Cyclin D3 accumulation and activity integrate and rank the comitogenic pathways of thyrotropin and insulin in thyrocytes in primary culture

Defining the In Vivo Role of mTORC1 in Thyrocytes by Studying the TSC2 Conditional Knockout Mouse Model

Background: The thyroid gland is susceptible to abnormal epithelial cell growth, often resulting in thyroid dysfunction. The serine-threonine protein kinase mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cellular metabolism, proliferation, and growth through two different protein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. The PI3K-Akt-mTORC1 pathway's overactivity is well associated with heightened aggressiveness in thyroid cancer, but recent studies indicate the involvement of mTORC2 as well. Methods: To elucidate mTORC1's role in thyrocytes, we developed a novel mouse model with mTORC1 gain of function in thyrocytes by deleting tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), an intracellular inhibitor of mTORC1. Results: The resulting TPO-TSC2KO mice exhibited a 70-80% reduction in TSC2 levels, leading to a sixfold increase in mTORC1 activity. Thyroid glands of both male and female TPO-TSC2KO mice displayed rapid enlargement and continued growth throughout life, with larger follicles and increased colloid and epithelium areas. We observed elevated thyrocyte proliferation as indicated by Ki67 staining and elevated cyclin D3 expression in the TPO-TSC2KO mice. mTORC1 activation resulted in a progressive downregulation of key genes involved in thyroid hormone biosynthesis, including thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid peroxidase (Tpo), and sodium-iodide symporter (Nis), while Tff1, Pax8, and Mct8 mRNA levels remained unaffected. NIS protein expression was also diminished in TPO-TSC2KO mice. Treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin prevented thyroid mass expansion and restored the gene expression alterations in TPO-TSC2KO mice. Although total thyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and TSH plasma levels were normal at 2 months of age, a slight decrease in T4 and an increase in TSH levels were observed at 6 and 12 months of age while T3 remained similar in TPO-TSC2KO compared with littermate control mice. Conclusions: Our thyrocyte-specific mouse model reveals that mTORC1 activation inhibits thyroid hormone (TH) biosynthesis, suppresses thyrocyte gene expression, and promotes growth and proliferation.

Genetic hyperthyroidism: hyperthyroidism due to activating TSHR mutations

Three syndromes affecting the thyroid gland are described in the literature separately: familial nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism, sporadic congenital nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism, and autonomous adenomas. Recent studies have shown that these three syndromes are caused by similar activating mutations of the TSH receptor gene (TSHR), and that the consequences of these mutations on the physiology and gene expression of the thyroid are qualitatively, but not quantitatively, similar. The three syndromes and two suggested unrecognized variants are in fact facets of the same disease, genetic hyperthyroidism due to TSHR mutations, the expression of which depends on the intensity of activation, its timing, and on the number of affected cells.

Signal transduction in the human thyrocyte and its perversion in thyroid tumors

The study of normal signal transduction pathways regulating the proliferation and differentiation of a cell type allows to predict and to understand the perversions of these pathways which lead to tumorigenesis. In the case of the human thyroid cell, three cascades are mostly involved in tumorigenesis: The pathways and genetic events affecting them are described. Caveats in the use of models and the interpretation of results are formulated and the still pending questions are outlined.

Cyclic AMP inhibits the proliferation of thyroid carcinoma cell lines through regulation of CDK4 phosphorylation

How cyclic AMP (cAMP) could positively or negatively regulate G1 phase progression in different cell types or in cancer cells versus normal differentiated counterparts has remained an intriguing question for decades. At variance with the cAMP-dependent mitogenesis of normal thyroid epithelial cells, we show here that cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation inhibit S-phase entry in four thyroid carcinoma cell lines that harbor a permanent activation of the Raf/ERK pathway by different oncogenes. Only in Ret/PTC1-positive TPC-1 cells did cAMP markedly inhibit the Raf/ERK cascade, leading to mTOR pathway inhibition, repression of cyclin D1 and p21 and p27 accumulation. p27 knockdown did not prevent the DNA synthesis inhibition. In the other cells, cAMP little affected these signaling cascades and levels of cyclins D or CDK inhibitors. However, cAMP differentially inhibited the pRb-kinase activity and T172-phosphorylation of CDK4 complexed to cyclin D1 or cyclin D3, whereas CDK-activating kinase activity remained unaffected. At variance with current conceptions, our studies in thyroid carcinoma cell lines and previously in normal thyrocytes identify the activating phosphorylation of CDK4 as a common target of opposite cell cycle regulations by cAMP, irrespective of its impact on classical mitogenic signaling cascades and expression of CDK4 regulatory partners.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone/cAMP-mediated proliferation in thyrocytes

Current research on thyrotropin-activated proliferation in the thyrocyte needs to be aimed at a better understanding of crosstalk and negative-feedback mechanisms with other proliferative pathways, especially the insulin/IGF-1-induced phosphoinositol-3 kinase pathway and the serum-induced MAPK or Wnt pathways. Convergence of proliferative pathways in mTOR is a hotspot of current research, and combined treatment using double class inhibitors for thyroid cancer may bring some success. New thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR)-interacting proteins, a better picture of cAMP targets, a deeper knowledge of the action of the protein kinase A regulatory subunits, especially their interactions with the replication machinery, and a further understanding of mechanisms that lead to cell cycle progression through G₁/S and G₂/M checkpoints are areas that need further elucidation. Finally, massive information coming from microarray data analysis will prompt our understanding of thyroid-stimulating hormone-promoted thyrocyte proliferation in health and disease.

Distinct modes of activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in response to cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate or insulin-like growth factor I play different roles in regulation of cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 in FRTL-5 cells

Bioactivities of IGFs in various cells are often potentiated in the presence of other hormones. In previous studies we showed that pretreatment of rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells with TSH or other cAMP-generating agents markedly potentiated DNA synthesis induced by IGF-I. Under these conditions we found that phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase was activated in response to either cAMP or IGF stimulus, and both activation modes were indispensable for the potentiation of DNA synthesis. The present studies were undertaken to elucidate how cAMP and/or IGF-I stimulus regulated the G1 cyclin-cyclin dependent kinase (CDK)-inhibitor system, and to determine the roles of PI 3-kinase activation by cAMP or IGF-I stimulus in this system. We found that cAMP pretreatment enhanced IGF-I-dependent increases in cyclin D1, due to synergistic increases in mRNA and elevation of translation rates. Furthermore, cAMP pretreatment enhanced IGF-I-induced protein degradation of the CDK inhibitor, p27(Kip1). These changes well explained an increase in cyclin E, leading to marked activation of G1 CDKs, followed by retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation. Our results using a PI 3-kinase inhibitor showed that cAMP-dependent PI 3-kinase activation plays an important role in the increase in cyclin D1 translation. In contrast, IGF-I-dependent PI 3-kinase activation was required for the increase in cyclin D1 mRNA levels and degradation of p27(Kip1). Together, the present study elucidates the role of cAMP and IGF-I in differentially activating PI 3-kinase as a mediator of multiple molecular events. These events converge in the regulation of cyclin D1 and p27(Kip1), leading to cAMP-dependent potentiation of IGF-I-dependent CDK activation and DNA synthesis.

Reciprocal negative regulation between thyrotropin/3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated proliferation and caveolin-1 expression in human and murine thyrocytes

The expression of caveolins is down-regulated in tissue samples of human thyroid autonomous adenomas and in the animal model of this disease. Because several cell types present in thyroid express caveolins, it remained unclear if this down-regulation occurs in thyrocytes and which are the mechanism and role of this down-regulation in the tumor context. Here we show that prolonged stimulation of isolated human thyrocytes by TSH/cAMP/cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibits caveolins' expression. The expression of caveolins is not down-regulated by activators of other signaling pathways relevant to thyroid growth/function. Therefore, the down-regulation of caveolins' expression in autonomous adenomas is a direct consequence of the chronic activation of the TSH/cAMP pathway in thyrocytes. The down-regulation of caveolin-1 occurs at the mRNA level, with a consequent protein decrease. TSH/cAMP induces a transcription-dependent, translation-independent destabilization of the caveolin-1 mRNA. This effect is correlated to the known proliferative role of that cascade in thyrocytes. In vivo, thyrocytes of caveolin-1 knockout mice display enhanced proliferation. This demonstrates, for the first time, the in vivo significance of the specific caveolin-1 down-regulation by one mitogenic cascade and its relation to a human disease.

Regulation of CDK4

Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4 is a master integrator that couples mitogenic and antimitogenic extracellular signals with the cell cycle. It is also crucial for many oncogenic transformation processes. In this overview, we address various molecular features of CDK4 activation that are critical but remain poorly known or debated, including the regulation of its association with D-type cyclins, its subcellular location, its activating Thr172-phosphorylation and the roles of Cip/Kip CDK "inhibitors" in these processes. We have recently identified the T-loop phosphorylation of CDK4, but not of CDK6, as a determining target for cell cycle control by extracellular factors, indicating that CDK4-activating kinase(s) might have to be reconsidered.

Differential involvement of the actin cytoskeleton in differentiation and mitogenesis of thyroid cells: inactivation of Rho proteins contributes to cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent gene expression but prevents mitogenesis

In thyroid epithelial cells, TSH via cAMP induces a rounding up of the cells associated with actin stress fiber disruption, expression of differentiation genes and cell cycle progression. Here we have evaluated the role of small G proteins of the Rho family and their impact on the actin cytoskeleton in these different processes in primary cultures of canine thyrocytes. TSH and forskolin, but not growth factors, rapidly inactivated RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42, as assayed by detection of GTP-bound forms. Using toxins that inactivate Rho proteins (toxin B, C3 exoenzyme) or activate them [cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1)], in comparison with disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by dihydrocytochalasin B (DCB) or latrunculin, two unexpected conclusions were reached: 1) inactivation of Rho proteins by cAMP, by disorganizing actin microfilaments and inducing cell retraction, could be necessary and sufficient to mediate at least part of the cAMP-dependent induction of thyroglobulin and thyroid oxidases, but only partly necessary for the induction of Na(+)/I(-) symporter and thyroperoxidase; 2) as indicated by the effect of their inhibition by toxin B and C3, some residual activity of Rho proteins could be required for the induction by cAMP-dependent or -independent mitogenic cascades of DNA synthesis and retinoblastoma protein (pRb) phosphorylation, through mechanisms targeting the activity, but not the stimulated assembly, of cyclin D3-cyclin-dependent kinase 4 complexes. However, at variance with current concepts mostly derived from fibroblast models, DNA synthesis induction and cyclin D3-cyclin-dependent kinase 4 activation were resistant to actin depolymerization by dihydrocytochalasin B in canine thyrocytes, which provides a first such example in a normal adherent cell.

Thyrotropin and Serum Regulate Thyroid Cell Proliferation through Differential Effects on p27 Expression and Localization

Thyroid cell proliferation is regulated by the concerted action of TSH/cAMP and serum growth factors. The specific contributions of cAMP-dependent vs. -independent signals to cell cycle progression are not well understood. We examined the molecular basis for the synergistic effects of TSH and serum on G1/S phase cell cycle progression in rat thyroid cells. Although strictly required for thyroid cell proliferation, TSH failed to stimulate G1 phase cell cycle progression. Together with serum, TSH increased the number of cycling cells. TSH enhanced the effects of serum on retinoblastoma protein hyperphosphorylation, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity, and cyclin A expression. Most notably, TSH and serum elicited strikingly different effects on p27 localization. TSH stimulated the nuclear accumulation of p27, whereas serum induced its nuclear export. Unexpectedly, TSH enhanced the depletion of nuclear p27 in serum-treated cells. Furthermore, only combined treatment with TSH and serum led to rapamycin-sensitive p27 turnover. Together, TSH and serum stimulated p70S6K activity that remained high through S phase. These data suggest that TSH regulates cell cycle progression, in part, by increasing the number of cycling cells through p70S6K-mediated effects on the localization of p27.

Prognostic factors in survival of patients with stage Ta and T1 bladder urothelial tumors: the role of G1-S modulators (p53, p21Waf1, p27Kip1, cyclin D1, and cyclin D3), proliferation index, and clinicopathologic parameters

We studied 159 cases of superficial (stage Ta or T1) bladder tumors to determine the significance on survival of a subset of regulators of transition from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle (p53, p21Waf1, p27Kip1, cyclin D1, cyclin D3) and tumor proliferation (Ki-67 [MIB-1]). Clinical findings (patient age, sex, tumor size, grade, stage [Ta or T1]) were included in the analysis. Univariate analysis revealed association of tumor size (P = .0353), grade in stage Ta tumors (P = .0074), cyclin D1 expression (P = .0182), and Ki-67 index (P = .0033) with disease-free survival and of tumor size (P = .0005), stage (P = .0494), cyclin D3 expression (P = .0105), and Ki-67 index (P = .0272) with overall survival. Cox multivariate analysis revealed cyclin D1 expression and high proliferation index (disease-free) and tumor size, cyclin D3 expression, and high proliferation index (overall survival) as independent predictors. Results suggest that alterations of the progression from the G1 to S phase of the cell cycle are common in papillary urothelial bladder tumors. High tumor proliferation, expression of cyclins D1 and D3, and tumor size at diagnosis might be relevant predictors of survival in patients with stage Ta and T1 bladder urothelial tumors.

Regulation of p27Kip1 Protein Levels Contributes to Mitogenic Effects of the RET/PTC Kinase in Thyroid Carcinoma Cells

We show that treatment of a panel of thyroid carcinoma cell lines naturally harboring the RET/PTC1 oncogene, with the RET kinase inhibitors PP1 and ZD6474, results in reversible G(1) arrest. This is accompanied by interruption of Shc and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, reduced levels of G(1) cyclins, and increased levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 because of a reduced protein turnover. MAP/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 inhibition by U0126 caused G(1) cyclins down-regulation and p27Kip1 up-regulation as well. Forced expression of RET/PTC in normal thyroid follicular cells caused a MAPK- and proteasome-dependent down-regulation of p27Kip1. Reduction of p27Kip1 protein levels by antisense oligonucleotides abrogated the G(1) arrest induced by RET/PTC blockade. Therefore, in thyroid cancer, RET/PTC-mediated MAPK activation contributes to p27Kip1 deregulation. This pathway is implicated in cell cycle progression and in response to small molecule kinase inhibitors.

A novel partner for D-type cyclins: protein kinase A-anchoring protein AKAP95

Using a yeast interaction screen to search for proteins that interact with cyclin D3 in thyroid gland, we identified the cAMP-dependent AKAP95 (protein kinase A-anchoring protein 95). AKAP95 is a scaffolding protein that primarily co-fractionates with the nuclear matrix, whereas a minor fraction associates with chromatin in interphase cells. In co-transfected Chinese-hamster ovary cells, AKAP95 strongly interacted with the three D-type cyclins, but not with CDK4 (cyclin-dependent kinase 4) or with p27kip1. CDK4 displaced the interaction between cyclin D3 and AKAP95, suggesting that AKAP95 could not be the elusive bridging adaptor between D-type cyclins and CDK4 or play a role in the regulation of cyclin D3-CDK4 activity. Interaction between endogenous AKAP95 and cyclin D3 or cyclin D1 was detected in canine thyrocytes, human fibroblasts and NIH-3T3 cells. As both AKAP95 and cyclins D were recently reported to associate with minichromosome maintenance proteins [Eide, Tasken, Carlson, Williams, Jahnsen, Tasken and Collas (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 26750-26756; Gladden and Diehl (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 9754-9760], we hypothesize that the interaction between AKAP95 and D-type cyclins might serve to facilitate the emerging regulatory role of cyclin D-CDK4 in the formation of the prereplication complex at the DNA replication origins.

The cyclin D3-CDK4-p27kip1 holoenzyme in thyroid epithelial cells: activation by TSH, inhibition by TGFbeta, and phosphorylations of its subunits demonstrated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

The cAMP-dependent mitogenic stimulation elicited by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in primary cultures of canine thyroid epithelial cells is unique as it upregulates the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p27kip1 but not D-type cyclins. TSH and cAMP promote the assembly of required cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes and their nuclear import. Here, the nuclear translocation of these complexes strictly correlated in individual cells with the enhanced presence of nuclear p27. p27, like cyclin D3, supported the TSH-stimulated pRb-kinase activity of the CDK4 complex and, as demonstrated using the high-resolution power of the two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, the phosphorylation of CDK4, presumably by the nuclear CDK-activating kinase. In the presence of TSH, transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) did not affect the assembly of cyclin D3-CDK4, but it strongly inhibited the pRb-kinase activity associated with both cyclin D3 and p27, not only by preventing the nuclear import of cyclin D3-CDK4 and its binding to p27, but also by inhibiting CDK4 phosphorylation within residual p27-bound cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes. No alterations of the relative abundance of multiple (un)phosphorylated forms of cyclin D3 and p27 demonstrated by 2D-gel electrophoresis were associated with these processes. This study suggests a crucial positive role of p27 in the TSH-stimulated nuclear import, phosphorylation, and catalytic activity of cyclin D3-bound CDK4. Moreover, it demonstrates a technique to directly assess the in vivo phosphorylation of endogenous CDK4, which might appear as a last regulated step targeted by the antagonistic cell cycle effects of TSH and TGFbeta.

DeltaRaf-1:ER* bypasses the cyclic AMP block of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 activation but not CDK2 activation or cell cycle reentry

Elevation of cellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels inhibits cell cycle reentry in a variety of cell types. While cAMP can prevent the activation of Raf-1 and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) by growth factors, we now show that activation of ERK1/2 by DeltaRaf-1:ER is insensitive to cAMP. Despite this, DeltaRaf-1:ER-stimulated DNA synthesis is still inhibited by cAMP, indicating a cAMP-sensitive step downstream of ERK1/2. Although cyclin D1 expression has been proposed as an alternative target for cAMP, we found that cAMP could inhibit DeltaRaf-1:ER-induced cyclin D1 expression only in Rat-1 cells, not in CCl39 or NIH 3T3 cells. DeltaRaf-1:ER-stimulated activation of CDK2 was strongly inhibited by cAMP in all three cell lines, but cAMP had no effect on the induction of p21(CIP1). cAMP blocked the fetal bovine serum (FBS)-induced degradation of p27(KIP1); however, loss of p27(KIP1) in response to DeltaRaf-1:ER was less sensitive in CCl39 and Rat-1 cells and was completely independent of cAMP in NIH 3T3 cells. The most consistent effect of cAMP was to block both FBS- and DeltaRaf-1:ER-induced expression of Cdc25A and cyclin A, two important activators of CDK2. When CDK2 activity was bypassed by activation of the ER-E2F1 fusion protein, cAMP no longer inhibited expression of Cdc25A or cyclin A but still inhibited DNA synthesis. These studies reveal multiple points of cAMP sensitivity during cell cycle reentry. Inhibition of Raf-1 and ERK1/2 activation may operate early in G(1), but when this early block is bypassed by DeltaRaf-1:ER, cells still fail to enter S phase due to inhibition of CDK2 or targets downstream of E2F1.

Gene expression profile in thyroid of transgenic mice overexpressing the adenosine receptor 2a

Mutations of the TSH receptor leading to constitutive activation of the cAMP cascade are responsible for the development of hot nodules, if arising in a somatic cell, and nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism, when occurring in a germinal cell. An animal model of constitutive activation of the thyroid cAMP cascade has been obtained by generating transgenic mice expressing the adenosine receptor (Tg-A2aR) under the control of the thyroglobulin promoter. These mice develop huge goiters and die prematurely due to hyperthyroidism induced cardiac failure. To identify new genes involved in the tumorigenic pathway of the thyroid, we designed a protocol using microarray technology to study the differential expression, between normal and transgenic thyroid, of +/-13,000 genes. A total of 360 genes or expressed sequence tags showed a strong modulation with background corrected values of fluorescence superior to 2-fold change. The modulated genes were classified according to their proposed gene ontology functions. Approximately half of them were up-regulated. The function of the majority of these genes in thyroid physiology is still to be determined. Some of them, like IGF-I or IGF binding protein 3 or 5, may play an important role in the development of thyroid nodules through paracrine mechanisms. This study demonstrates the feasibility of sequentially following the cascade of events leading to the formation of benign tumors such as hot thyroid nodule or hyperfunctional goiter.

Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of cyclin D3-bound CDK4 determines the passage through the cell cycle restriction point in thyroid epithelial cells

According to current concepts, the cell cycle commitment after restriction (R) point passage requires the sustained stimulation by mitogens of the synthesis of labile d-type cyclins, which associate with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 to phosphorylate pRb family proteins and sequester the CDK inhibitor p27kip1. In primary cultures of dog thyroid epithelial cells, the cAMP-dependent cell cycle induced by a sustained stimulation by thyrotropin or forskolin differs from growth factor mitogenic pathways, as cAMP does not upregulate d-type cyclins but increases p27 levels. Instead, cAMP induces the assembly of required cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes, which associate with nuclear p27. In this study, the arrest of forskolin stimulation rapidly slowed down the entry of dog thyrocytes into S phase and the phosphorylation of pRb family proteins. The pRb kinase activity, but not the formation, of the cyclin D3-CDK4-p27 complex was strongly reduced. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, a phosphorylated form of CDK4 was separated. It appeared in response to forskolin and was bound to both cyclin D3 and p27, presumably reflecting the activating Thr-172 phosphorylation of CDK4. Upon forskolin withdrawal or after cycloheximide addition, this CDK4 phosphoform unexpectedly persisted in p27 complexes devoid of cyclin D3 but it disappeared from the more labile cyclin D3 complexes. These data demonstrate that the assembly of the cyclin D3-CDK4-p27 holoenzyme and the subsequent phosphorylation and activation of CDK4 depend on distinct cAMP actions. This provides a first example of a crucial regulation of CDK4 phosphorylation by a mitogenic cascade and a novel mechanism of cell cycle control at the R point.

Role of the different mitogen-activated protein kinase subfamilies in the stimulation of dog and human thyroid epithelial cell proliferation by cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate and growth factors

We have investigated the role of the different classes of MAPKs, i.e. ERKs, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 MAPK in the proliferation of dog and human thyroid epithelial cells (thyrocytes) in primary cultures. In these cells, TSH, acting through cAMP, epidermal growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induce DNA synthesis. With the exception of HGF, all of these factors require the presence of insulin for mitogenic effects to be expressed. We found that TSH and forskolin are without effect on the phosphorylation and activity of the different classes of MAPKs. In contrast, all the cAMP-independent growth factors, whereas without effect on the phosphorylation and activity of JNKs and p38 MAPK, stimulated the ERKs. This effect was strong and sustained in response to HGF, epidermal growth factor and 12-myristate 13-acetate but weak and transient in response to insulin. Moreover, whereas in stimulated cells DNA synthesis was inhibited by PD 098059, an inhibitor of MAPK kinase 1 and consequently of ERKs, it was not modified by SB 203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK. Taken together, these data 1) exclude a role of JNKs and p38 MAPK in the proliferation of dog and human thyrocytes; 2) suggest that the mitogenic action of the cAMP-independent agents requires a strong and sustained activation of both ERKs and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B as realized by HGF alone or by the other agents together with insulin; and 3) show that TSH and cAMP do not activate ERKs but that the weak activation of ERKs by insulin is nevertheless necessary for DNA synthesis to occur.

The role of cyclic AMP and its effect on protein kinase A in the mitogenic action of thyrotropin on the thyroid cell

Cyclic AMP has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation in many cell types and to activate it in some. The latter has been recognized only lately, thanks in large part to studies on the regulation of thyroid cell proliferation in dog thyroid cells. The steps that led to this conclusion are outlined. Thyrotropin activates cyclic accumulation in thyroid cells of all the studied species and also phospholipase C in human cells. It activates directly cell proliferation in rat cell lines, dog, and human thyroid cells but not in bovine or pig cells. The action of cyclic AMP is responsible for the proliferative effect of TSH. It accounts for several human diseases: congenital hyperthyroidism, autonomous adenomas, and Graves' disease; and, by default, for hypothyroidism by TSH receptor defect. Cyclic AMP proliferative action requires the activation of protein kinase A, but this effect is not sufficient to explain it. Cyclic AMP action also requires the permissive effect of IGF-1 or insulin through their receptors, mostly as a consequence of PI3 kinase activation. The mechanism of these effects at the level of cyclin and cyclin-dependent protein kinases involves an induction of cyclin D3 by IGF-1 and the cyclic AMP-elicited generation and activation of the cyclin D3-CDK4 complex.

Low TSH requirement and goiter in transgenic mice overexpressing IGF-I and IGF-Ir receptor in the thyroid gland

Through the cAMP signaling pathway, TSH stimulates thyroid follicular cell proliferation, differentiation, and function. Although the autocrine production of IGF-I in the thyroid gland suggests an important physiological function for this factor in these processes, the exact role of the IGF-I/IGF-I receptor system in vivo remains unclear. Although the mitogenic action of TSH requires the presence of IGF-I or insulin in primary culture of dog and human thyroid cells, IGF-I has an effect equal to and independent of the effect of TSH on cell proliferation in rat thyroid cell lines and may even be the main growth regulator in this case. To investigate the in vivo function of the IGF-I/IGF-I receptor system, transgenic mice overexpressing human IGF-I, IGF-I receptor, or both in the thyroid were generated. Adult transgenic mice did not present external signs of thyroid dysfunction, but mice overexpressing both transgenes had significantly increased gland weight and follicular lumen area. A decreased TSH level together with a slightly increased serum T(4) concentration and increased thyroidal iodine uptake were also observed, suggesting that IGF-I and IGF-I receptor stimulate thyroid function to some extent in vivo.

Regulation of thyroid cell proliferation by TSH and other factors: a critical evaluation of in vitro models

TSH via cAMP, and various growth factors, in cooperation with insulin or IGF-I stimulate cell cycle progression and proliferation in various thyrocyte culture systems, including rat thyroid cell lines (FRTL-5, WRT, PC Cl3) and primary cultures of rat, dog, sheep and human thyroid. The available data on cell signaling cascades, cell cycle kinetics, and cell cycle-regulatory proteins are thoroughly and critically reviewed in these experimental systems. In most FRTL-5 cells, TSH (cAMP) merely acts as a priming/competence factor amplifying PI3K and MAPK pathway activation and DNA synthesis elicited by insulin/IGF-I. In WRT cells, TSH and insulin/IGF-I can independently activate Ras and PI3K pathways and DNA synthesis. In dog thyroid primary cultures, TSH (cAMP) does not activate Ras and PI3K, and cAMP must be continuously elevated by TSH to directly control the progression through G(1) phase. This effect is exerted, at least in part, via the cAMP-dependent activation of the required cyclin D3, itself synthesized in response to insulin/IGF-I. This and other discrepancies show that the mechanistic logics of cell cycle stimulation by cAMP profoundly diverge in these different in vitro models of the same cell. Therefore, although these different thyrocyte systems constitute interesting models of the wide diversity of possible mechanisms of cAMP-dependent proliferation in various cell types, extrapolation of in vitro mechanistic data to TSH-dependent goitrogenesis in man can only be accepted in the cases where independent validation is provided.

TSH induces insulin receptors that mediate insulin costimulation of growth in normal human thyroid cells

The mitogenic/goitrogenic effects of thyrotropin (TSH) on human thyrocytes in vitro and in vivo depend on permissive comitogenic effects of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), which are mimicked in vitro by the low-affinity binding of high supraphysiological concentrations of insulin to IGF-I receptors. Contrary to general assumption, we show here that very low concentrations of insulin, acting through insulin receptors but not IGF-I receptors, can also support the stimulation of DNA synthesis by TSH in primary cultures of normal human thyrocytes. Moreover, TSH through cAMP increases the content of insulin receptors demonstrated by Western blotting and the cells' responsiveness to low insulin concentrations. These observations provide the first in vitro evidence in normal human thyroid cells of a functional interaction between TSH and insulin acting through its own receptor.

The visual display of regulatory information and networks

Cell regulation and signal transduction are becoming increasingly complex, with reports of new cross-signalling, feedback, and feedforward regulations between pathways and between the multiple isozymes discovered at each step of these pathways. However, this information, which requires pages of text for its description, can be summarized in very simple schemes, although there is no consensus on the drawing of such schemes. This article presents a simple set of rules that allows a lot of information to be inserted in easily understandable displays.

TSH and cAMP do not signal mitogenesis through Ras activation

Ras activation by receptor tyrosine kinases or serpentine receptors is generally considered to be essential for G1 phase progression and mitogenesis. In the physiologically relevant model of primary dog thyrocytes, the accumulation of the GTP-bound form of Ras constituted an early convergence point of various mitogenic or comitogenic stimuli including EGF, HGF, phorbol esters, insulin and carbachol. By contrast, the basal level of GTP-Ras was slightly reduced by TSH and forskolin and did not increase during the TSH/cAMP-dependent progression into G1 phase. This rules out a role for the activation of Ras as a signal in the mitogenesis elicited by TSH via cAMP in these cells.

Transforming growth factor beta(1) selectively inhibits the cyclic AMP-dependent proliferation of primary thyroid epithelial cells by preventing the association of cyclin D3-cdk4 with nuclear p27(kip1)

Dog thyroid epithelial cells in primary culture constitute a physiologically relevant model of positive control of DNA synthesis initiation and G0-S prereplicative phase progression by cAMP as a second messenger for thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]). As previously shown in this system, the cAMP-dependent mitogenic pathway differs from growth factor cascades as it stimulates the accumulation of p27(kip1) but not cyclins D. Nevertheless, TSH induces the nuclear translocations and assembly of cyclin D3 and cdk4, which are essential in cAMP-dependent mitogenesis. Here we demonstrate that transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGFbeta(1)) selectively inhibits the cAMP-dependent cell cycle in mid-G1 and various cell cycle regulatory events, but it weakly affects the stimulation of DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factor, serum, and phorbol esters. EGF+serum and TSH did not interfere importantly with TGFbeta receptor signaling, because they did not affect the TGFbeta-induced nuclear translocation of Smad 2 and 3. TGFbeta inhibited the phosphorylation of Rb, p107, and p130 induced by TSH, but it weakly affected the phosphorylation state of Rb-related proteins in EGF+serum-treated cells. TGFbeta did not inhibit c-myc expression. In TSH-stimulated cells, TGFbeta did not affect the expression of cyclin D3, cdk4, and p27(kip1), nor the induced formation of cyclin D3-cdk4 complexes, but it prevented the TSH-induced relocalization of p27(kip1) from cdk2 to cyclin D3-cdk4. It prevented the nuclear translocations of cdk4 and cyclin D3 without altering the assembly of cyclin D3-cdk4 complexes probably formed in the cytoplasm, where they were prevented from sequestering nuclear p27(kip1) away from cdk2. This study dissociates the assembly of cyclin D3-cdk4 complexes from their nuclear localization and association with p27(kip1). It provides a new mechanism of regulation of proliferation by TGFbeta, which points out the subcellular location of cyclin D-cdk4 complexes as a crucial factor integrating mitogenic and antimitogenic regulations in an epithelial cell in primary culture.