Extracellular adenosine increases Na+/I- symporter gene expression in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells

Purinergic signaling pathways in endocrine system

Adenosine-5'-triphosphate is released by neuroendocrine, endocrine, and other cell types and acts as an extracellular agonist for ligand-gated P2X cationic channels and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors in numerous organs and tissues, including the endocrine system. The breakdown of ATP by ectonucleotidases not only terminates its extracellular messenger functions, but also provides a pathway for the generation of two additional agonists: adenosine 5'-diphosphate, acting via some P2Y receptors, and adenosine, a native agonist for G protein-coupled adenosine receptors, also expressed in the endocrine system. This article provides a review of purinergic signaling pathways in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory cells and neurohypophysis, hypothalamic parvocellular neuroendocrine system, adenohypophysis, and effector glands organized in five axes: hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, hypothalamic-pituitary-growth hormone, and hypothalamic-pituitary-prolactin. We attempted to summarize current knowledge of purinergic receptor subtypes expressed in the endocrine system, including their roles in intracellular signaling, hormone secretion, and other cell functions. We also briefly review the release mechanism for adenosine-5'-triphosphate by neuroendocrine, endocrine and surrounding cells, the enzymes involved in adenosine-5'-triphosphate hydrolysis to adenosine-5'-diphosphate and adenosine, and the relevance of this pathway for sequential activation of receptors and termination of signaling.

Purinergic signalling in endocrine organs

There is widespread involvement of purinergic signalling in endocrine biology. Pituitary cells express P1, P2X and P2Y receptor subtypes to mediate hormone release. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) regulates insulin release in the pancreas and is involved in the secretion of thyroid hormones. ATP plays a major role in the synthesis, storage and release of catecholamines from the adrenal gland. In the ovary purinoceptors mediate gonadotrophin-induced progesterone secretion, while in the testes, both Sertoli and Leydig cells express purinoceptors that mediate secretion of oestradiol and testosterone, respectively. ATP released as a cotransmitter with noradrenaline is involved in activities of the pineal gland and in the neuroendocrine control of the thymus. In the hypothalamus, ATP and adenosine stimulate or modulate the release of luteinising hormone-releasing hormone, as well as arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin. Functionally active P2X and P2Y receptors have been identified on human placental syncytiotrophoblast cells and on neuroendocrine cells in the lung, skin, prostate and intestine. Adipocytes have been recognised recently to have endocrine function involving purinoceptors.

Propylthiouracil increases sodium/iodide symporter gene expression and iodide uptake in rat thyroid cells in the absence of TSH

BACKGROUND

Propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI) are drugs that are widely used to treat Graves' disease. Although both exert an antithyroid effect primarily by blocking thyroid peroxidase activity, their molecular structure and other actions are different. We hypothesized that PTU and MMI may have differential effects on thyroid-specific gene expression and function.

METHODS

The effects of PTU and MMI on thyroid-specific gene expression and function were examined in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells using DNA microarray, reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and radioiodine uptake studies.

RESULTS

DNA microarray analysis showed a marked increase in sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene expression after PTU treatment, whereas MMI had no effect. RT-PCR and real-time PCR analysis revealed that PTU-induced NIS mRNA levels were comparable to those elicited by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). PTU increased 5'-1880-bp and 5'-1052-bp activity of the rat NIS promoter. While PTU treatment also increased NIS protein levels, the size of the induced protein was smaller than that induced by TSH, and the protein localized predominantly in the cytoplasm rather than the plasma membrane. Accumulation of (125)I in FRTL-5 cells was increased by PTU stimulation, but this effect was weaker than that produced by TSH.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that PTU induces NIS expression and iodide uptake in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells in the absence of TSH. Although PTU and MMI share similar antithyroid activity, their effects on other thyroid functions appear to be quite different, which could affect their therapeutic effectiveness.

The sodium iodide symporter (NIS): regulation and approaches to targeting for cancer therapeutics

Expression of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) is required for efficient iodide uptake in thyroid and lactating breast. Since most differentiated thyroid cancer expresses NIS, β-emitting radioactive iodide is routinely utilized to target remnant thyroid cancer and metastasis after total thyroidectomy. Stimulation of NIS expression by high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone is necessary to achieve radioiodide uptake into thyroid cancer that is sufficient for therapy. The majority of breast cancer also expresses NIS, but at a low level insufficient for radioiodine therapy. Retinoic acid is a potent NIS inducer in some breast cancer cells. NIS is also modestly expressed in some non-thyroidal tissues, including salivary glands, lacrimal glands and stomach. Selective induction of iodide uptake is required to target tumors with radioiodide. Iodide uptake in mammalian cells is dependent on the level of NIS gene expression, but also successful translocation of NIS to the cell membrane and correct insertion. The regulatory mechanisms of NIS expression and membrane insertion are regulated by signal transduction pathways that differ by tissue. Differential regulation of NIS confers selective induction of functional NIS in thyroid cancer cells, as well as some breast cancer cells, leading to more efficient radioiodide therapy for thyroid cancer and a new strategy for breast cancer therapy. The potential for systemic radioiodide treatment of a range of other cancers, that do not express endogenous NIS, has been demonstrated in models with tumor-selective introduction of exogenous NIS.

The birth and postnatal development of purinergic signalling

The purinergic signalling system is one of the most ancient and arguably the most widespread intercellular signalling system in living tissues. In this review we present a detailed account of the early developments and current status of purinergic signalling. We summarize the current knowledge on purinoceptors, their distribution and role in signal transduction in various tissues in physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Resveratrol increases iodide trapping in the rat thyroid cell line FRTL-5

BACKGROUND

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes, exhibits several beneficial health effects by its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and chemopreventive properties. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of resveratrol on iodide trapping and efflux as well as its mode of action using FRTL-5 cells, having in mind the pivotal role of the natrium iodide symporter (NIS) in the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancers.

METHODS

Cells were treated with resveratrol for various times and doses, in the presence or absence of thyrotropin (TSH). Iodide trapping, iodide efflux, rat NIS (rNIS) protein expression, and cyclic AMP (cAMP) production were evaluated.

RESULTS

Resveratrol increased iodide trapping in a time-dependent (optimal 6 hours) and dose-dependent (100 microM) way in the presence of TSH. It showed an additive effect when concomitantly added with an optimal dose of TSH. Resveratrol (50 microM) increased (threefold) rNIS protein expression. In TSH-deprived cells, resveratrol also provoked an increase in rNIS protein (>3-fold in 6 hours) with an optimum at 40 microM. Resveratrol did not inhibit iodide efflux from FRTL-5 cells. It neither increased intracellular cAMP nor induced the arborization of living cells, two TSH-induced effects. A non-cAMP mode of action is highly suspected.

CONCLUSIONS

Resveratrol increases iodide trapping in FRTL-5 cells, increasing iodide influx and rNIS protein level even in the absence of TSH. It has an additive effect with TSH. Consequently, resveratrol could be a promising molecule for radioiodide therapy in follicular and papillary differentiated thyroid carcinoma in association with recombinant human TSH.

The flavonoid quercetin regulates growth and gene expression in rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells

Quercetin is the most consumed flavonoid present in fruits and vegetables. There has been increased interest in the possible health benefits of quercetin and other flavonoids. Because it is reported that these compounds have some antithyroid properties, we were interested whether, and by what mechanism, quercetin might regulate thyroid cell growth and function. In this report we show that quercetin inhibits thyroid cell growth in association with inhibition of insulin-modulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt kinase activity. Furthermore, quercetin decreases TSH-modulated RNA levels of the thyroid-restricted gene sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). We associated down-regulation of NIS RNA levels with inhibition of iodide uptake at comparable quercetin concentrations and could show that the inhibitory effect of quercetin on NIS RNA levels and iodide uptake is reproduced by inhibitors of the phospholipase-A(2)/lipoxygenase pathway. The specific inhibitor of protein kinase A, H89, only partially inhibited TSH-increased NIS expression and did not reproduce the quercetin effect. The quercetin studies thus reveal that the phospholipase-A(2)/lipoxygenase pathway appears to play an important role in TSH regulation of NIS gene expression, whereas quercetin inhibition of growth appears to involve an effect on insulin/IGF-I-Akt signaling. The data raise the possibility that quercetin may be a novel disruptor of thyroid function, which has potential effects on, or use in, the therapy of thyroid diseases.

The sodium iodide symporter: its pathophysiological and therapeutic implications

The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) is an intrinsic plasma membrane protein that mediates the active transport of iodide in the thyroid gland and a number of extrathyroidal tissues, in particular lactating mammary gland. Because of its crucial role in the ability of thyroid follicular cells to trap iodide, cloning of NIS opened an exciting and extensive new field of thyroid-related research. Cloning and molecular characterization of NIS allowed investigation of its expression and regulation in thyroidal and nonthyroidal tissues, and its potential pathophysiological and therapeutic implications in benign and malignant thyroid disease. In addition to its key function in thyroid physiology, NIS-mediated iodide accumulation allows diagnostic thyroid scintigraphy as well as effective therapeutic application of radioiodine in benign and malignant thyroid disease. Characterization and application of NIS as a novel therapeutic gene and the presence of high native NIS expression in the majority of breast cancers further suggest a promising role of NIS in diagnosis and therapy of cancer outside the thyroid gland.

Gene expression profile of mouse myocardium with transgenic overexpression of A1 adenosine receptors

Transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of adenosine A(1) receptors (A(1)AR) have demonstrated metabolic and functional tolerance to myocardial ischemia. We utilized cDNA microarrays to test the hypothesis that the cardioprotective mechanism(s) of A(1) overexpression involves altered gene expression. Total RNA extracted from the left ventricles from A(1) transgenic (n = 4) and wild-type (n = 6) mice was hybridized to Affymetrix mgU74A chips. Comparison of RNA expression levels in transgenic to wild-type myocardium revealed approximately 636 known genes with expression significantly altered by greater than 25%. We observed increased expressions of genes including NADH dehydrogenase, the GLUT4 glucose transporter, Na-K-ATPase, sarcolemmal K(ATP) channels, and Bcl-xl in A(1)AR-overexpressing hearts. We also observed decreased expression of pro-apoptotic genes including a 50% reduction in message level of caspase-8. Protein expression of GLUT4 and caspase-8 was also altered comparable to the differences in gene expression. These data illustrate genes with chronically altered patterns of expression in A(1) transgenic mouse myocardium that may be related to adenosine receptor overexpression-mediated cardioprotection.

Sodium iodide symporter-based strategies for diagnosis and treatment of thyroidal and nonthyroidal malignancies

The recent cloning and molecular characterization of the sodium iodide-symporter (NIS) has inspired novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of thyroidal and nonthyroidal malignancies. This article briefly reviews the physiologic regulation of NIS expression by cytokines, the expression in benign and malignant thyroidal diseases, and the expression in extrathyroidal tissues. Current concepts for NIS-based cancer therapy in thyroidal and extrathyroidal tumors are presented. The recent discovery of NIS expression in a majority of breast cancers as well as its promising application for prostate cancer imply potential applications in diagnostic imaging and radioiodine anticancer therapy for these highly common and lethal malignancies.

Sodium iodide symporter in health and disease

Radioiodine-concentrating activity in thyroid tissues has allowed the use of radioiodine as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent for patients with thyroid disorders such as well-differentiated thyroid cancer. However, some extrathyroidal tissues also take up radioiodine, contributing to unwanted side effects of radioiodine therapy. Now that the molecule that mediates radioiodine uptake, the sodium iodide symporter (NIS), has been cloned and characterized, it may be possible to develop novel strategies to differentially modulate NIS expression and/or activity, enhancing it in target tissues and impeding it in others. In addition to restoring NIS expression/activity to ensure sufficient radioiodine uptake for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced thyroid cancers, we envision that it may be possible to selectively increase or confer NIS expression/activity in tumors of nonthyroidal tissues to facilitate the use of radioiodine in their diagnosis and treatment. We also consider the molecular basis of thyroid and nonthyroid disorders that may be complicated by NIS deregulation. Finally, we explore the use of NIS as an imaging reporter gene to monitor the expression profile of the transgene in transgenic mouse animal models and in patients undergoing gene therapy clinical trials.