Thyroid Flashcards
What do thyroid follicular cells secrete?
T3 and T4
What are parafollicular C cells responsible for?
Section of calcitonin
What does thyroglobulin contain?
Iodide to supply thyroid hormones for 90 days
What effect does TSH have on thyroid follicular cells?
Stimulates thyroid follicular cells to produce thyronine hormones (T3 and T4)
What role of cAMP have on thyroid cells?
Activates functional aspects of thyroid cells e.g.
Thyroglobulin synthesis
Iodide pumping
Iodination by thyroid peroxidase
Endocytosis, proteolysis and hormone release
Describe the process of iodide transport in follicular cells
Iodide ions are transported from the bloodstream into cells via NIS which transports 2Na+ or each I- anion into the cell
Iodide ions are transported from the cells into the lumen via Pendrin transporter
Once inside the lumen, I- is oxidised into atomic iodine
Describe the action of thyroid peroxidase enzyme
TPO spends the apical membrane and is responsible for the iodination of thyroglobulin
TPO adds iodide onto thyroglobulin backbone - consists of tyrosine residues. Can be added in 2 different places to give mono/di-iodotyrosine
Iodinated thyroglobulin is taken into cells by endocytosis,. Proteolysis occurs by lysosomes which release T2 and T4 from the backbone of thyroglobulin
Give examples of 2 thyroid hormones
Discuss their abundance/characteristics
Thyronine - T3: more active/potent
Thyroxine - T4: major form in the blood and has a longer half life than T3
T4 can be converted to T3 as required to protect the body from excess
Which drugs are used to treat hypothyroidism?
Levothyroxine sodium T4: tablets or oral solution
Liothyronine T3: tablets or slow iv infusion
Which drugs are used to treat hyperthyroidism?
Carbimazole
Propylthiouracil
Describe the characteristics of thyroxine
Insoluble in serum - transported in serum in conjunction with specific binding proteins which are synthesised in the liver
What effect does lover disease have on T4?
Loss of effective T4 transport to peripheral tissues
How doe thyroid hormones enter cells?
Via specific transporters
Describe the location and actions of iodothyronine deiodinases
DIO1 - predominant in the liver, kidney and muscle. Also found in thyroid. Produces most of the circulating T3
DIO2 - predominant in areas of CNS and pituitary thryrotropes. Controls intercellular T3 concentration. Important for feedback regulation. Found in skeletal muscle in some species
DIO3 - produces inactive rT3 and prevents thyroid hormone access to specific tissues
Where are thyroid hormone receptors located?
TR⍺ and TRβ are found in the nucleus
Describe thyroid hormone action
Functions as a transcription factor Bind to thyroid responsive element Higher affinity for T3 and T4 Increases gene transcription Can inhibit gene transcription
Describe the action of thyroid hormones in the anterior pituitary
Thyroid gland predominantly secretes T4
Human serum has a high conc of T4 binding proteins this causes high circulating levels of protein bound T4
Only free T3 and T4 are biologically active
T3 and T4 bind to nuclear hormone receptors to alter gene transcription in target cells
List the biological actions of thyroid hormones
- Control of metabolic rate
- Growth
- Foetal development
- Cardiovascular effects
- Musculoskeletal effects
How are thyroid hormones involved in growth?
What do deficiencies lead to?
Affect most bodily functions
Often synergise with other hormones
Deficiencies lead to abnormal growth, development, reproduction, behaviour and metabolism
How are thyroid hormones involved in foetal development?
What happens when there is a low supply of T4?
Develop neural and skeletal systems
Loss of T4 supply to the foetus leads to irreversible mental impairment and dwarfism - congenital iodine deficiency syndrome.
What are the effects of low T4 on a foetus, neonate and child & adolescent?
Foetus: miscarriage, still births, congenital abnormalities, perinatal morbidity, mortality and congenital iodine deficiency syndrome
Neonate: goitre hypothyroidism and impaired mental function
Child and adolescent: goiter hypothyroidism, impaired mental function, impaired physical development
How are thyroid hormones involved in cardiovascular events?
T3 increases cardiac contraction and output heart rate, oxygen supply to tissues and CO2 removal from tissues
What are the direct effects of thyroid hormones on the heart?
Increased myocardial Ca2+ uptake
Increase expression of ⍺-myosin heavy chain and decrease β heavy chain
What are the indirect effects of thyroid hormones on the heart?
Increased metabolism - thermogenesis and vasodilation
Increased sensitivity to catecholamamines