title: Preferential megalin-mediated transcytosis of low-hormonogenic thyroglobulin: a control mechanism for thyroid hormone release.
abstract: Hormone secretion by thyrocytes occurs by fluid phase uptake and lysosomal degradation of the prohormone thyroglobulin (Tg). However, some Tg internalized by megalin bypasses lysosomes and is transcytosed across cells and released into the bloodstream. Because the hormone content of Tg is variable, we investigated whether this affects transcytosis. We found that rat Tg with a low hormone content [low-hormonogenic rat Tg (low-horm-rTg)] is transcytosed by megalin across thyroid FRTL-5 cells to a greater extent than rat Tg with a high hormone content [hormonogenic rat Tg (horm-rTg)]. In immunoprecipitation experiments, the Tg sequence Arg-2489-Lys-2503 (required for binding to megalin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans) was found to be more exposed in low-horm-rTg, which accounted for its preferential transcytosis. Thus, removal of surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans from FRTL-5 cells or blocking of 2489-2503 reduced transcytosis of low-horm-rTg to a greater extent than that of horm-rTg. Preferential transcytosis of low-horm-rTg affected hormone release. Thus, the increase in hormone release from horm-rTg in FRTL-5 cells determined by megalin blocking (due to reduced transcytosis and enhanced Tg degradation) was rescued by low-horm-rTg, suggesting that megalin is required for effective hormone release. This finding was confirmed in a small number of megalin-deficient mice, which had serological features resembling mild hypothyroidism. Reduced hormone formation within Tg in vivo, due to treatment of rats with aminotriazole or of patients with Graves' disease with methimazole, resulted in increased Tg transcytosis via megalin, in confirmation of results with FRTL-5 cells. Our study points to a major role of megalin in thyroid homeostasis with possible implications in thyroid diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinchera
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: McCluskey
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Willnow
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Refetoff
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcocci
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menconi
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luchetti
authors.forename: A Bernard
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000640:Amitrole / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004705:Endocytosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D006720:Homozygote; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000378:metabolism; D026561:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-2 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000502:physiology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000640:Amitrole; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D006728:Hormones; D026561:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-2; D008713:Methimazole; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D013963:Thyroid Hormones