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Bao Y, Kim D, Cho YH, Ku CR, Yoon JS, Lee EJ. Cre-loxP System-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Graves' Disease and Associated Orbitopathy. Thyroid 2023; 33:1358-1367. [PMID: 37624749 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Background: Graves' disease (GD), one of the most common forms of autoimmune thyroid disorders, is characterized by hyperthyroidism caused by antibodies (Abs) against the extracellular A-subunit of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR). Various approaches have been used to create mouse models of GD, including transfected fibroblasts and immunization with plasmids or adenoviruses expressing human TSHR A-subunit (hTSHR A-subunit). These models, however, require repeated immunization and produce inconsistent results. In this study, we established a novel Cre-loxP system-based mouse model that is able to generate the hTSHR A-subunit, mimicking human GD, and characterized the histological changes in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) progression after a single injection. Materials and Methods: A Cre-loxP system-based mouse model was constructed by inserting the CAG-loxP-STOP-loxP-hTSHR A-subunit cassette into the Rosa26 locus of the mouse genome. Conditional expression of the hTSHR A-subunit was successfully achieved by intramuscular injection of the transactivator of transcription-Cre recombinase (GD mice). Blood tests for anti-TSHR Abs and the total thyroxine (T4) level were performed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to monitor morphological changes in the eyes. A histological examination of the thyroid gland and retrobulbar tissues was performed to observe pathological changes. Results: Twenty-four (8 control and 16 GD) mice were investigated. All GD mice exhibited higher levels of TSHR Abs compared with the control group. Moreover, more than 80% of the mouse models showed elevated T4 levels accompanied by thyroid goiter. MRI analysis revealed an increased volume of retrobulbar tissue, while immunohistochemical staining of orbital tissues exhibited macrophage infiltration and muscle fibrosis in the GD mice, contrasting with the control group. Conclusions: Our novel mouse model for GD, which showed the histological features of GO, was successfully established using the Cre-loxP system. This animal model offers improved insights and contributes to advancing methodological developments for GD and GO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Bao
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Daham Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Hee Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Ryong Ku
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Sook Yoon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jig Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Moshkelgosha S, Verhasselt HL, Masetti G, Covelli D, Biscarini F, Horstmann M, Daser A, Westendorf AM, Jesenek C, Philipp S, Diaz-Cano S, Banga JP, Michael D, Plummer S, Marchesi JR, Eckstein A, Ludgate M, Berchner-Pfannschmidt U. Modulating gut microbiota in a mouse model of Graves' orbitopathy and its impact on induced disease. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:45. [PMID: 33593429 PMCID: PMC7888139 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00952-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune condition in which autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) cause hyperthyroidism. About 50% of GD patients also have Graves' orbitopathy (GO), an intractable disease in which expansion of the orbital contents causes diplopia, proptosis and even blindness. Murine models of GD/GO, developed in different centres, demonstrated significant variation in gut microbiota composition which correlated with TSHR-induced disease heterogeneity. To investigate whether correlation indicates causation, we modified the gut microbiota to determine whether it has a role in thyroid autoimmunity. Female BALB/c mice were treated with either vancomycin, probiotic bacteria, human fecal material transfer (hFMT) from patients with severe GO or ddH2O from birth to immunization with TSHR-A subunit or beta-galactosidase (βgal; age ~ 6 weeks). Incidence and severity of GD (TSHR autoantibodies, thyroid histology, thyroxine level) and GO (orbital fat and muscle histology), lymphocyte phenotype, cytokine profile and gut microbiota were analysed at sacrifice (~ 22 weeks). RESULTS In ddH2O-TSHR mice, 84% had pathological autoantibodies, 67% elevated thyroxine, 77% hyperplastic thyroids and 70% orbital pathology. Firmicutes were increased, and Bacteroidetes reduced relative to ddH2O-βgal; CCL5 was increased. The random forest algorithm at the genus level predicted vancomycin treatment with 100% accuracy but 74% and 70% for hFMT and probiotic, respectively. Vancomycin significantly reduced gut microbiota richness and diversity compared with all other groups; the incidence and severity of both GD and GO also decreased; reduced orbital pathology correlated positively with Akkermansia spp. whilst IL-4 levels increased. Mice receiving hFMT initially inherited their GO donors' microbiota, and the severity of induced GD increased, as did the orbital brown adipose tissue volume in TSHR mice. Furthermore, genus Bacteroides, which is reduced in GD patients, was significantly increased by vancomycin but reduced in hFMT-treated mice. Probiotic treatment significantly increased CD25+ Treg cells in orbital draining lymph nodes but exacerbated induced autoimmune hyperthyroidism and GO. CONCLUSIONS These results strongly support a role for the gut microbiota in TSHR-induced disease. Whilst changes to the gut microbiota have a profound effect on quantifiable GD endocrine and immune factors, the impact on GO cellular changes is more nuanced. The findings have translational potential for novel, improved treatments. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Moshkelgosha
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Current address: Latner Thoracic Surgery Laboratories, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hedda Luise Verhasselt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Cultech Ltd., Baglan, Port Talbot, UK
| | - Giulia Masetti
- Division of Infection & Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UHW main building, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, UK
- Department of Bioinformatics, PTP Science Park Srl, Lodi, Italy
- Current address: Computational metagenomics, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Danila Covelli
- Cultech Ltd., Baglan, Port Talbot, UK
- Graves' Orbitopathy Center, Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione Ca'Granda IRCCS, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo Biscarini
- Department of Bioinformatics, PTP Science Park Srl, Lodi, Italy
- Italian National Research Council (CNR), Milano, Italy
| | - Mareike Horstmann
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Anke Daser
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Astrid M Westendorf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christoph Jesenek
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Svenja Philipp
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Salvador Diaz-Cano
- Department of Histopathology, King's College Hospital, King's College, London, UK
| | - J Paul Banga
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | | | | | - Julian R Marchesi
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anja Eckstein
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany.
| | - Marian Ludgate
- Division of Infection & Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UHW main building, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, UK.
| | - Utta Berchner-Pfannschmidt
- Molecular Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany.
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Benvenga S, Micali A, Ieni A, Antonelli A, Fallahi P, Pallio G, Irrera N, Squadrito F, Picciolo G, Puzzolo D, Minutoli L. The Association of Myo-Inositol and Selenium Contrasts Cadmium-Induced Thyroid C Cell Hyperplasia and Hypertrophy in Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:608697. [PMID: 33716965 PMCID: PMC7949001 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.608697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that, in addition to inducing structural changes in thyroid follicles, cadmium (Cd) increased the number of C cells. We examined the effects of myo-inositol (MI), seleno-L-methionine (Se), MI + Se, and resveratrol on C cells of mice exposed to cadmium chloride (Cd Cl2), as no data are currently available on the possible protective effects of these molecules. In contrast, we have previously shown this protective effect against CdCl2 on the thyroid follicles of mice. Ninety-eight C57 BL/6J adult male mice were divided into 14 groups of seven mice each: (i) 0.9% NaCl (vehicle; 1 ml/kg/day i.p.); (ii) Se (0.2 mg/kg/day per os); (iii) Se (0.4 mg/kg/day per os); (iv) MI (360 mg/kg/day per os); (v) Se (0.2 mg/kg/day) + MI; (vi) Se (0.4 mg/kg/day) + MI; (vii) resveratrol (20 mg/kg); (viii) CdCl2 (2 mg/kg/day i.p.) + vehicle; (ix) CdCl2 + Se (0.2 mg/kg/day); (x) CdCl2 + Se (0.4 mg/kg/day); (xi) CdCl2 + MI; (xii) CdCl2 + Se (0.2 mg/kg/day) + MI; (xiii) CdCl2 + Se (0.4 mg/kg/day) + MI; (xiv) CdCl2 + resveratrol (20 mg/kg). After 14 days, thyroids were processed for histological, immunohistochemical, and morphometric evaluation. Compared to vehicle, Cd significantly decreased follicle mean diameter, increased CT-positive cells number, area and cytoplasmic density, and caused the disappearance of TUNEL-positive C cells, namely, the disappearance of C cells undergoing apoptosis. Se at either 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg/day failed to significantly increase follicular mean diameter, mildly decreased CT-positive cells number, area and cytoplasmic density, and was ineffective on TUNEL-positive C cells. Instead, MI alone increased significantly follicular mean diameter and TUNEL-positive cells number, and decreased significantly CT-positive cells number, area and cytoplasmic density. MI + Se 0.2 mg/kg/day or MI + Se 0.4 mg/kg/day administration improved all five indices more markedly. Indeed, follicular mean diameter and TUNEL-positive cells number increased significantly, while CT-positive cells number, area and cytoplasmic density decreased significantly. Thus, all five indices overlapped those observed in vehicle-treated mice. Resveratrol improved significantly all the considered parameters, with a magnitude comparable to that of MI alone. In conclusion, the association Myo + Se is effective in protecting the mouse thyroid from the Cd-induced hyperplasia and hypertrophy of C cells. This benefit adds to that exerted by Myo + Se on thyrocytes and testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Benvenga
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonio Micali
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonio Ieni
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pallio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giovanni Pallio,
| | - Natasha Irrera
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Squadrito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giacomo Picciolo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Domenico Puzzolo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Letteria Minutoli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Galoppo GH, Tavalieri YE, Schierano-Marotti G, Osti MR, Luque EH, Muñoz-de-Toro MM. Long-term effects of in ovo exposure to an environmentally relevant dose of atrazine on the thyroid gland of Caiman latirostris. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 186:109410. [PMID: 32283336 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The increased incidence of human thyroid disorders, particularly in women, suggests that the exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) together with sex-related factors could play a role in thyroid dysregulation. Since the herbicide atrazine (ATZ) is an environmental EDC suspected to behave as a thyroid disruptor, and Caiman latirostris is a crocodilian species highly sensitive to endocrine disruption that can be exposed to ATZ, this study aimed to describe the histoarchitecture and sexually dimorphic features of the thyroid gland of C. latirostris, and to determine the long-term effects of in ovo exposure to an environmentally relevant dose of ATZ (0.2 ppm) on its thyroid gland and growth. Control caimans showed no sexual dimorphisms. In contrast, ATZ-exposed caimans showed altered embryo growth but an unaltered temporal pattern of development and a sexually dimorphic response in the body condition index growth curves postnatally, which suggests a female-related increase in fat storage. Besides, both male and female exposed caimans showed increases in the size of the thyroid stromal compartment, content of interstitial collagen, and follicular hyperplasia, and decreases in the expression of androgen receptor in the follicular epithelium. ATZ-exposed females, but not males, also showed evidences of thyroid enlargement, colloid depletion, increased follicular epithelial height and increased presence of microfollicular structures. Our results demonstrate that prenatal exposure of caimans to ATZ causes thyroid disruption and that females were more vulnerable to ATZ than males. The effects were organizational and observed long after exposure ended. These findings alert on ATZ side-effects on the growth, metabolism, reproduction and development of non-target exposed organisms, particularly females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Hugo Galoppo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Yamil Ezequiel Tavalieri
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Gonzalo Schierano-Marotti
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Mario Raúl Osti
- Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Enrique Hugo Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Mónica Milagros Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente del Litoral (ISAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina; Cátedra de Patología Humana, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 4to piso, CP3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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