Thyroid hormone receptors in health and disease (original) (raw)
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Journal of Endocrinology, 2008
The downregulation of liver deiodinase type 1 (D1) is supposed to be one of the mechanisms behind the decrease in serum tri-iodothyronine (T 3 ) observed during non-thyroidal illness (NTI). Liver D1 mRNA expression is positively regulated by T 3 , mainly via the thyroid hormone receptor (TR)b1. One might thus expect that lacking the TRb gene would result in diminished downregulation of liver D1 expression and a smaller decrease in serum T 3 during illness. In this study, we used TRb K/K mice to evaluate the role of TRb in lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a bacterial endotoxin)induced changes in thyroid hormone metabolism. Our results show that the LPS-induced serum T 3 and thyroxine and liver D1 decrease takes place despite the absence of TRb. Furthermore, we observed basal differences in liver D1 mRNA and activity between TRb K/K and wild-type mice and TRb K/K males and females, which did not result in differences in serum T 3 . Serum T 3 decreased rapidly after LPS administration, followed by decreased liver D1, indicating that the contribution of liver D1 during NTI may be limited with respect to decreased serum T 3 levels. Muscle D2 mRNA did not compensate for the low basal liver D1 observed in TRb K/K mice and increased in response to LPS in TRb K/K and WT mice. Other (TRb independent) mechanisms like decreased thyroidal secretion and decreased binding to thyroid hormone-binding proteins probably play a role in the early decrease in serum T 3 observed in this study.
A Mutation in the Thyroid Hormone Receptor Alpha Gene
New England Journal of Medicine, 2012
Thyroid hormones exert their effects through alpha (TRα1) and beta (TRβ1 and TRβ2) receptors. Here we describe a child with classic features of hypothyroidism (growth retardation, developmental retardation, skeletal dysplasia, and severe constipation) but only borderline-abnormal thyroid hormone levels. Using wholeexome sequencing, we identified a de novo heterozygous nonsense mutation in a gene encoding thyroid hormone receptor alpha (THRA) and generating a mutant protein that inhibits wild-type receptor action in a dominant negative manner. Our observations are consistent with defective human TRα-mediated thyroid hormone resistance and substantiate the concept of hormone action through distinct receptor subtypes in different target tissues. T hyroid hormones have diverse actions, which include regulation of skeletal growth, maturation of the central nervous system, cardiac and gastrointestinal function, and energy homeostasis. In addition, thyroid hormones control their own production by feedback inhibition of hypothalamic thyrotropinreleasing hormone and pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone, which direct their synthesis or release. These physiological effects are principally mediated by hormone action through nuclear receptor proteins that act as ligand-inducible transcription factors and either positively or negatively regulate the expression of target genes in different tissues in a hormone-dependent manner.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009
Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is most often due to point mutations in the -isoform of the thyroid hormone (TH) receptor (TR-). The majority of mutations involve the ligand-binding domain, where they block TH binding and receptor function on both stimulatory and inhibitory TH response elements. In contrast, a few mutations in the ligand-binding domain are reported to maintain TH binding and yet cause RTH in certain tissues. We introduced one such naturally occurring human RTH mutation (R429Q) into the germline of mice at the TR- locus. R429Q knock-in (KI) mice demonstrated elevated serum TH and inappropriately normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, consistent with hypothalamic-pituitary RTH. In contrast, 3 hepatic genes positively regulated by TH (Dio1, Gpd1, and Thrsp) were increased in R429Q KI animals. Mice were then rendered hypothyroid, followed by graded T 3 replacement. Hypothyroid R429Q KI mice displayed elevated TSH subunit mRNA levels, and T 3 treatment failed to normally suppress these levels. T3 treatment, however, stimulated pituitary Gh levels to a greater degree in R429Q KI than in control mice. Gsta, a hepatic gene negatively regulated by TH, was not suppressed in R429Q KI mice after T 3 treatment, but hepatic Dio1 and Thrsp mRNA levels increased in response to TH. Cardiac myosin heavy chain isoform gene expression also showed a specific defect in TH inhibition. In summary, the R429Q mutation is associated with selective impairment of TH-mediated gene repression, suggesting that the affected domain, necessary for TR homodimerization and corepressor binding, has a critical role in negative gene regulation by TH.
Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews: diabetes, nutrition, metabolism, 2013
The important physiological actions of the thyroid hormones are mediated by binding to nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), encoded by two genes TRalpha and TRbeta. These receptors act as hormone-dependent transcription factors by binding to DNA motifs located in the regulatory regions of target genes and recruiting coregulators (coactivators and corepresors), which alter chromatin structure. Novel thyromimetics have been developed that bind preferentially TRbeta could be used for treatment of hyperlipidemia and obesity. TRbeta gene mutations cause resistance to thyroid hormones (RTH), characterized by inappropriately high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels due to lack of feedback inhibition of thyroid hormones on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, and to reduced sensitivity of other TRbeta target tissues to thyroid hormones. Very recently, patients heterozygous for TRalpha mutations have been identified. These patients exhibit clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism in TRa...
Resistance to thyroid hormone mediated by defective thyroid hormone receptor alpha
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 2013
Background: Thyroid hormone acts via receptor subtypes (TRα1, TRβ1, TRβ2) with differing tissue distributions, encoded by distinct genes (THRA, THRB). THRB mutations cause a disorder with central (hypothalamic-pituitary) resistance to thyroid hormone action with markedly elevated thyroid hormone and normal TSH levels. Scope of review: This review describes the clinical features, genetic and molecular pathogenesis of a homologous human disorder mediated by defective THRA. Clinical features include growth retardation, skeletal dysplasia and constipation associated with low-normal T4 and high-normal T3 levels and a low T4/T3 ratio, together with subnormal reverse T3 levels. Heterozygous TRa1 mutations in affected individuals generate defective mutant receptors which inhibit wild-type receptor action in a dominant negative manner. Major conclusions: Mutations in human TRα1 mediate RTH with features of hypothyroidism in particular tissues (e.g. skeleton, gastrointestinal tract), but are not associated with a markedly dysregulated pituitary-thyroid axis. General significance: Human THRA mutations could be more common but may have eluded discovery due to the absence of overt thyroid dysfunction. Nevertheless, in the appropriate clinical context, a thyroid biochemical signature (low T4/T3 ratio, subnormal reverse T3 levels), may enable future identification of cases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Thyroid hormone signalling.
Genetic Analysis Reveals Different Functions for the Products of the Thyroid Hormone Receptor Locus
Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2001
Thyroid hormone receptors are encoded by the TRα(NR1A1) and TRβ (NR1A2) loci. These genes are transcribed into multiple variants whose functions are unclear. Analysis by gene inactivation in mice has provided new insights into the functional complexity of these products. Different strategies designed to modify the TRα locus have led to strikingly different phenotypes. In order to analyze the molecular basis for these alterations, we generated mice devoid of all known isoforms produced from the TRα locus (TRα0/0). These mice are viable and exhibit reduced linear growth, bone maturation delay, moderate hypothermia, and reduced thickness of the intestinal mucosa. Compounding TRα0 and TRβ− mutations produces viable TRα0/0β−/− mice, which display a more severe linear growth reduction and a more profound hypothermia as well as impaired hearing. A striking phenotypic difference is observed between TRα0/0 and the previously described TRα−/− mice, which retain truncated TRΔα isoforms arising...
Endocrinology, 2007
The THRB gene encodes the well-described thyroid hormone (T3) receptor (TR) isoforms TRβ1 and TRβ2 and two additional variants, TRβ3 and TRΔβ3, of unknown physiological significance. TRβ1, TRβ2, and TRβ3 are bona fide T3 receptors that bind DNA and T3 and regulate expression of T3-responsive target genes. TRΔβ3 retains T3 binding activity but lacks a DNA binding domain and does not activate target gene transcription. TRΔβ3 can be translated from a specific TRΔβ3 mRNA or is coexpressed with TRβ3 from a single transcript that contains an internal TRΔβ3 translation start site. In these studies, we provide evidence that the TRβ3/Δβ3 locus is present in rat but not in other vertebrates, including humans. We compared the activity of TRβ3 with other TR isoforms and investigated mechanisms of action of TRΔβ3 at specific thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) in two cell types. TRβ3 was the most potent isoform, but TR potency was TRE dependent. TRΔβ3 acted as a cell-specific and TRE-depend...
An unliganded thyroid hormone receptor causes severe neurological dysfunction
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001
Congenital hypothyroidism and the thyroid hormone (T 3 ) resistance syndrome are associated with severe central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Because thyroid hormones are thought to act principally by binding to their nuclear receptors (TRs), it is unexplained why TR knock-out animals are reported to have normal CNS structure and function. To investigate this discrepancy further, a T 3 binding mutation was introduced into the mouse TR-β locus by homologous recombination. Because of this T 3 binding defect, the mutant TR constitutively interacts with corepressor proteins and mimics the hypothyroid state, regardless of the circulating thyroid hormone concentrations. Severe abnormalities in cerebellar development and function and abnormal hippocampal gene expression and learning were found. These findings demonstrate the specific and deleterious action of unliganded TR in the brain and suggest the importance of corepressors bound to TR in the pathogenesis of hypothyroidism.