim Trubiroha
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Gillotay
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicoletta Giusti
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sabine Costagliola
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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9
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Nakamura T, Ichii O, Sunden Y, Elewa YHA, Yoshiyasu T, Hattori H, Tatsumi O, Kon Y, Nagasaki KI. Slc:Wistar/ST rats develop unilateral thyroid dysgenesis: A novel animal model of thyroid hemiagenesis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221939. [PMID: 31465501 PMCID: PMC6715207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental anomalies of the thyroid gland lead to congenital malformations such as thyroglossal duct cysts and thyroid dysgenesis. However, the pathogenesis of thyroid dysgenesis remains unclear due to the lack of suitable animal models. This study demonstrated that Slc:Wistar/ST rats frequently developed unilateral thyroid dysgenesis, including hemiagenesis, characterized by the absence of one lobe. In Wistar/ST rats, each thyroid lobe was frequently different in size, and approximately 27% and 20% of the rats presented with hemihypoplasia and hemiagenesis of the thyroid gland, respectively. Dysgenesis was predominant on the left side in both sexes, without sex differences. At a young age, thyroid hemiagenesis did not alter body weight. In rats of both sexes with thyroid hemiagenesis, plasma total triiodothyronine and total triiodothyronine levels remained unchanged while plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were significantly elevated in young rats. The remaining thyroid lobes increased in weight, but the follicular epithelial cells appeared normal in terms of their height and proliferating activities. On the side of thyroid dysgenesis, the parathyroid glands were normally localized and were situated at the same location as the contralateral glands. The ultimobranchial body remnants were localized at the level of the thyroid gland along with the cranial thyroid artery and vein, forming cell clusters or cystic structures and containing calcitonin-positive C-cells. In conclusion, Wistar/ST rats developed unilateral thyroid dysgenesis and may be novel and useful animal models for thyroid hemiagenesis in humans and for morphogenesis of pharyngeal pouch-derived organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teppei Nakamura
- Section of Biomedical Science, Chitose Laboratory, Japan Food Research Laboratories, Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Osamu Ichii
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuji Sunden
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Yaser Hosny Ali Elewa
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Tomoji Yoshiyasu
- Section of Biological Safety Research, Chitose Laboratory, Japan Food Research Laboratories, Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hideki Hattori
- Section of Biological Safety Research, Chitose Laboratory, Japan Food Research Laboratories, Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Osamu Tatsumi
- Section of Biomedical Science, Chitose Laboratory, Japan Food Research Laboratories, Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kon
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Nagasaki
- Section of Biological Safety Research, Tama Laboratory, Japan Food Research Laboratories, Tama, Tokyo, Japan
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10
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López-Márquez A, Fernández-Méndez C, Recacha P, Santisteban P. Regulation of Foxe1 by Thyrotropin and Transforming Growth Factor Beta Depends on the Interplay Between Thyroid-Specific, CREB and SMAD Transcription Factors. Thyroid 2019; 29:714-725. [PMID: 30652527 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2018.0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background: Thyroid follicular cells are characterized by the expression of a specific set of genes necessary for the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, which are in turn regulated by the transcription factors Nkx2-1, Pax8, and Foxe1. Thyroid differentiation is finely tuned by the balance between positive regulatory signals, including thyrotropin (TSH), and by negative regulatory signals, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), which counteracts the action of TSH. A role for Foxe1 as a mediator of hormonal and growth-factor control of thyroid differentiation has been previously suggested. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the mechanisms governing Foxe1 expression to define the ligands and signals that regulate one of the important factors in thyroid differentiation. Methods: Expression of Foxe1 was evaluated in rat PCCl3 thyroid follicular cells under different treatments. The mouse Foxe1 promoter was cloned, and site-directed mutagenesis was undertaken to study its transcriptional regulation and to identify response elements. Protein/DNA binding assays were performed to evaluate the binding of different transcription factors, and gene-silencing approaches were used to elucidate their functional roles. Results:In silico analysis of the Foxe1 promoter identified binding sites for Nkx2-1, Pax8, Foxe1, and Smad proteins, as well as cAMP-response element (CRE) sites. It was found that both CRE-binding protein and CRE modulator were necessary for the TSH-mediated induction of Foxe1 expression via the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Moreover, transcription of Foxe1 was regulated by Nkx2-1 and Pax8 and by itself, suggesting an autoregulatory mechanism of activation and an important role for thyroid transcription factors. Finally, TGF-β, through Smad proteins, inhibited the TSH-induced Foxe1 expression. Conclusions: This study shows that Foxe1 is the final target of TSH/cAMP and TGF-β regulation that mediates expression of thyroid differentiation genes, and provides evidence of an interplay between CRE-binding proteins, thyroid transcription factors, and Smad proteins in its regulation. Thus, Foxe1 plays an important role in the complex transcriptional network that regulates thyroid follicular cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arístides López-Márquez
- 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Méndez
- 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Recacha
- 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Santisteban
- 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- 2 CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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11
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Follicular cell lineage in persistent ultimobranchial remnants of mammals. Cell Tissue Res 2019; 376:1-18. [PMID: 30617614 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-02982-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It has been a subject of much debate whether thyroid follicular cells originate from the ultimobranchial body, in addition to median thyroid primordium. Ultimobranchial remnants are detected in normal dogs, rats, mice, cattle, bison and humans and also in mutant mice such as Eya1 homozygotes, Hox3 paralogs homozygotes, Nkx2.1 heterozygotes and FRS2α2F/2F. Besides C cells, follicular cell lineages immunoreactive for thyroglobulin are located within these ultimobranchial remnants. In dogs, the C cell complexes, i.e., large cell clusters consisting of C cells and undifferentiated cells, are present together with parathyroid IV and thymus IV in or close to the thyroid lobe. In addition, follicular cells in various stages of differentiation, including follicular cell groups and primitive and minute follicles storing colloid, are intermingled with C cells in some complexes. This review elaborates the transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in folliculogenesis and it is supposed why the follicular cells in the ultimobranchial remnants are sustained in immature stages. Pax8, a transcription factor crucial for the development of follicular cells, is expressed in the fourth pharyngeal pouch and the ultimobranchial body in human embryos. Pax8 expression is also detected in the ultimobranchial remnants of Eya1 and Hes1 null mutant mice. To determine whether the C cells and follicular cells in the ultimobranchial remnants consist of dual lineage cells or are derived from the common precursor, the changes of undifferentiated cells in dog C cell complexes are examined after chronically induced hypercalcemia or antithyroid drug treatment.
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12
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Ono H, Koop D, Holland LZ. Nodal and Hedgehog synergize in gill slit formation during development of the cephalochordate Branchiostoma floridae. Development 2018; 145:dev.162586. [PMID: 29980563 DOI: 10.1242/dev.162586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The larval pharynx of the cephalochordate Branchiostoma (amphioxus) is asymmetrical. The mouth is on the left, and endostyle and gill slits are on the right. At the neurula, Nodal and Hedgehog (Hh) expression becomes restricted to the left. To dissect their respective roles in gill slit formation, we inhibited each pathway separately for 20 min at intervals during the neurula stage, before gill slits penetrate, and monitored the effects on morphology and expression of pharyngeal markers. The results pinpoint the short interval spanning the gastrula/neurula transition as the critical period for specification and positioning of future gill slits. Thus, reduced Nodal signaling shifts the gill slits ventrally, skews the pharyngeal domains of Hh, Pax1/9, Pax2/5/8, Six1/2 and IrxC towards the left, and reduces Hh and Tbx1/10 expression in endoderm and mesoderm, respectively. Nodal auto-regulates. Decreased Hh signaling does not affect gill slit positions or Hh or Nodal expression, but it does reduce the domain of Gli, the Hh target, in the pharyngeal endoderm. Thus, during the neurula stage, Nodal and Hh cooperate in gill slit development - Hh mediates gill slit formation and Nodal establishes their left-right position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Ono
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA
| | - Demian Koop
- Discipline of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Linda Z Holland
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA
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13
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McLachlan SM, Aliesky HA, Garcia P, Banuelos B, Rapoport B. Thyroid Hemiagenesis in a Thyroiditis Prone Mouse Strain. Eur Thyroid J 2018; 7:187-192. [PMID: 30283736 PMCID: PMC6140602 DOI: 10.1159/000490700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid hemiagenesis, a rare congenital condition detected by ultrasound screening of the neck, is usually not manifested clinically in humans. This condition has been reported in mice with hypothyroidism associated with induced deficiency in paired box 8 and NK2 homeobox 1, sonic hedgehog, or T-box 1. Unexpectedly, we observed thyroid hemiagenesis in NOD.H2h4 mice, an unusual strain that spontaneously develops iodide enhanced thyroid autoimmunity but remains euthyroid. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS First, to compare mice with thyroid hemiagenesis versus bilobed littermates for serum T4, autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (ELISA) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO; flow cytometry with eukaryotic cells expressing mouse TPO), gross anatomy, and thyroid histology; second, to estimate the percentage of mice with thyroid hemiagenesis in the NOD.H2h4 mice we have studied over 6 years. RESULTS Thyroid hemiagenesis was observed in 3 of 1,025 NOD.H2h4 mice (2 females, 1 male; 0.3$). Two instances of hemiagenesis were in wild-type females and one in a transgenic male expressing the human TSHR A-subunit in the thyroid. Two mice had very large unilobed glands, as in some human cases with this condition. Thyroid lymphocytic infiltration, serum T4, and the levels of thyroid autoantibodies were similar in mice with thyroid hemiagenesis and bilobed littermates. CONCLUSIONS Unlike hypothyroidism associated with hemiagenesis in transcription factor knockout mice, hemiagenesis in euthyroid NOD.H2h4 mice occurs spontaneously and is phenotypically similar to that occasionally observed in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M. McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
- UCLA School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- *Sandra M. McLachlan, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, B-131, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (USA), E-Mail
| | - Holly A. Aliesky
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Priscilla Garcia
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Bianca Banuelos
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Basil Rapoport
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
- UCLA School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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14
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Martinez AF, Kruszka PS, Muenke M. Extracephalic manifestations of nonchromosomal, nonsyndromic holoprosencephaly. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2018; 178:246-257. [PMID: 29761634 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nonchromosomal, nonsyndromic holoprosencephaly (NCNS-HPE) has traditionally been considered as a condition of brain and craniofacial maldevelopment. In this review, we present the results of a comprehensive literature search supporting a wide spectrum of extracephalic manifestations identified in patients with NCNS-HPE. These manifestations have been described in case reports and in large cohorts of patients with "single-gene" mutations, suggesting that the NCNS-HPE phenotype can be more complex than traditionally thought. Likely, a complex network of interacting genetic variants and environmental factors is responsible for these systemic abnormalities that deviate from the usual brain and craniofacial findings in NCNS-HPE. In addition to the systemic consequences of pituitary dysfunction (as a direct result of brain midline defects), here we describe a number of extracephalic findings of NCNS-HPE affecting various organ systems. It is our goal to provide a guide of extracephalic features for clinicians given the important clinical implications of these manifestations for the management and care of patients with HPE and their mutation-positive relatives. The health risks associated with some manifestations (e.g., fatty liver disease) may have historically been neglected in affected families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel F Martinez
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul S Kruszka
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Maximilian Muenke
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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15
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Xu Y, Ma N, Wei P, Zeng Z, Meng J. Expression of hydrogen sulfide synthases and Hh signaling pathway components correlate with the clinicopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2018; 11:1818-1824. [PMID: 31938289 PMCID: PMC6958160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether the expression levels of endogenous H2S synthases and hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway components correlate with the clinicopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted of clinicopathological data obtained from 176 patients diagnosed with PTC, and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expression levels of endogenous H2S synthases cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST), as well as three molecules in the Hh signaling pathway: sonic hedgehog (SHH), patched (PTCH), and smoothened (SMO). Specimens of PTC tissue (n=176) and normal para-cancerous thyroid tissue (n=134) were obtained from 176 patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy or thyroid glandular follicle and isthmus resection and analyzed by immunohistochemical methods for their levels of CSE, CBS, MPST, SHH, PTCH, and SMO expression. RESULTS We found that CSE was overexpressed in PTC tissues, while CBS and MPST were only slightly expressed in PTC tissues at levels similar to those in adjacent normal tissues. The levels of CSE expression were positively correlated with tumor size, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), and lymph node metastasis (LNM), but were not correlated with patient gender, age, or TNM stage. SHH, PTCH, and SMO Hh signaling pathway components were widely expressed in PTC tissues, and their expression correlated with larger tumor size, ETE, and LNM, but not with patient gender, age, or TNM stage, suggesting that activation of the Hh signaling pathway is involved in thyroid tumor progression. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that a high level of CSE expression accompanied by Hh signaling pathway activation is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Cancer Center, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhou, China
| | - Na Ma
- Department of Physiology, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhou 510006, China
| | - Peng Wei
- Department of Physiology, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi Zeng
- Department of Physiology, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jinlan Meng
- Department of Physiology, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhou 510006, China
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16
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Parascandolo A, Laukkanen MO, De Rosa N, Ugolini C, Cantisani MC, Cirafici AM, Basolo F, Santoro M, Castellone MD. A dual mechanism of activation of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway in anaplastic thyroid cancer: crosstalk with RAS-BRAF-MEK pathway and ligand secretion by tumor stroma. Oncotarget 2017; 9:4496-4510. [PMID: 29435119 PMCID: PMC5796990 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway regulates embryonic development of different organs including the thyroid gland. The aberrant activation of Shh signaling has been found in several types of cancer and according to recent evidences it represents an important regulator of tumor-stroma interaction. In this study, we have analyzed expression, activation and molecular mechanisms regulating the Shh pathway and its involvement in the modulation of tumor stroma interaction in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cells. Our results suggest that Shh signaling undergoes a dual mechanism of induction in ATC cells: 1) a basal non-canonical Smo-dependent activation of Gli transcription factor that is partly caused by interaction with the RAS/BRAF/MEK oncogenic pathway and is characterized by the absence of Shh ligand expression in thyroid cancer cells and 2) a paracrine response of cancer cells to Shh ligand secreted by tumor stroma (fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells, MSCs) inducing cancer cell migration and in vitro tumorigenesis. Our data therefore suggest Shh as a potential novel therapeutic target in aggressive thyroid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nancy De Rosa
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Clara Ugolini
- Department of Laboratory Medicine Section of Pathology Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Carmela Cantisani
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Cirafici
- Istitute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "G. Salvatore" (IEOS), C.N.R., Naples, Italy
| | - Fulvio Basolo
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Massimo Santoro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
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17
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Abstract
Thyroid hormones are crucial for organismal development and homeostasis. In humans, untreated congenital hypothyroidism due to thyroid agenesis inevitably leads to cretinism, which comprises irreversible brain dysfunction and dwarfism. Elucidating how the thyroid gland - the only source of thyroid hormones in the body - develops is thus key for understanding and treating thyroid dysgenesis, and for generating thyroid cells in vitro that might be used for cell-based therapies. Here, we review the principal mechanisms involved in thyroid organogenesis and functional differentiation, highlighting how the thyroid forerunner evolved from the endostyle in protochordates to the endocrine gland found in vertebrates. New findings on the specification and fate decisions of thyroid progenitors, and the morphogenesis of precursor cells into hormone-producing follicular units, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Nilsson
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg SE-40530, Sweden
| | - Henrik Fagman
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg SE-40530, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Pathology and Genetics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg SE-41345, Sweden
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18
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Szczepanek-Parulska E, Zybek-Kocik A, Wartofsky L, Ruchala M. Thyroid Hemiagenesis: Incidence, Clinical Significance, and Genetic Background. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2017; 102:3124-3137. [PMID: 28666345 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2017-00784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Thyroid hemiagenesis (THA) constitutes a rare, congenital disorder that is characterized by an absence of one thyroid lobe. Because the pathogenesis and clinical significance of this malformation remain undefined, specific clinical recommendations are lacking, especially for asymptomatic cases. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The PubMed database was searched (years 1970 to 2017), and the following terms were used to retrieve the results: "thyroid hemiagenesis," "thyroid hemiaplasia," "one thyroid lobe agenesis," and "one thyroid lobe aplasia." Subsequently, reference sections of the retrieved articles were searched. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS There is a noticeable susceptibility of subjects with THA to develop additional thyroid and nonthyroidal pathologies. In pathogenesis of concomitant thyroid pathologies, a chronic elevation in thyroid-stimulating hormone values may play an important role. Thus far, genetic studies failed to find a common genetic background of the anomaly, and the potential underlying cause was identified in a minority of the cases. CONCLUSIONS Patients with THA are prone to develop additional thyroid pathologies and theoretically might benefit from l-thyroxine treatment to lower the thyrotropin levels to those observed in the normal population. However, further research should be done to ascertain whether such intervention early in life would prevent development of associated thyroid conditions. At least, increased vigilance should be maintained to reveal all of the concomitant disorders as soon as possible during follow-up examinations. Application of high-throughput technologies enabling a genome-wide search for novel factors involved in thyroid embryogenesis might be the next step to expand the knowledge on THA pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Szczepanek-Parulska
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Ariadna Zybek-Kocik
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
| | - Leonard Wartofsky
- Department of Medicine, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia 20010
| | - Marek Ruchala
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
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19
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Kameda Y. Morphological and molecular evolution of the ultimobranchial gland of nonmammalian vertebrates, with special reference to the chicken C cells. Dev Dyn 2017; 246:719-739. [PMID: 28608500 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the current understanding of the nonmammalian ultimobranchial gland from morphological and molecular perspectives. Ultimobranchial anlage of all animal species develops from the last pharyngeal pouch. The genes involved in the development of pharyngeal pouches are well conserved across vertebrates. The ultimobranchial anlage of nonmammalian vertebrates and monotremes does not merge with the thyroid, remaining as an independent organ throughout adulthood. Although C cells of all animal species secrete calcitonin, the shape, cellular components and location of the ultimobranchial gland vary from species to species. Avian ultimobranchial gland is unique in several phylogenic aspects; the organ is located between the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves at the upper thorax and is densely innervated by branches emanating from them. In chick embryos, TuJ1-, HNK-1-, and PGP 9.5-immunoreactive cells that originate from the distal vagal (nodose) ganglion, colonize the ultimobranchial anlage and differentiate into C cells; neuronal cells give rise to C cells. Like C cells of mammals, the cells of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and also a subset of C cells of birds, appear to be derived from the endodermal epithelium forming ultimobranchial anlage. Thus, the avian ultimobranchial C cells may have dual origins, neural progenitors and endodermal epithelium. Developmental Dynamics 246:719-739, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Kameda
- Department of Anatomy, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
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20
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Budny B, Szczepanek-Parulska E, Zemojtel T, Szaflarski W, Rydzanicz M, Wesoly J, Handschuh L, Wolinski K, Piatek K, Niedziela M, Ziemnicka K, Figlerowicz M, Zabel M, Ruchala M. Mutations in proteasome-related genes are associated with thyroid hemiagenesis. Endocrine 2017; 56:279-285. [PMID: 28390009 PMCID: PMC5395596 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-017-1287-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Human thyroid development is a complex and still unexplained process. Thyroid hemiagenesis is a congenital anomaly, where one of the thyroid lobes fails to develop. In the majority of patients with thyroid hemiagenesis, the genetic background remains unknown. The aim of the study was to search for novel genetic contributors to the etiology of thyroid hemiagenesis. METHODS A cohort of 34 sporadic patients diagnosed with thyroid hemiagenesis and one three-generation family were subjected to comprehensive genomic examination. Initially, targeted screening of associated transcription factors, known to be linked to thyroid development, was performed. As a next step, genomic examinations were applied using high-resolution microarrays, whereas for the thyroid hemiagenesis family, additionally the whole exome sequencing was performed. RESULTS Screening of transcription factors revealed no causative mutations in the studied cohort. Genomic examinations revealed the presence of four recurrent defects (three deletions and one duplication) affecting highly conservative proteasome genes PSMA1, PSMA3, and PSMD3. In a thyroid hemiagenesis family a splice site mutation in a proteasome gene PSMD2 (c.612T > C cDNA.1170T > C, g.3271T > C) was found in both affected mother and daughter. CONCLUSIONS Our results shed a new light on etiology of thyroid hemiagenesis, so far suspected to be linked only to mutations in the genes directly involved in the thyroid development. We demonstrated, for the first time, that genomic alterations in proteasome-associated genes co-occur in patients presenting this developmental anomaly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartlomiej Budny
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Ewelina Szczepanek-Parulska
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Zemojtel
- European Center for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science, Poznan, Poland
| | - Witold Szaflarski
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Rydzanicz
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Wesoly
- Laboratory of High Throughput Technologies, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Luiza Handschuh
- European Center for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kosma Wolinski
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Piatek
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marek Niedziela
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology and Rheumatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ziemnicka
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marek Figlerowicz
- European Center for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science, Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Zabel
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marek Ruchala
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
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21
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Chojnowski JL, Trau HA, Masuda K, Manley NR. Temporal and spatial requirements for Hoxa3 in mouse embryonic development. Dev Biol 2016; 415:33-45. [PMID: 27178667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Hoxa3(null) mice have severe defects in the development of pharyngeal organs including athymia, aparathyroidism, thyroid hypoplasia, and ultimobranchial body persistence, in addition to defects of the throat cartilages and cranial nerves. Some of the structures altered in the Hoxa3(null) mutant embryos are anterior to the described Hoxa3 gene expression boundary: the thyroid, soft palate, and lesser hyoid horn. All of these structures develop over time and through the interactions of multiple cell types. To investigate the specific cellular targets for HOXA3 function in these structures across developmental time, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the temporal and tissue-specific requirements for Hoxa3, including a lineage analysis using Hoxa3(Cre). The combination of these approaches showed that HOXA3 functions in both a cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous manner during development of the 3rd and 4th arch derivatives, and functions in a neural crest cell (NCC)-specific, non-cell autonomous manner for structures that were Hoxa3-negative by lineage tracing. Our data indicate that HOXA3 is required for tissue organization and organ differentiation in endodermal cells (in the tracheal epithelium, thymus, and parathyroid), and contributes to organ migration and morphogenesis in NCCs. These data provide a detailed picture of where and when HOXA3 acts to promote the development of the diverse structures that are altered in the Hoxa3(null) mutant. Data presented here, combined with our previous studies, indicate that the regionally restricted defects in Hoxa3 mutants do not reflect a role in positional identity (establishment of cell or tissue fate), but instead indicate a wider variety of functions including controlling distinct genetic programs for differentiation and morphogenesis in different cell types during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jena L Chojnowski
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Heidi A Trau
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Kyoko Masuda
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Nancy R Manley
- Department of Genetics, Paul D. Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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22
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Gawade S, Mayer C, Hafen K, Barthlott T, Krenger W, Szinnai G. Cell Growth Dynamics in Embryonic and Adult Mouse Thyroid Revealed by a Novel Approach to Detect Thyroid Gland Subpopulations. Thyroid 2016; 26:591-9. [PMID: 26854713 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2015.0523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thyroid is composed of endocrine epithelial cells, blood vessels, and mesenchyme. However, no data exist thus far on absolute cell numbers, relative distribution, and proliferation of the different cell populations in the developing and mature thyroid. The aim of this study was therefore to establish a flow cytometry protocol that allows detection and quantification of discrete cell populations in embryonic and adult murine thyroid tissues. METHODS Cell-type anti-mouse specific antibodies were used for erythroid cells (Ter119), hematopoietic cells (CD45), epithelial cells (EpCam/CD326, E-cadherin/CD324), thyroid follicular cells and C-cells (Nkx2-1), endothelial cells (Pecam/CD31, Icam-1/CD54), and fibroblasts (PDGFRa/CD140a). Proliferating cells were detected after labeling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). For flow cytometry analyses, micro-dissected embryonic (E) and adult thyroids were pooled (E13.5, n = 25; E15.5, n = 15; E17.5, n = 15; adult, n = 4) in one sample. RESULTS The absolute parenchymal cell numbers per mouse thyroid (M ± SD), excluding the large number of CD45(+) and Ter119(+) cells, increased from 7425 ± 1338 at E13.5 to 271,561 ± 22,325 in adult tissues. As expected, Nkx2-1(+) cells represented the largest cell population in adult tissues (61.2 ± 1.1%). Surprisingly, at all three embryonic stages analyzed, thyroid follicular cells and C-cells accounted only for a small percentage of the total thyroid cell mass (between 4.7 ± 0.4% and 9.4 ± 1.6%). In contrast, the largest cell population at all three embryonic stages was identified as PDGFRa/CD140a(+) fibroblasts (61.4 ± 0.4% to 77.3 ± 1.1%). However, these cells represented the smallest population in adult tissues (5.2 ± 0.8%). Pecam/CD31(+) endothelial cells increased from E13.5 to E15.5 from 3.7 ± 0.8% to 8.5 ± 3.0%, then remained stable at E17.5 and adult tissues. Proliferation rates were sizable during the entire organogenesis but differed between cell populations, with distinct proliferative peaks at E13.5 in epithelial cells (32.7 ± 0.6% BrdU(+) cells), and at E15.5 in endothelial cells (22.4 ± 2.4% BrdU(+) cells). Fibroblasts showed a constant proliferation rate in embryonic tissues. In adult tissues, BrdU(+) cells were between 0.1% and 0.4% in all cell types. CONCLUSIONS Using a novel flow cytometry-based method, a previously unobserved highly dynamic growth pattern of thyroid cell populations during embryogenesis was uncovered. This approach will provide a useful new tool for cell function analyses in murine thyroid disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Gawade
- 1 Pediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel , Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carlos Mayer
- 1 Pediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel , Basel, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Hafen
- 1 Pediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel , Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Barthlott
- 1 Pediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel , Basel, Switzerland
| | - Werner Krenger
- 1 Pediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel , Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gabor Szinnai
- 1 Pediatric Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel , Basel, Switzerland
- 2 Pediatric Endocrinology, University Children's Hospital Basel, University of Basel , Basel, Switzerland
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23
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Kameda Y. Cellular and molecular events on the development of mammalian thyroid C cells. Dev Dyn 2016; 245:323-41. [PMID: 26661795 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid C cells synthesize and secrete calcitonin, a serum calcium-lowering hormone. This review provides our current understanding of mammalian thyroid C cells from the molecular and morphological perspectives. Several transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in the development of C cells have been identified, and genes expressed in the pharyngeal pouch endoderm, neural crest-derived mesenchyme in the pharyngeal arches, and ultimobranchial body play critical roles for the development of C cells. It has been generally accepted, without much-supporting evidence, that mammalian C cells, as well as the avian cells, are derived from the neural crest. However, by fate mapping of neural crest cells in both Wnt1-Cre/R26R and Connexin(Cxn)43-lacZ transgenic mice, we showed that neural crest cells colonize neither the fourth pharyngeal pouch nor the ultimobranchial body. E-cadherin, an epithelial cell marker, is expressed in thyroid C cells and their precursors, the fourth pharyngeal pouch and ultimobranchial body. Furthermore, E-cadherin is colocalized with calcitonin in C cells. Recently, lineage tracing in Sox17-2A-iCre/R26R mice has clarified that the pharyngeal endoderm-derived cells give rise to C cells. Together, these findings indicate that mouse thyroid C cells are endodermal in origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Kameda
- Department of Anatomy, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
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24
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Maeda K, Asai R, Maruyama K, Kurihara Y, Nakanishi T, Kurihara H, Miyagawa-Tomita S. Postotic and preotic cranial neural crest cells differently contribute to thyroid development. Dev Biol 2015; 409:72-83. [PMID: 26506449 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid development and formation vary among species, but in most species the thyroid morphogenesis consists of five stages: specification, budding, descent, bilobation and folliculogenesis. The detailed mechanisms of these stages have not been fully clarified. During early development, the cranial neural crest (CNC) contributes to the thyroid gland. The removal of the postotic CNC (corresponding to rhombomeres 6, 7 and 8, also known as the cardiac neural crest) results in abnormalities of the cardiovascular system, thymus, parathyroid glands, and thyroid gland. To investigate the influence of the CNC on thyroid bilobation process, we divided the CNC into two regions, the postotic CNC and the preotic CNC (from the mesencephalon to rhombomere 5) regions and examined. We found that preotic CNC-ablated embryos had a unilateral thyroid lobe, and confirmed the presence of a single lobe or the absence of lobes in postotic CNC-ablated chick embryos. The thyroid anlage in each region-ablated embryos was of a normal size at the descent stage, but at a later stage, the thyroid in preotic CNC-ablated embryos was of a normal size, conflicting with a previous report in which the thyroid was reduced in size in the postotic CNC-ablated embryos. The postotic CNC cells differentiated into connective tissues of the thyroid in quail-to-chick chimeras. In contrast, the preotic CNC cells did not differentiate into connective tissues of the thyroid. We found that preotic CNC cells encompassed the thyroid anlage from the specification stage to the descent stage. Finally, we found that endothelin-1 and endothelin type A receptor-knockout mice and bosentan (endothelin receptor antagonist)-treated chick embryos showed bilobation anomalies that included single-lobe formation. Therefore, not only the postotic CNC, but also the preotic CNC plays an important role in thyroid morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Maeda
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Rieko Asai
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan; Department of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Maruyama
- Department of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kurihara
- Department of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Toshio Nakanishi
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kurihara
- Department of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Sachiko Miyagawa-Tomita
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan; Division of Cardiovascular Development and Differentiation, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
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25
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Pappalardo A, Porreca I, Caputi L, De Felice E, Schulte-Merker S, Zannini M, Sordino P. Thyroid development in zebrafish lacking Taz. Mech Dev 2015; 138 Pt 3:268-78. [PMID: 26478012 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2012] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Taz is a signal-responsive transcriptional coregulator implicated in several biological functions, from chondrogenesis to regulation of organ size. Less well studied, however, is its role in thyroid formation. Here, we explored the in vivo effects on thyroid development of morpholino (MO)-mediated knockdown of wwtr1, the gene encoding zebrafish Taz. The wwtr1 gene is expressed in the thyroid primordium and pharyngeal tissue of developing zebrafish. Compared to mammalian cells, in which Taz promotes expression of thyroid transcription factors and thyroid differentiation genes, wwtr1 MO injection in zebrafish had little or no effect on the expression of thyroid transcription factors, and differentially altered the expression of thyroid differentiation genes. Analysis of wwtr1 morphants at later stages of development revealed that the number and the lumen of thyroid follicles, and the number of thyroid follicle cells, were significantly smaller. In addition, Taz-depleted larvae displayed patterning defects in ventral cranial vessels that correlate with lateral displacement of thyroid follicles. These findings indicate that the zebrafish Taz protein is needed for the normal differentiation of the thyroid and are the first to suggest that Taz confers growth advantage to the endocrine gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pappalardo
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology 'G. Salvatore' - CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56018 Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Immacolata Porreca
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy; IRGS, Biogem, 83031 Ariano Irpino, Avellino, Italy
| | - Luigi Caputi
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Mariastella Zannini
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology 'G. Salvatore' - CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Sordino
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy.
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26
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Inoue K, Bando Y, Sakiyama K, Takizawa S, Sakashita H, Kondo H, Amano O. Development and regression of the thyroglossal duct in mice. Ann Anat 2015; 200:54-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2015.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Revised: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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27
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Opitz R, Hitz MP, Vandernoot I, Trubiroha A, Abu-Khudir R, Samuels M, Désilets V, Costagliola S, Andelfinger G, Deladoëy J. Functional zebrafish studies based on human genotyping point to netrin-1 as a link between aberrant cardiovascular development and thyroid dysgenesis. Endocrinology 2015; 156:377-88. [PMID: 25353184 PMCID: PMC4272402 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Congenital hypothyroidism caused by thyroid dysgenesis (CHTD) is a common congenital disorder with a birth prevalence of 1 case in 4000 live births, and up to 8% of individuals with CHTD have co-occurring congenital heart disease. Initially we found nine patients with cardiac and thyroid congenital disorders in our cohort of 158 CHTD patients. To enrich for a rare phenotype likely to be genetically simpler, we selected three patients with a ventricular septal defect for molecular studies. Then, to assess whether rare de novo copy number variants and coding mutations in candidate genes are a source of genetic susceptibility, we used a genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism array and Sanger sequencing to analyze blood DNA samples from selected patients with co-occurring CHTD a congenital heart disease. We found rare variants in all three patients, and we selected Netrin-1 as the biologically most plausible contributory factor for functional studies. In zebrafish, ntn1a and ntn1b were not expressed in thyroid tissue, but ntn1a was expressed in pharyngeal arch mesenchyme, and ntn1a-deficient embryos displayed defective aortic arch artery formation and abnormal thyroid morphogenesis. The functional activity of the thyroid in ntn1a-deficient larvae was, however, preserved. Phenotypic analysis of affected zebrafish indicates that abnormal thyroid morphogenesis resulted from a lack of proper guidance exerted by the dysplastic vasculature of ntn1a-deficient embryos. Hence, careful phenotyping of patients combined with molecular and functional studies in zebrafish identify Netrin-1 as a potential shared genetic factor for cardiac and thyroid congenital defects.
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28
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Bian XH, Sun H, Xue H, Zhang G, Zhang CH, Liu XL, Su J, Li SJ. Expression and clinical significance of Shh/Gli-1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:10523-8. [PMID: 25060182 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2365-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway affects cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis, but its role in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains elusive. To characterize expression and clinical significance of Shh and the transcription factor Gli-1-the key elements of the Shh pathway in PTC tissues-we immunohistochemically examined Shh/Gli-1 expression in PTC tissues from 142 patients, along with adjacent non-cancerous tissues as controls. We reviewed 142 patients' clinical characteristics and analyzed their relationship with expression of Shh/Gli-1. Shh and Gli-1 were expressed in 64.1 % (91/142) and 47.9 % (68/142) in PTC tissues, respectively, compared with 16.9 % (24/142) and 9.2 % (13/142) of adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Gli-1 expression was significantly associated with patients' ages (P < 0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). Increased Shh and Gli-1 expression was significantly associated with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (P < 0.01). Shh and Gli-1 were expressed in 79.2 and 60.4 %, respectively, of PTC tumors larger than 10 mm. Shh was significantly associated with tumor size (P < 0.01). Shh and Gli-1 were expressed in 72.5 and 65.2 %, respectively, of patients with lymph node metastasis. Overall, we found increased expression of the main initiator Shh and transcription factor Gli-1 in Shh pathway in PTC tissues. The expression of Shh/Gli-1 was significantly associated with tumor size, clinical staging, and lymph node metastasis, indicating that aberrant activation of the Shh pathway is important to PTC occurrence and progression. Potentially, Shh/Gli-1 could be a diagnostic indicator and a marker of therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Bian
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, People's Republic of China,
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29
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Dong W, Cui J, Tian X, He L, Wang Z, Zhang P, Zhang H. Aberrant sonic hedgehog signaling pathway and STAT3 activation in papillary thyroid cancer. Int J Clin Exp Med 2014; 7:1786-1793. [PMID: 25126181 PMCID: PMC4132145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The sonic hedgehog (SHH) and STAT3 signaling pathways play important roles during carcinogenesis with possible interaction. To determine the association of the activation of SHH signaling pathway and STAT3 pathway in carcinogenesis of human papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), we examined the expression of SHH signaling pathway molecules including SHH, Patched (PTCH), Smoothened (SMO) and GLI1 (glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1), as well as p-STAT3 (phosphorylation at Tyr705) by immunohistochemistry in 164 cases of PTC. In PTC, 70.12%, 64.02%, 68.90%, 64.02%, and 56.71% and in the adjacent normal thyroid tissues, 18.29%, 18.90%, 26.83%, 14.63%, and 10.98% of the specimens stained positive for SHH, PTCH, SMO, GLI1, and p-STAT3, respectively. Significant difference were found for the positive rate of SHH, PTCH, SMO, and GLI1 as well as p-STAT3 expression between PTC and adjacent normal thyroid tissues. There was a high accordance rate between SHH, PTCH, SMO, and GLI1 expression and all of them positively correlated with larger tumor size, the presence of ETE and LNM, and higher TNM stage. P-STAT3 expression positively correlated with the presence of ETE and LNM, and higher TNM stage but not age, gender, tumor size of the PTC patients. Signifi cant positive correlation between p-STAT3 and SHH, PTCH, SMO and GLI expression was found in PTC. These findings suggest that the SHH and STAT3 signaling pathways are frequently activated in PTC, interact with each other and may therefore be indicators for prognosis or potential targets for therapy against PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwu Dong
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
| | - Junshuai Cui
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
| | - Xinshuai Tian
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
| | - Liang He
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
| | - Zhihong Wang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
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30
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Abstract
The most frequent cause of congenital hypothyroidism is thyroid dysgenesis. Thyroid dysgenesis summarizes a spectrum of developmental abnormalities of the embryonic thyroid ranging from complete absence of the thyroid gland (athyreosis), to a normally located but too small thyroid (hypoplasia), or an abnormally located thyroid gland (ectopy). Although considered a sporadic disease, distinct genetic forms of isolated or syndromic thyroid dysgenesis have been described in recent years. However, genetics of thyroid dysgenesis (TD) are mostly not following simple Mendelian patterns, and beside monogenic, multigenic and epigenetic mechanisms need to be considered. The review will highlight the molecular mechanisms of thyroid organogenesis, clinical and genetic features of the different monogenetic forms of thyroid dysgenesis, the aspects relevant for diagnosis and counseling of affected families and current research strategies to get more insight into the non-Medelian mechanisms of normal and abnormal thyroid development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor Szinnai
- Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Children's Hospital Basel UKBB, Spitalstrasse 33, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Biomedicine, University Basel, Spitalstrasse 33, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
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31
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Wang J, Gao L, Song C. Thyroid hemiagenesis associated with medullary or papillary carcinoma: report of cases. Head Neck 2014; 36:E106-11. [PMID: 24115043 DOI: 10.1002/hed.23501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2013] [Revised: 04/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid hemiagenesis is a rare congenital anomaly in which 1 thyroid lobe fails to develop. Co-occurrence of hemiagenesis and thyroid carcinoma is extremely rare. Here, we report 2 cases of thyroid hemiagenesis with carcinoma. METHODS The first patient was referred with a left thyroid mass and absent right lobe. The frozen section examination revealed medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC); therefore, a left thyroid lobectomy plus neck dissection was performed. Another patient was referred with a right thyroid mass and absent left lobe. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was suspicious for papillary carcinoma. The patient underwent right thyroid lobectomy plus neck dissection. RESULTS The operative findings confirmed hemiagenesis of the right lobe and MTC in the left lobe for the first case, and hemiagenesis of the left lobe and papillary carcinoma in the right lobe for the second case. CONCLUSION Our case represents the first reported case of association between thyroid hemiagenesis and MTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbiao Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Opitz R, Antonica F, Costagliola S. New model systems to illuminate thyroid organogenesis. Part I: an update on the zebrafish toolbox. Eur Thyroid J 2013; 2:229-42. [PMID: 24783054 PMCID: PMC3923603 DOI: 10.1159/000357079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid dysgenesis (TD) resulting from defects during embryonic thyroid development represents a major cause of congenital hypothyroidism. The pathogenetic mechanisms of TD in human newborns, however, are still poorly understood and disease-causing genetic variants have been identified in only a small percentage of TD cases. This limited understanding of the pathogenesis of TD is partly due to a lack of knowledge on how intrinsic factors and extrinsic signalling cues orchestrate the differentiation of thyroid follicular cells and the morphogenesis of thyroid tissue. Recently, embryonic stem cells and zebrafish embryos emerged as novel model systems that allow for innovative experimental approaches in order to decipher cellular and molecular mechanisms of thyroid development and to unravel pathogenic mechanisms of TD. Zebrafish embryos offer several salient properties for studies on thyroid organogenesis including rapid and external development, optical transparency, ease of breeding, relative short generation time and amenability for genome editing. In this review, we will highlight recent advances in the zebrafish toolkit to visualize cellular dynamics of organ development and discuss specific prospects of the zebrafish model for studies on vertebrate thyroid development and human congenital thyroid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Opitz
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Francesco Antonica
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sabine Costagliola
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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33
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Hick AC, Delmarcelle AS, Bouquet M, Klotz S, Copetti T, Forez C, Van Der Smissen P, Sonveaux P, Collet JF, Feron O, Courtoy PJ, Pierreux CE. Reciprocal epithelial:endothelial paracrine interactions during thyroid development govern follicular organization and C-cells differentiation. Dev Biol 2013; 381:227-40. [PMID: 23707896 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Revised: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The thyroid is a highly vascularized endocrine gland, displaying a characteristic epithelial organization in closed spheres, called follicles. Here we investigate how endothelial cells are recruited into the developing thyroid and if they control glandular organization as well as thyrocytes and C-cells differentiation. We show that endothelial cells closely surround, and then invade the expanding thyroid epithelial cell mass to become closely associated with nascent polarized follicles. This close and sustained endothelial:epithelial interaction depends on epithelial production of the angiogenic factor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A), as its thyroid-specific genetic inactivation reduced the endothelial cell pool of the thyroid by > 90%. Vegfa KO also displayed decreased C-cells differentiation and impaired organization of the epithelial cell mass into follicles. We developed an ex vivo model of thyroid explants that faithfully mimicks bilobation of the thyroid anlagen, endothelial and C-cells invasion, folliculogenesis and differentiation. Treatment of thyroid explants at e12.5 with a VEGFR2 inhibitor ablated the endothelial pool and reproduced ex vivo folliculogenesis defects observed in conditional Vegfa KO. In the absence of any blood supply, rescue by embryonic endothelial progenitor cells restored folliculogenesis, accelerated lumen expansion and stimulated calcitonin expression by C-cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that, in developing mouse thyroid, epithelial production of VEGF-A is necessary for endothelial cells recruitment and expansion. In turn, endothelial cells control epithelial reorganization in follicles and C-cells differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Christine Hick
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Nilsson M, Fagman H. Mechanisms of thyroid development and dysgenesis: an analysis based on developmental stages and concurrent embryonic anatomy. Curr Top Dev Biol 2013; 106:123-70. [PMID: 24290349 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-416021-7.00004-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid dysgenesis is the most common cause of congenital hypothyroidism that affects 1 in 3000 newborns. Although a number of pathogenetic mutations in thyroid developmental genes have been identified, the molecular mechanism of disease is unknown in most cases. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge of normal thyroid development and puts the different developmental stages in perspective, from the time of foregut endoderm patterning to the final shaping of pharyngeal anatomy, for understanding how specific malformations may arise. At the cellular level, we will also discuss fate determination of follicular and C-cell progenitors and their subsequent embryonic growth, migration, and differentiation as the different thyroid primordia evolve and merge to establish the final size and shape of the gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Nilsson
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
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Porazzi P, Marelli F, Benato F, de Filippis T, Calebiro D, Argenton F, Tiso N, Persani L. Disruptions of global and JAGGED1-mediated notch signaling affect thyroid morphogenesis in the zebrafish. Endocrinology 2012; 153:5645-58. [PMID: 23008514 DOI: 10.1210/en.2011-1888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the early steps of thyroid development are largely unknown. In search for novel candidate genes implicated in thyroid function, we performed a gene expression analysis on thyroid cells revealing that TSH regulates the expression of several elements of the Notch pathway, including the ligand Jagged1. Because the Notch pathway is involved in cell-fate determination of several foregut-derived endocrine tissues, we tested its contribution in thyroid development using the zebrafish, a teleost model recapitulating the mammalian molecular events during thyroid development. Perturbing the Notch signaling (e.g. mib mutants, γ-secretase inhibition, or Notch intracellular domain overexpression), we obtained evidence that this pathway has a biological role during the earlier phases of thyroid primordium induction, limiting the number of cells that proceed to a specialized fate and probably involving actions from surrounding tissues. Moreover, we were able to confirm the expression of Jagged1 during different phases of zebrafish thyroid development, as well as in mouse and human thyroid tissues. The two orthologues to the single jagged1 gene (JAG1) in humans, jag1a and jag1b, are expressed with different spatiotemporal patterns in the developing zebrafish thyroid. Both jag1a and jag1b morphants, as well as jag1b mutant fish line, display thyroid hypoplasia and impaired T(4) production; this thyroid phenotype was rescued by coinjection of human JAG1 mRNA. In conclusion, Notch pathway is involved in the early steps of thyroid morphogenesis, and Jagged1-Notch signal is required for zebrafish thyroid development and function. Thus, genetic alterations affecting the Notch pathway may confer susceptibility for thyroid dysgenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Porazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Opitz R, Maquet E, Huisken J, Antonica F, Trubiroha A, Pottier G, Janssens V, Costagliola S. Transgenic zebrafish illuminate the dynamics of thyroid morphogenesis and its relationship to cardiovascular development. Dev Biol 2012; 372:203-16. [PMID: 23022354 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2011] [Revised: 07/22/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Among the various organs derived from foregut endoderm, the thyroid gland is unique in that major morphogenic events such as budding from foregut endoderm, descent into subpharyngeal mesenchyme and growth expansion occur in close proximity to cardiovascular tissues. To date, research on thyroid organogenesis was missing one vital tool-a transgenic model that allows to track the dynamic changes in thyroid size, shape and location relative to adjacent cardiovascular tissues in live embryos. In this study, we generated a novel transgenic zebrafish line, tg(tg:mCherry), in which robust and thyroid-specific expression of a membrane version of mCherry enables live imaging of thyroid development in embryos from budding stage throughout formation of functional thyroid follicles. By using various double transgenic models in which EGFP expression additionally labels cardiovascular structures, a high coordination was revealed between thyroid organogenesis and cardiovascular development. Early thyroid development was found to proceed in intimate contact with the distal ventricular myocardium and live imaging confirmed that thyroid budding from the pharyngeal floor is tightly coordinated with the descent of the heart. Four-dimensional imaging of live embryos by selective plane illumination microscopy and 3D-reconstruction of confocal images of stained embryos yielded novel insights into the role of specific pharyngeal vessels, such as the hypobranchial artery (HA), in guiding late thyroid expansion along the pharyngeal midline. An important role of the HA was corroborated by the detailed examination of thyroid development in various zebrafish models showing defective cardiovascular development. In combination, our results from live imaging as well es from 3D-reconstruction of thyroid development in tg(tg:mCherry) embryos provided a first dynamic view of late thyroid organogenesis in zebrafish-a critical resource for the design of future studies addressing the molecular mechanisms of these thyroid-vasculature interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Opitz
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
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37
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Ultrastructural studies of cilia formation during thyroid gland differentiation in grass snake embryos. Micron 2012; 44:228-37. [PMID: 22819992 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2012.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2012] [Revised: 06/23/2012] [Accepted: 06/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The process of ciliogenesis that accompanies the differentiation of the thyroid gland in grass snake Natrix natrix L. embryos was studied ultrastructurally. Based on this study, it can be concluded that the ciliogenesis occurred in two waves and that new centrioles duplicated via centriolar pathways. The first wave of ciliogenesis started in the post-mitotic thyrocytes before their polarisation. It ended approximately halfway through the developmental period. The second wave of ciliogenesis took place after the polarization of thyrocytes and before the resting phase of the embryonic thyroid. This wave of ciliogenesis stopped shortly before hatching when fully differentiated thyrocytes restarted their activity. During the first half of thyroid differentiation, the cilia were formed "intracellularly" but during the second half, they differentiated "extracellularly" In the differentiating thyrocytes one cilium per cell was found; however, it could not be excluded that more than one cilium per cell may be formed. These cilia lacked central fibres and therefore they had a 9+0 formula that suggested that they were immotile.
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Fagman H, Amendola E, Parrillo L, Zoppoli P, Marotta P, Scarfò M, De Luca P, de Carvalho DP, Ceccarelli M, De Felice M, Di Lauro R. Gene expression profiling at early organogenesis reveals both common and diverse mechanisms in foregut patterning. Dev Biol 2011; 359:163-75. [PMID: 21924257 PMCID: PMC3206993 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The thyroid and lungs originate as neighboring bud shaped outgrowths from the midline of the embryonic foregut. When and how organ specific programs regulate development into structures of distinct shapes, positions and functions is incompletely understood. To characterize, at least in part, the genetic basis of these events, we have employed laser capture microdissection and microarray analysis to define gene expression in the mouse thyroid and lung primordia at E10.5. By comparing the transcriptome of each bud to that of the whole embryo as well as to each other, we broadly describe the genes that are preferentially expressed in each developing organ as well as those with an enriched expression common to both. The results thus obtained provide a valuable resource for further analysis of genes previously unrecognized to participate in thyroid and lung morphogenesis and to discover organ specific as well as common developmental mechanisms. As an initial step in this direction we describe a regulatory pathway involving the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 that controls cell survival in early thyroid development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Amendola
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michele Ceccarelli
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Mario De Felice
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Lauro
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Gordon J, Manley NR. Mechanisms of thymus organogenesis and morphogenesis. Development 2011; 138:3865-78. [PMID: 21862553 DOI: 10.1242/dev.059998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is the primary organ responsible for generating functional T cells in vertebrates. Although T cell differentiation within the thymus has been an area of intense investigation, the study of thymus organogenesis has made slower progress. The past decade, however, has seen a renewed interest in thymus organogenesis, with the aim of understanding how the thymus develops to form a microenvironment that supports T cell maturation and regeneration. This has prompted modern revisits to classical experiments and has driven additional genetic approaches in mice. These studies are making significant progress in identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control specification, early organogenesis and morphogenesis of the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Gordon
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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De Felice M, Di Lauro R. Minireview: Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in thyroid gland development: an update. Endocrinology 2011; 152:2948-56. [PMID: 21693675 DOI: 10.1210/en.2011-0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates the portion of the thyroid gland synthesizing the thyroid hormones develops from a small group of endodermal cells in the foregut. The nature of the signals that lead to the biochemical and morphogenetic events responsible for the organization of these cells into the adult thyroid gland has only recently become evident. In this review we summarize recent developments in the understanding of these processes, derived from evidence collected in several organisms.
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Ferrara AM, Rossi G, Zampella E, Di Candia S, Pagliara V, Nettore IC, Capalbo D, De Sanctis L, Baserga M, Salerno MC, Fenzi G, Macchia PE. Screening for mutations in the ISL1 gene in patients with thyroid dysgenesis. J Endocrinol Invest 2011; 34:e149-52. [PMID: 21060249 DOI: 10.3275/7331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a common endocrine disorder with an incidence of 1:3000- 4000 newborns. In 80-85% of cases, CH is caused by defects in thyroid organogenesis, resulting in absent, ectopically located, and/or severely reduced gland, all conditions indicated as "thyroid dysgenesis" (TD). A higher prevalence of congenital heart diseases has been documented in children with CH compared to the general population. This association suggests a possible pathogenic role of genes involved in both heart and thyroid development. Among these, it can be included Isl1, a transcription factor containing a LIM homeodomain that is expressed in both thyroid and heart during morphogenesis. OBJECTIVE In the present study, we investigate the role of ISL1 in the pathogenesis of TD. SETTINGS AND PATIENTS By single stranded conformational polymorphism, we screened for mutations the entire ISL1 coding sequence in 96 patients with TD and in 96 normal controls. RESULTS No mutations have been found in patients and controls. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that, despite the relevant role of ISL1 in thyroid and heart morphogenesis, mutations in its coding region are not associated with TD in our group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Ferrara
- Department of Endocrinology and Molecular and Clincal Oncology, Federico II Univerity of Naples, Naples - Italy
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Shh signalling restricts the expression of Gcm2 and controls the position of the developing parathyroids. Dev Biol 2011; 353:194-205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2010] [Revised: 02/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND An issue that has been overlooked in medical literature concerns the prevalence and topographic relationships of the middle thyroid vein (MTV), which have been studied, with a prospective approach, in patients with various thyroid diseases. METHODS MTV prevalence has been investigated in 394 consecutive lobes and a number of different variables (age, gender, thyroid pathology, gland weight) have been considered. Moreover, in cooperation with our Human Morphology Department, we brought to completion a dedicated anatomy report, with the clear objective of providing a detailed anatomic description of MTV. RESULTS The prevalence of MTV was 38% of the dissected lobes and 62% of operated patients. Most veins arise from the mid region of the thyroid lobe (80%): B, 3, and 2 positions in accordance with our scheme. As far as thyroid pathology is concerned, we found that the presence of MTV was more frequent in hyperthyroidism and large goiters (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS A better understanding of the anatomic variability in MTV may be useful not only to minimize the risk of bleeding, but it also can help to perform a more accurate dissection with the goal of preserving the laryngeal nerves and parathyroid glands, especially because of its location and relationships with other adjacent structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianlorenzo Dionigi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Endocrine Surgery Research Center, University of Insubria, Ospedale di Circolo-Polo Universitario, Viale Guicciardini, 21100, Varese, Italy.
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Lu C, Mishra A, Zhu YJ, Meltzer P, Cheng SY. Genomic profiling of genes contributing to metastasis in a mouse model of thyroid follicular carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2011; 1:1-13. [PMID: 21562609 PMCID: PMC3090007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2010] [Accepted: 09/29/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the major cause of thyroid cancer-related death. However, little is known about the genes involved in the metastatic spread of thyroid carcinomas. We have created a mouse that spontaneously develops metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). This mouse harbors a targeted mutation (denoted TRβPV) in the thyroid hormone receptor β gene (Thrb(PV/PV) mice). Our recent studies show that the highly elevated level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in Thrb(PV/PV) mice promotes proliferation of thyroid tumor cells, but requires the collaboration of the oncogenic action of TRβPV to empower the tumor cells to undergo distant metastasis. To uncover genes destined to drive the metastatic process, we used cDNA microarrays to compare the genomic expression profile of laser capture microdissected thyroid tumor lesions of Thrb(PV/PV) mice with that of hyperplastic thyroid cells of wild-type mice having elevated TSH induced by treatment with the anti-thyroid drug propylthiouracil (WT-PTU mice). Analyses of microarray data indicated that the expressions of 150 genes were significantly altered between Thrb(PV/PV) and WT-PTU mice (87 genes had higher expression and 63 genes had lower expression in Thrb(PV/PV) mice than in WT-PTU mice). Thirty-six percent of genes with altered expression function as key regulators in metastasis. The remaining genes were involved in various cellular processes including metabolism, intracellular trafficking, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modification, and cell-cell/extracellular matrix signaling. The present studies have uncovered novel genes responsible for the metastatic spread of FTC and, furthermore, have shown that the metastatic process of thyroid cancer requires effective collaboration among genes with diverse cellular functions. Importantly, the present studies indicate that the tumor cells in the primary lesions are endowed with the genes destined to promote metastasis. Thus, our study has provided new insights into the understanding of the metastatic spread of human thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxue Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alok Mishra
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yuelin J Zhu
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paul Meltzer
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sheue-yann Cheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Lu C, Mishra A, Zhu YJ, Meltzer P, Cheng SY. Global expression profiling reveals gain-of-function oncogenic activity of a mutated thyroid hormone receptor in thyroid carcinogenesis. Am J Cancer Res 2011; 1:168-191. [PMID: 21547001 PMCID: PMC3086765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/10/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are critical in regulating gene expression in normal physiological processes. Decreased expression and/or somatic mutations of TRs have been shown to be associated several types of human cancers including liver, breast, lung, and thyroid. To understand the molecular mechanisms by which mutated TRs promote carcinogenesis, an animal model of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) (Thrb(PV/PV) mice) was used in the present study. The Thrb(PV/PV) mouse harbors a knockin dominant negative PV mutation, identified in a patient with resistance to thyroid hormone. To understand whether oncogenic actions of PV involve not only the loss of normal TR functions but also gain-of-function activities, we compared the gene expression profiles of thyroid lesions in Thrb(PV/PV) mice and Thra1(-/-)Thrb(-/-) mice that also spontaneously develop FTC, but with less severe malignancy. Analysis of the cDNA microarray data derived from microdissected thyroid tumor cells of these two mice showed contrasting global gene expression profiles. With stringent selection using 2.5-fold change (p<0.01) in cDNA microarray analysis, 241 genes with altered gene expression were identified. Nearly half of the genes (n=103: 42.7% of total) with altered gene expression in thyroid tumor cells of Thrb(PV/PV) mice were associated with tumorigenesis and metastasis; some of these genes function as oncogenes in human thyroid cancers. The remaining genes were found to function in transcriptional regulation, RNA processing, cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cytoskeleton modification. These results indicate that the more aggressive thyroid tumor progression in Thrb(PV/PV) mice was not due simply to the loss of tumor suppressor functions of TR via mutation but also, importantly, to gain-of-function in the oncogenic activities of PV to drive thyroid carcinogenesis. Thus, the present study identifies a novel mechanism by which a mutated TRβ evolves with an oncogenic advantage to promote thyroid carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxue Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alok Mishra
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yuelin J Zhu
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paul Meltzer
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sheue-yann Cheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Cassol CA, Noria D, Asa SL. Ectopic thyroid tissue within the gall bladder: case report and brief review of the literature. Endocr Pathol 2010; 21:263-5. [PMID: 20714829 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-010-9130-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this brief report, we describe a case of ectopic thyroid tissue in the gallbladder wall. We review the literature on ectopia of the thyroid and its rare occurrence outside the usual path of the migration of the thyroid anlage from the foramen caecum to the mediastinum. The importance of distinguishing ectopic thyroid from metastatic thyroid carcinoma is emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa A Cassol
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, 11th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
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Nelson KK, Gattuso P, Xu X, Prinz RA. Expression of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway molecules in synchronous follicular adenoma and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland in predicting malignancy. Surgery 2010; 148:654-60; discussion 660. [DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2010.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2010] [Accepted: 07/15/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Islam AFMT, Moly PK, Miyamoto Y, Kusakabe TG. Distinctive expression patterns of Hedgehog pathway genes in the Ciona intestinalis larva: implications for a role of Hedgehog signaling in postembryonic development and chordate evolution. Zoolog Sci 2010; 27:84-90. [PMID: 20141412 DOI: 10.2108/zsj.27.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Hedgehog (Hh) family are soluble ligands that orchestrate a wide spectrum of developmental processes ranging from left-right axis determination of the embryo to tissue patterning and organogenesis. Tunicates, including ascidians, are the closest relatives of vertebrates, and elucidation of Hh signaling in ascidians should provide an important clue towards better understanding the role of this pathway in development. In previous studies, expression patterns of genes encoding Hh and its downstream factor Gli have been examined up to the tailbud stage in the ascidian embryo, but their expression in the larva has not been reported. Here we show the spatial expression patterns of hedgehog (Ci-hh1, Ci-hh2), patched (Ci-ptc), smoothened (Ci-smo), and Gli (Ci-Gli) orthologs in larvae of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. The expression patterns of Ci-hh2 and Ci-Gli dramatically change during the period between the late tailbud embryo and the swimming larva. At the larval stage, expression of Ci-Gli was found in a central part of the endoderm and in the visceral ganglion, while Ci-hh2 was expressed in two discrete endodermal regions, anteriorly and posteriorly adjacent to the cells expressing Gli. The expression patterns of these genes suggest that the Hh ligand controls postembryonic development of the endoderm and the central nervous system. Expression of a gene encoding Hh in the anterior and/or pharyngeal endoderm is probably an ancient chordate character; diversification of regulation and targets of the Hh signaling in this region may have played a major role in the evolution of chordate body structures.
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Abstract
Congenital hypothyroidism is mainly due to structural defects of the thyroid gland, collectively known as thyroid dysgenesis. The two most prevalent forms of this condition are abnormal localization of differentiated thyroid tissue (thyroid ectopia) and total absence of the gland (athyreosis). The clinical picture of thyroid dysgenesis suggests that impaired specification, proliferation and survival of thyroid precursor cells and loss of concerted movement of these cells in a distinct spatiotemporal pattern are major causes of malformation. In normal development the thyroid primordium is first distinguished as a thickening of the anterior foregut endoderm at the base of the prospective tongue. Subsequently, this group of progenitors detaches from the endoderm, moves caudally and ultimately differentiates into hormone-producing units, the thyroid follicles, at a distant location from the site of specification. In higher vertebrates later stages of thyroid morphogenesis are characterized by shape remodeling into a bilobed organ and the integration of a second type of progenitors derived from the caudal-most pharyngeal pouches that will differentiate into C-cells. The present knowledge of thyroid developmental dynamics has emerged from embryonic studies mainly in chicken, mouse and more recently also in zebrafish. This review will highlight the key morphogenetic steps of thyroid organogenesis and pinpoint which crucial regulatory mechanisms are yet to be uncovered. Considering the co-incidence of thyroid dysgenesis and congenital heart malformations the possible interactions between thyroid and cardiovascular development will also be discussed.
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50
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Porazzi P, Calebiro D, Benato F, Tiso N, Persani L. Thyroid gland development and function in the zebrafish model. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2009; 312:14-23. [PMID: 19481582 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2009.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Revised: 05/20/2009] [Accepted: 05/20/2009] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid development has been intensively studied in the mouse, where it closely recapitulates the human situation. Despite the lack of a compact thyroid gland, the zebrafish thyroid tissue originates from the pharyngeal endoderm and the main genes involved in its patterning and early development are conserved between zebrafish and mammals. In recent years, the zebrafish has become a powerful model not only for the developmental biology studies, but also for large-scale genetic analyses and drug screenings, mostly thanks to the ease with which its embryos can be manipulated and to its translucent body, which allows in vivo imaging. In this review we will provide an overview of the current knowledge of thyroid gland origin and differentiation in the zebrafish. Moreover, we will consider the action of thyroid hormones and some aspects related to endocrine disruptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Porazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Milano & Lab of Experimental Endocrinology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Zucchi 18, 20095 Cusano, Milan, Italy.
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