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Cameselle-García S, Abdulkader-Nallib I, Sánchez-Ares M, Cameselle-Teijeiro JM. Cribriform morular thyroid carcinoma: Clinicopathological and molecular basis for both a preventive and therapeutic approach for a rare tumor (Review). Oncol Rep 2024; 52:119. [PMID: 39027989 PMCID: PMC11292300 DOI: 10.3892/or.2024.8778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cribriform morular thyroid carcinoma (CMTC) has been included within the group of thyroid tumors of uncertain histogenesis in the recent World Health Organization classification of endocrine tumors. Most CMTCs occur in young euthyroid women with multiple (and bilateral) thyroid nodules in cases associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or as single nodules in sporadic cases. CMTC generally behaves indolently, while aggressiveness and mortality are associated with high‑grade CMTC. This tumor histologically displays a distinctive combination of growth patterns with morular structures. Strong diffuse nuclear and cytoplasmic immunostaining for β‑catenin is the hallmark of CMTC. Tumor cells are also positive for thyroid transcription factor‑1 and for estrogen and progesterone receptors, but negative for thyroglobulin and calcitonin. It is possible that the CMTC phenotype could result from blockage in the terminal/follicular differentiation of follicular cells (or their precursor cells) secondary to the permanent activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway. In CMTC, the activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway is the central pathogenetic event, which in FAP‑associated cases results from germline mutations of the APC regulator of WNT signaling pathway (APC) gene, and in sporadic cases from somatic inactivating mutations in the APC, AXIN1 and CTNNB1 genes. Estrogens appear to play a tumor‑promoting role by stimulating both the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and the RAS/RAF/MAPK signaling pathways. Additional somatic mutations (i.e. RET rearrangements, or KRAS, phosphatidylinositol‑4,5‑bisphosphate 3‑kinase catalytic subunit α, telomerase reverse transcriptase or tumor protein 53 mutations) may further potentiate the development and progression of CMTC. While hemithyroidectomy would be the treatment of choice for sporadic cases without high‑risk data, total thyroidectomy would be indicated in FAP‑associated cases. There is insufficient clinical data to propose therapies targeting the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway, but multikinase or selective inhibitors could be used in a manner analogous to that of conventional thyroid tumors. It is also unknown whether adjuvant antiestrogenic therapy could be useful in the subgroup of women undergoing surgery with high‑risk CMTC, as well as when there is tumor recurrence and/or metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Cameselle-García
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Complex of Ourense, Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), 32005 Ourense, Spain
| | - Ihab Abdulkader-Nallib
- Department of Pathology, Clinical University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - María Sánchez-Ares
- Department of Pathology, Clinical University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Manuel Cameselle-Teijeiro
- Department of Pathology, Clinical University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Tian X, Yin Z, Li Z, Wang Z, Xing Z, Liu C, Wang L, Wang C, Zhang J, Dong L. Regeneration of Thyroid Glands in the Spleen Restores Homeostasis in Thyroidectomy Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305913. [PMID: 38059822 PMCID: PMC10853707 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Surgical removal of the thyroid gland (TG) for treating thyroid disorders leaves the patients on lifelong hormone replacement that partially compensates the physiological needs, but regenerating TG is challenging. Here, an approach is reported to regenerate TG within the spleen for fully restoring the thyroid's functions in mice, by transplanting thyroid tissue blocks to the spleen. Within 48 h, the transplanted tissue efficiently revascularizes, forming thyroid follicles similar to the native gland after 4 weeks. Structurally, the ectopically generated thyroid integrates with the surrounding splenic tissue while maintaining its integrity, separate from the lymphatic tissue. Functionally, it fully restores the native functions of the TG in hormone regulation in response to physiological stimuli, outperforming the established method of oral levothyroxine therapy in maintaining systemic homeostasis. The study demonstrates the full restoration of thyroid functions post-thyroidectomy by intrasplenic TG regeneration, providing fresh insights for designing novel therapies for thyroid-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue‐Jiao Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Zhi‐Jie Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Zhen‐Jiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Zhen‐Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Zhen Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
- NJU Xishan Institute of Applied BiotechnologyXishan DistrictWuxiJiangsu214101China
| | - Chun‐Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Lin‐Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Chun‐Ming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese MedicineInstitute of Chinese Medical SciencesUniversity of MacauTaipaMacau SAR999078China
| | - Jun‐Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical BiotechnologySchool of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
- NJU Xishan Institute of Applied BiotechnologyXishan DistrictWuxiJiangsu214101China
- National Resource Center for Mutant MiceNanjing210023China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovative CenterNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsu210023China
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Gianì F, Allia F, Trovato MA, Masto R, Pellegriti G, Vigneri R. Antioxidant Defense Capacity Is Reduced in Thyroid Stem/Precursor Cells Compared to Differentiated Thyrocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11509. [PMID: 37511265 PMCID: PMC10380350 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There is much evidence linking oxidative stress to thyroid cancer, and stem cells are thought to play a key role in the tumor-initiating mechanism. Their vulnerability to oxidative stress is unexplored. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant capacity of stem/precursor thyroid cells and mature thyrocytes. Human stem/precursor cells and mature thyrocytes were exposed to increasing concentrations of menadione, an oxidative-stress-producing agent, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell viability were measured. The expression of antioxidant and detoxification genes was measured via qPCR as well as the total antioxidant capacity and the content of glutathione. Menadione elevated ROS generation in stem/precursor thyroid cells more than in mature thyrocytes. The ROS increase was inversely correlated (p = 0.005) with cell viability, an effect that was partially prevented by the antioxidant curcumin. Most thyroid antioxidant defense genes, notably those encoding for the glutathione-generating system and phase I detoxification enzymes, were significantly less expressed in stem/precursor thyroid cells. As a result, the glutathione level and the total antioxidant capacity in stem/precursor thyroid cells were significantly decreased. This reduced antioxidant defense may have clinical implications, making stem/precursor thyroid cells critical targets for environmental conditions that are not detrimental for differentiated thyrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenza Gianì
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Fabio Allia
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Masto
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pellegriti
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, 95122 Catania, Italy
- Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Riccardo Vigneri
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Medical Center, 95122 Catania, Italy
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Latif R, Morshed SA, McCann C, Davies TF. Thyroid Stem Cell Speciation-a Major Role for PKC. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad067. [PMID: 37120783 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Instructive signals that delineate the formation of thyroid follicles by thyrotropin (TSH) in stem cells are complex. Here, we have examined the role of protein kinase C (PKC) by using a unique Gαq/11 biased small molecule (MSq1) to develop thyroid progenitor cells. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were differentiated into anterior endoderm cells and treated with either TSH or MSq1 in the presence or absence of PKC inhibitors. The transcriptional and translational response of key thyroid markers-sodium iodide symporter (NIS), thyroglobulin (TG), and thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) as well as potential signaling molecules-were then analyzed. The data confirmed that MSq1 is a potent Gαq/11 activator with a major increase in Gαq/11 signaling when compared to TSH. MSq1 activation resulted in an increase in thyroid-specific genes, demonstrating that enhanced PKC signaling was able to induce their expression. The specificity of the PKC signals over the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway in regulating thyroid gene expression was shown by using a specific PKC enzyme inhibitor. The data revealed that TG and NIS expression were suppressed in the presence of the PKC inhibition but, in contrast, were not influenced by PKA inhibition. This indicated that PKC activation was the dominant pathway in the inductive process for thyroid hormone production. Furthermore, by examining PKC isoforms we found that PKCξ was the predominant form in the ES cells that mediated the effects. Since PKCξ can lead to activation of transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase (pTAK1), and its downstream effector nuclear factor κB (NFκB) complex, this demonstrated the involvement of the TAK1/NFκB pathway in thyroid speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rauf Latif
- Thyroid Research Unit, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, NY 10468, USA
| | - Syed A Morshed
- Thyroid Research Unit, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, NY 10468, USA
| | - Colin McCann
- Thyroid Research Unit, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Terry F Davies
- Thyroid Research Unit, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, New York, NY 10468, USA
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Latif R, Ma R, Morshed SA, Tokat B, Davies TF. Long Term Rescue of the TSH Receptor Knock-Out Mouse - Thyroid Stem Cell Transplantation Restores Thyroid Function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:706101. [PMID: 34276566 PMCID: PMC8283971 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.706101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The synergistic activation of transcription factors can lead to thyroid progenitor cell speciation. We have previously shown in vitro that mouse or human stem cells, expressing the transcription factors NKx2-1 and Pax8, can differentiate into thyroid neo-follicular structures (TFS). We now show that syngeneic mouse TFS when implanted into hypothyroid TSH receptor knockout (TSHR-KO) mice can ameliorate the hypothyroid state for an extended period. ES cells derived from heterozygous TSHR-KO blastocysts were stably transfected with Nkx2-1-GFP and Pax8-mcherry constructs and purified into 91.8% double positive cells by flow cytometry. After 5 days of activin A treatment these double positive cells were then induced to differentiate into neo-follicles in Matrigel for 21 days in the presence of 500μU/mL of TSH. Differentiated TFS expressing thyroglobulin mRNA were implanted under the kidney capsule of 4-6 weeks old TSHR-KO mice (n=5) as well as hind limb muscle (n=2) and anterior chamber of one eye (n=2). Five of the mice tested after 4 weeks were all rendered euthyroid and all mice remained euthyroid at 20 weeks post implantation. The serum T4 fully recovered (pre-bleed 0.62 ± 0.03 to 8.40 ± 0.57 µg/dL) and the previously elevated TSH became normal or suppressed (pre-bleed 391 ± 7.6 to 4.34 ± 1.25 ng/dL) at the end of the 20 week observation period. The final histology obtained from the implanted kidney tissues showed only rudimentary thyroid follicular structures but which stained positive for thyroglobulin expression. The presence of only rudimentary structures at the site of implant on these extended animals suggested possible migration of cells from the site of implant or an inability of TFCs to maintain proper follicular morphology in these external sites for extended periods. However, there were no signs of tumor formation and no immune infiltration. These preliminary studies show that TSHR-KO mice are a useful model for orthotropic implantation of functional thyroid cells without the need for thyroidectomy, radioiodine ablation or anti thyroid drug control of thyroid function. This approach is also proof of principle that thyroid cells derived from mouse ES cells are capable of surviving as functional neo-follicles in vivo for an extended period of 20 weeks.
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