Virus infection activates thyroid stimulating hormone synthesis in intestinal epithelial cells.
The small intestine has been shown to be an extra-pituitary site of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) production, and previous in vivo studies have shown that TSH synthesis localizes within areas of enteric virus infection within the small intestine; however, the cellular source of intestinal TSH has not been adequately determined. In the present study, we have used the murine MODE-K small intestinal epithelial cell line to demonstrate both at the transcriptional level and as a secreted hormone, as measured in a TSHbeta-specific enzyme-linked assay, that epithelial cells in fact respond to infection with reovirus serotype 3 Dearing strain by upregulating TSH synthesis. Moreover, sequence analysis of a PCR-amplified TSHbeta product from MODE-K cells revealed homology to mouse pituitary TSHbeta. These findings have direct functional implications for understanding a TSH immune-endocrine circuit in the small intestine.
Varghese
Shaun
S
Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Montufar-Solis
Dina
D
Vincent
Bryce H
BH
Klein
John R
JR
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology*; D012089:Mammalian orthoreovirus 3 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D037322:Thyrotropin, beta Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D037322:Thyrotropin, beta Subunit