Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.1
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Thyroid Cell
ijms-logo
Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Thyroid Cell

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 26750

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Concetta Ambrosino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Via de Sanctis, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Interests: animal and cellular model of human disease; thyroid hormone signalling; infertility; EDC
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thyroid hormones control the activity of several organs, and the functioning of the thyroid follicular cells is important for the health of the entire organism. Thyroid diseases and cancer are among the most frequent endocrine disorders and malignant diseases. Their incidence is continuously increasing worldwide, evidencing the necessity of continuous research in the field. The pathways injured in thyroid follicular cells and their disease specificity needs further investigation. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to damaging the thyroid follicular cells, and their interplay is still poorly characterized. The topic of this Special Issue is the characterization of thyroid disorders/cancers and of the promoting factors at follicular cell level in terms of morphological/functional and molecular changes. Studies using animal or cell culture models to investigate molecular mechanisms of thyroid diseases/cancers based on systems biology approaches will be published, which will lead to the characterization of molecular alterations representing novel diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers and therapeutic targets for thyroid disease/cancer. Researchers are encouraged to publish their work in this field, both with respect to endocrine thyroid diseases and thyroid carcinomas, including original articles or systematic reviews.

Assoc. Prof. Concetta Ambrosino
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Thyroid cell
  • Thyroid stem cell
  • Thyroid diseases
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Cell biology
  • Cell signaling
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarker

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 3828 KiB  
Article
ZFP36L2 Role in Thyroid Functionality
by Francesco Albano, Valeria Tucci, Perry J. Blackshear, Carla Reale, Luca Roberto, Filomena Russo, Pina Marotta, Immacolata Porreca, Marco Colella, Massimo Mallardo, Mario de Felice and Concetta Ambrosino
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(17), 9379; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179379 - 29 Aug 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2738
Abstract
Thyroid hormone levels are usually genetically determined. Thyrocytes produce a unique set of enzymes that are dedicated to thyroid hormone synthesis. While thyroid transcriptional regulation is well-characterized, post-transcriptional mechanisms have been less investigated. Here, we describe the involvement of ZFP36L2, a protein that [...] Read more.
Thyroid hormone levels are usually genetically determined. Thyrocytes produce a unique set of enzymes that are dedicated to thyroid hormone synthesis. While thyroid transcriptional regulation is well-characterized, post-transcriptional mechanisms have been less investigated. Here, we describe the involvement of ZFP36L2, a protein that stimulates degradation of target mRNAs, in thyroid development and function, by in vivo and in vitro gene targeting in thyrocytes. Thyroid-specific Zfp36l2-/- females were hypothyroid, with reduced levels of circulating free Thyroxine (cfT4) and Triiodothyronine (cfT3). Their hypothyroidism was due to dyshormonogenesis, already evident one week after weaning, while thyroid development appeared normal. We observed decreases in several thyroid-specific transcripts and proteins, such as Nis and its transcriptional regulators (Pax8 and Nkx2.1), and increased apoptosis in Zfp36l2-/- thyroids. Nis, Pax8, and Nkx2.1 mRNAs were also reduced in Zfp36l2 knock-out thyrocytes in vitro (L2KO), in which we confirmed the increased apoptosis. Finally, in L2KO cells, we showed an altered response to TSH stimulation regarding both thyroid-specific gene expression and cell proliferation and survival. This result was supported by increases in P21/WAF1 and p-P38MAPK levels. Mechanistically, we confirmed Notch1 as a target of ZFP36L2 in the thyroid since its levels were increased in both in vitro and in vivo models. In both models, the levels of Id4 mRNA, a potential inhibitor of Pax8 activity, were increased. Overall, the data indicate that the regulation of mRNA stability by ZFP36L2 is a mechanism that controls the function and survival of thyrocytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 6227 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Role of FRMD5 in the Biology of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
by Agata M. Gaweł, Maciej Ratajczak, Ewa Gajda, Małgorzata Grzanka, Agnieszka Paziewska, Marta Cieślicka, Maria Kulecka, Małgorzata Oczko-Wojciechowska and Marlena Godlewska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 6726; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22136726 - 23 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3565
Abstract
Background: Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is the most common endocrine system malignancy, and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for >80% of all TC cases. Nevertheless, PTC pathogenesis is still not fully understood. The aim of the study was to elucidate the role of the [...] Read more.
Background: Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is the most common endocrine system malignancy, and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for >80% of all TC cases. Nevertheless, PTC pathogenesis is still not fully understood. The aim of the study was to elucidate the role of the FRMD5 protein in the regulation of biological pathways associated with the development of PTC. We imply that the presence of certain genetic aberrations (e.g., BRAF V600E mutation) is associated with the activity of FRMD5. Methods: The studies were conducted on TPC1 and BCPAP (BRAF V600E) model PTC-derived cells. Transfection with siRNA was used to deplete the expression of FRMD5. The mRNA expression and protein yield were evaluated using RT-qPCR and Western blot techniques. Proliferation, migration, invasiveness, adhesion, spheroid formation, and survival tests were performed. RNA sequencing and phospho-kinase proteome profiling were used to assess signaling pathways associated with the FRMD5 expressional status. Results: The obtained data indicate that the expression of FRMD5 is significantly enhanced in BRAF V600E tumor specimens and cells. It was observed that a drop in intracellular yield of FRMD5 results in significant alternations in the migration, invasiveness, adhesion, and spheroid formation potential of PTC-derived cells. Importantly, significant divergences in the effect of FRMD5 depletion in both BRAF-wt and BRAF-mutated PTC cells were observed. It was also found that knockdown of FRMD5 significantly alters the expression of multidrug resistant genes. Conclusions: This is the first report highlighting the importance of the FRMD5 protein in the biology of PTCs. The results suggest that the FRMD5 protein can play an important role in controlling the metastatic potential and multidrug resistance of thyroid tumor cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5607 KiB  
Article
The Amino Acid Transporter Mct10/Tat1 Is Important to Maintain the TSH Receptor at Its Canonical Basolateral Localization and Assures Regular Turnover of Thyroid Follicle Cells in Male Mice
by Vaishnavi Venugopalan, Alaa Al-Hashimi, Jonas Weber, Maren Rehders, Maria Qatato, Eva K. Wirth, Ulrich Schweizer, Heike Heuer, François Verrey and Klaudia Brix
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5776; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115776 - 28 May 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2679
Abstract
Cathepsin K-mediated thyroglobulin proteolysis contributes to thyroid hormone (TH) liberation, while TH transporters like Mct8 and Mct10 ensure TH release from thyroid follicles into the blood circulation. Thus, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) released upon TH demand binds to TSH receptors of thyrocytes, where [...] Read more.
Cathepsin K-mediated thyroglobulin proteolysis contributes to thyroid hormone (TH) liberation, while TH transporters like Mct8 and Mct10 ensure TH release from thyroid follicles into the blood circulation. Thus, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) released upon TH demand binds to TSH receptors of thyrocytes, where it triggers Gαq-mediated short-term effects like cathepsin-mediated thyroglobulin utilization, and Gαs-mediated long-term signaling responses like thyroglobulin biosynthesis and thyrocyte proliferation. As reported recently, mice lacking Mct8 and Mct10 on a cathepsin K-deficient background exhibit excessive thyroglobulin proteolysis hinting towards altered TSH receptor signaling. Indeed, a combination of canonical basolateral and non-canonical vesicular TSH receptor localization was observed in Ctsk−/−/Mct8−/y/Mct10−/− mice, which implies prolonged Gαs-mediated signaling since endo-lysosomal down-regulation of the TSH receptor was not detected. Inspection of single knockout genotypes revealed that the TSH receptor localizes basolaterally in Ctsk−/− and Mct8−/y mice, whereas its localization is restricted to vesicles in Mct10−/− thyrocytes. The additional lack of cathepsin K reverses this effect, because Ctsk−/−/Mct10−/− mice display TSH receptors basolaterally, thereby indicating that cathepsin K and Mct10 contribute to TSH receptor homeostasis by maintaining its canonical localization in thyrocytes. Moreover, Mct10−/− mice displayed reduced numbers of dead thyrocytes, while their thyroid gland morphology was comparable to wild-type controls. In contrast, Mct8−/y, Mct8−/y/Mct10−/−, and Ctsk−/−/Mct8−/y/Mct10−/− mice showed enlarged thyroid follicles and increased cell death, indicating that Mct8 deficiency results in altered thyroid morphology. We conclude that vesicular TSH receptor localization does not result in different thyroid tissue architecture; however, Mct10 deficiency possibly modulates TSH receptor signaling for regulating thyrocyte survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 5547 KiB  
Article
BRAF Inhibitors Induce Feedback Activation of RAS Pathway in Thyroid Cancer Cells
by Elisa Bonaldi, Chiara Gargiuli, Loris De Cecco, Arianna Micali, Maria Grazia Rizzetti, Angela Greco, Maria Grazia Borrello and Emanuela Minna
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5744; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115744 - 27 May 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3363
Abstract
BRAFV600E is the most frequent oncogenic mutation identified in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). In PTC patients who do not respond to standard treatment, BRAF inhibitors are currently tested as alternative strategies. However, as observed for other targeted therapies, patients eventually develop drug [...] Read more.
BRAFV600E is the most frequent oncogenic mutation identified in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). In PTC patients who do not respond to standard treatment, BRAF inhibitors are currently tested as alternative strategies. However, as observed for other targeted therapies, patients eventually develop drug resistance. The mechanisms of BRAF inhibitors response are still poorly understood in a thyroid cancer (TC) context. In this study, we investigated in BRAFV600E mutated TC cell lines the effects of Vemurafenib and Dabrafenib, two BRAF inhibitors currently used in a clinical setting. We assessed cell proliferation, and the expression and activity of the thyroid function related transporter NIS following the treatment with BRAF inhibitors. In addition, we investigated the global gene expression by microarray, the relevant modulated biological processes by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and TC specific gene signatures related to MAPK pathway activation, thyroid differentiation, and transcriptional profile associated with BRAFV600E or RAS mutation. We found that both inhibitors induce antiproliferative and redifferentiative effects on TC cells, as well as a rewiring of the MAPK pathway related to RAS signaling. Our results suggest a possible mechanism of drug response to the BRAF inhibitors Vemurafenib or Dabrafenib, supporting very recent findings in TC patients treated with targeted therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2744 KiB  
Article
Resveratrol Alleviates the Inhibitory Effect of Tunicamycin-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress on Expression of Genes Involved in Thyroid Hormone Synthesis in FRTL-5 Thyrocytes
by Gaiping Wen, Klaus Eder and Robert Ringseis
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4373; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094373 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3000
Abstract
Recently, ER stress induced by tunicamycin (TM) was reported to inhibit the expression of key genes involved in thyroid hormone synthesis, such as sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG), and their regulators such as thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), thyroid transcription factor-1 [...] Read more.
Recently, ER stress induced by tunicamycin (TM) was reported to inhibit the expression of key genes involved in thyroid hormone synthesis, such as sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG), and their regulators such as thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), thyroid transcription factor-2 (TTF-2) and paired box gene 8 (PAX-8), in FRTL-5 thyrocytes. The present study tested the hypothesis that resveratrol (RSV) alleviates this effect of TM in FRTL-5 cells. While treatment of FRTL-5 cells with TM alone (0.1 µg/mL) for 48 h strongly induced the ER stress-sensitive genes heat shock protein family A member 5 (HSPA5) and DNA damage inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3) and repressed NIS, TPO, TG, TSHR, TTF-1, TTF-2 and PAX-8, combined treatment with TM (0.1 µg/mL) and RSV (10 µM) for 48 h attenuated this effect of TM. In conclusion, RSV alleviates TM-induced ER stress and attenuates the strong impairment of expression of genes involved in thyroid hormone synthesis and their regulators in FRTL-5 thyrocytes exposed to TM-induced ER stress. Thus, RSV may be useful for the treatment of specific thyroid disorders, provided that strategies with improved oral bioavailability of RSV are applied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3111 KiB  
Article
Ym155 Induces Oxidative Stress-Mediated DNA Damage and Cell Cycle Arrest, and Causes Programmed Cell Death in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells
by Qinqin Xu, Ryan P. Mackay, Adam Y. Xiao, John A. Copland and Paul M. Weinberger
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(4), 1961; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22041961 - 16 Feb 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2756
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most lethal malignancies with a median survival time of about 4 months. Currently, there is no effective treatment, and the development of new therapies is an important and urgent issue for ATC patients. YM155 is [...] Read more.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most lethal malignancies with a median survival time of about 4 months. Currently, there is no effective treatment, and the development of new therapies is an important and urgent issue for ATC patients. YM155 is a small molecule that was identified as the top candidate in a high-throughput screen of small molecule inhibitors performed against a panel of ATC cell lines by the National Cancer Institute. However, there were no follow-up studies investigating YM155 in ATC. Here, we determined the effects of YM155 on ATC and human primary benign thyroid cell (PBTC) survival with alamarBlue assay. Our data show that YM155 inhibited proliferation of ATC cell lines while sparing normal thyroid cells, suggesting a high therapeutic window. YM155-induced DNA damage was detected by measuring phosphorylation of γ-H2AX as a marker for DNA double-strand breaks. The formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG)-modified alkaline comet assay in conjunction with reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay and glutathione (GSH)/glutathione (GSSG) assay suggests that YM155-mediated oxidative stress contributes to DNA damage. In addition, we provide evidence that YM155 causes cell cycle arrest in S phase and in the G2/M transition and causes apoptosis, as seen with flow cytometry. In this study, we show for the first time the multiple effects of YM155 in ATC cells, furthering a potential therapeutic approach for ATC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3294 KiB  
Article
Clinicopathologic Analysis of Cathepsin B as a Prognostic Marker of Thyroid Cancer
by Eun-Kyung Kim, Min-Jeong Song, Ho Hee Jang and Yoo Seung Chung
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9537; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249537 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2812
Abstract
Thyroid cancer incidence has increased worldwide; however, investigations of thyroid cancer-related factors as potential prognosis markers remain insufficient. Secreted proteins from the cancer secretome are regulators of several molecular mechanisms and are, thereby, ideal candidates for potential markers. We aimed to identify a [...] Read more.
Thyroid cancer incidence has increased worldwide; however, investigations of thyroid cancer-related factors as potential prognosis markers remain insufficient. Secreted proteins from the cancer secretome are regulators of several molecular mechanisms and are, thereby, ideal candidates for potential markers. We aimed to identify a specific factor for thyroid cancer by analyzing the secretome from normal thyroid cells, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) cells, and anaplastic thyroid cancer cells using mass spectrometry (MS). Cathepsin B (CTSB) showed highest expression in PTC cells compared to other cell lines, and CTSB levels in tumor samples were higher than that seen in normal tissue. Further, among thyroid cancer patients, increased CTSB expression was related to higher risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and advanced N stage. Overexpression of CTSB in thyroid cancer cell lines activated cell migration by increasing the expression of vimentin and Snail, while its siRNA-mediated silencing inhibited cell migration by decreasing vimentin and Snail expression. Mechanistically, CTSB-associated enhanced cell migration and upregulation of vimentin and Snail occurred via increased phosphorylation of p38. As our results suggest that elevated CTSB in thyroid cancer induces the expression of metastatic proteins and thereby leads to LNM, CTSB may be a good and clinically relevant prognostic marker. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 1700 KiB  
Review
Thyroid Carcinoma: Phenotypic Features, Underlying Biology and Potential Relevance for Targeting Therapy
by Jinwei Hu, Isabella J. Yuan, Saied Mirshahidi, Alfred Simental, Steve C. Lee and Xiangpeng Yuan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(4), 1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22041950 - 16 Feb 2021
Cited by 53 | Viewed by 4943
Abstract
Thyroid carcinoma consists a group of phenotypically heterogeneous cancers. Recent advances in biological technologies have been advancing the delineation of genetic, epigenetic, and non-genetic factors that contribute to the heterogeneities of these cancers. In this review article, we discuss new findings that are [...] Read more.
Thyroid carcinoma consists a group of phenotypically heterogeneous cancers. Recent advances in biological technologies have been advancing the delineation of genetic, epigenetic, and non-genetic factors that contribute to the heterogeneities of these cancers. In this review article, we discuss new findings that are greatly improving the understanding of thyroid cancer biology and facilitating the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention. We review the phenotypic features of different subtypes of thyroid cancers and their underlying biology. We discuss recent discoveries in thyroid cancer heterogeneities and the critical mechanisms contributing to the heterogeneity with emphases on genetic and epigenetic factors, cancer stemness traits, and tumor microenvironments. We also discuss the potential relevance of the intratumor heterogeneity in understanding therapeutic resistance and how new findings in tumor biology can facilitate designing novel targeting therapies for thyroid cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thyroid Cell)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-8
Back to TopTop