The RHL-1 subunit of the asialoglycoprotein receptor of thyroid cells: cellular localization and its role in thyroglobulin endocytosis.
The rat hepatic lectin (RHL)-1 is the major component of the rat liver asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPr), a membrane receptor highly expressed on the basolateral side of hepatocytes, which mediates endocytosis of serum desialated glycoproteins. We have recently shown that RHL-1 is expressed in rat thyroid tissue and thyroid differentiated cell lines. Both in vitro and in vivo assays show that thyrotropin up-regulates thyroid RHL-1 expression, while neoplastic transformation of thyroid cells exerts a down-regulation of receptor expression. Moreover, RHL-1 expressed on the surface of differentiated thyroid cells is able to bind thyroglobulin (Tg), the macromolecular site of synthesis and storage of thyroid hormones. In the present work, we demonstrate, by immunohistochemistry analysis, that RHL-1 is localized on the apical surface of thyrocytes, at a variance with its basolateral localization on hepatocytes. Moreover, albeit its expression in thyroid is less abundant than in liver, the receptor is able to bind asialorosomucoid (ASOR), the best-known ligand of hepatic ASGPr, and to mediate endocytosis of a significative amount of Tg on the surface of differentiated PC Cl3 thyroid cells. Taken together, the data suggest that RHL-1, even if expressed in thyroid at lower levels than in liver, could serve as a receptor for endocytosis of colloidal Tg and, likely, for its delivery to lysosomes.
Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare L. Califano,Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale G. Salvatore, CNR, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
Francesco
F
Pacifico
Nunzia
N
Montuori
Stefano
S
Mellone
Domenico
D
Liguoro
Luca
L
Ulianich
Alessia
A
Caleo
Giancarlo
G
Troncone
Leonard D
LD
Kohn
Bruno
B
Di Jeso
Eduardo
E
Consiglio
D000818:Animals; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D004705:Endocytosis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D021122:Protein Subunits; D013954:Thyroglobulin