title: The microRNA-processing enzyme Dicer is essential for thyroid function.
abstract: Dicer is a type III ribonuclease required for the biogenesis of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. To explore the functional role of miRNAs in thyroid gland function, we generated a thyrocyte-specific Dicer conditional knockout mouse. Here we show that development and early differentiation of the thyroid gland are not affected by the absence of Dicer, while severe hypothyroidism gradually develops after birth, leading to reduced body weight and shortened life span. Histological and molecular characterization of knockout mice reveals a dramatic loss of the thyroid gland follicular architecture associated with functional aberrations and down-regulation of several differentiation markers. The data presented in this study show for the first time that an intact miRNAs processing machinery is essential for thyroid physiology, suggesting that deregulation of specific miRNAs could be also involved in human thyroid dysfunctions.
authors: IRGS Biogem s.c.ar.l., Ariano Irpino, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Frezzetti
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Reale
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Calì
authors: Lucio
authors: L
authors: Nitsch
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Fagman
authors: Ola
authors: O
authors: Nilsson
authors: Marzia
authors: M
authors: Scarfò
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: De Vita
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Di Lauro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009024:Morphogenesis; D024862:Oxyphil Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D035683:MicroRNAs; D043244:Ribonuclease III