title: Pax-8 protein levels regulate thyroglobulin gene expression.
abstract: Pax proteins are transcription factors that control differentiation of several cell types. In adult organisms Pax-8 is expressed in the follicular thyroid cell where it interacts with sequences of thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase promoters. In this study, we provide evidence indicating that Pax-8 protein levels regulate thyroglobulin gene transcription. The most critical approach consisted in increasing Pax-8 protein levels by transfecting thyroid cells with a Pax-8 expression vector. In this situation the thyroglobulin promoter transcriptional activity was significantly increased with respect to untransfected cells. In contrast, the transfection of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) expression vector causes a modest decrease of thyroglobulin promoter activity, rather than an increase. Northern blots of human papillary cancers reveal a significant correlation between Pax-8 and thyroglobulin mRNAs. Gel-retardation assays suggest that the mechanism by which the Pax-8 protein levels modulate thyroglobulin promoter activity may occur through competition with TTF-1 for a common binding site. Since we also demonstrate that Pax-8 expression is subjected to TSH control, our data strongly suggest that Pax-8 protein levels could represent an important determinant for the regulation of thyroid cells.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 1, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fabbro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pellizzari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Damante
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D000072636:PAX8 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000235:genetics*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D000072636:PAX8 Transcription Factor; C083325:PAX8 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin