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Marian Ludgate School of Medicine, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

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A paper published in this issue of the Journal of Endocrinology has revisited the hypothesis that thyroid hormones may be generated by tissues outside the thyroid gland in higher organisms including mammals. This commentary appraises the strengths and weaknesses of the study, the alternative explanations for the findings and possible future measures to investigate further. The concept of extrathyroidal thyroxine and triiodothyronine synthesis has previously been proposed; by assuming that Nagao et al. and earlier authors are correct, the plausibility and possible mechanisms underlying the hypothesis are discussed.

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Anna de Lloyd Department of Child Health, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences

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James Bursell Department of Child Health, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences

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John W Gregory Department of Child Health, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences

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D Aled Rees Department of Child Health, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences

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Marian Ludgate Department of Child Health, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences

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The impacts of hyper and hypothyroidism on body composition, i.e. the relative quantity and quality of bone, adipose tissue and muscle, have traditionally been attributed uniquely to abnormal levels of free thyroid hormones. The presence of biologically active TSH receptors in bone, fat and muscle, raises the possibility that both thyroid hormones and TSH contribute to the changes in body composition associated with thyroid disease. This review evaluates the evidence for this in terms of the in vitro experimental approaches applied, data from in vivo sources (i.e. mouse models) and patient-based studies.

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Lei Zhang School of Medicine, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

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Carol Paddon School of Medicine, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

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Mark D Lewis School of Medicine, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

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Fiona Grennan-Jones School of Medicine, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

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Marian Ludgate School of Medicine, Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

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Since TSH receptor (TSHR) expression increases during adipogenesis and signals via cAMP/phospho-cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), reported to be necessary and sufficient for adipogenesis, we hypothesised that TSHR activation would induce preadipocyte differentiation. Retroviral vectors introduced constitutively active TSHR (TSHR*) into 3T3L1 preadipocytes; despite increased cAMP (RIA) and phospho-CREB (western blot) there was no spontaneous adipogenesis (assessed morphologically, using oil red O and QPCR measurement of adipogenesis markers). We speculated that Gβγ signalling may be inhibitory but failed to induce adipogenesis using activated Gsα (gsp*). Inhibition of phosphodiesterases did not promote adipogenesis in TSHR* or gsp* populations. Furthermore, differentiation induced by adipogenic medium with pioglitazone was reduced in TSHR* and abolished in gsp* expressing 3T3L1 cells. TSHR* and gsp* did not inactivate PPARγ (PPARG as listed in the HUGO database) by phosphorylation but expression of PPARγ1 was reduced and PPARγ2 undetectable in gsp*. FOXO1 phosphorylation (required to inactivate this repressor of adipogenesis) was lowest in gsp* despite the activation of AKT by phosphorylation. PROF is a mediator that facilitates FOXO1 phosphorylation by phospho-Akt. Its transcript levels remained constantly low in the gsp* population. In most measurements, the TSHR* cells were between the gsp* and control 3T3L1 preadipocytes. The enhanced down-regulation of PREF1 (adipogenesis inhibitor) permits retention of some adipogenic potential in the TSHR* population. We conclude that Gsα signalling impedes FOXO1 phosphorylation and thus inhibits PPARγ transcription and the alternative promoter usage required to generate PPARγ2, the fat-specific transcription factor necessary for adipogenesis.

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