Role of TSH in the Spontaneous Development of Asymmetrical Thyroid Carcinoma in Mice with a Targeted Mutation in a Single Allele of the Thyroid Hormone-β Receptor

Mutations of the thyroid hormone receptor-β gene (THRB) cause resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH). A mouse model of RTH harboring a homozygous thyroid hormone receptor (TR)-β mutation known as PV (ThrbPV/PV mouse) spontaneously develops follicular thyroid cancer (FTC). Similar to RTH patients with mutations of two alleles of the THRB gene, the ThrbPV/PV mouse exhibits elevated thyroid hormones accompanied by highly nonsuppressible TSH. However, the heterozygous ThrbPV/+ mouse with mildly elevated TSH (∼2-fold) does not develop FTC. The present study examined whether the mutation of a single allele of the Thrb gene is sufficient to induce FTC in ThrbPV/+ mice under stimulation by high TSH. ThrbPV/+ mice and wild-type siblings were treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) to elevate serum TSH. ThrbPV/+mice treated with PTU (ThrbPV/+-PTU) spontaneously developed FTC similar to human thyroid cancer, but wild-type siblings treated with PTU did not. Interestingly, approximately 33% of ThrbPV/+-PTU mice developed asymmetrical thyroid tumors, as is frequently observed in human thyroid cancer. Molecular analyses showed activation of the cyclin 1-cyclin-dependent kinase-4-transcription factor E2F1 pathway to increase thyroid tumor cell proliferation of ThrbPV/+-PTU mice. Moreover, via extranuclear signaling, the PV also activated the integrin-Src-focal adhesion kinase-AKT-metalloproteinase pathway to increase migration and invasion of tumor cells. Therefore, mutation of a single allele of the Thrb gene is sufficient to drive the TSH-simulated hyperplastic thyroid follicular cells to undergo carcinogenesis. The present study suggests that the ThrbPV/+-PTU mouse model potentially could be used to gain insights into the molecular basis underlying the association between thyroid cancer and RTH seen in some affected patients.