Open AccessRtfc (4931414P19Rik) Regulates in vitro Thyroid Differentiation and in vivo Thyroid Function
Author(s) -
Yang Yu,
Chang Liu,
Junxia Zhang,
Mimi Zhang,
Wen Wang,
Xianhui Ruan,
Dapeng Li,
Shuang Zhang,
Ming Gao,
Lingyi Chen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep43396
Subject(s) - thyroid , thyroid carcinoma , thyroid function , biology , embryonic stem cell , knockout mouse , thyroid cancer , endocrine system , cancer research , endocrinology , medicine , pathology , gene , hormone , genetics
Thyroid is a one of the most important endocrine organs. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying thyroid development and function, as well as thyroid diseases, is beneficial for the clinical treatment of thyroid diseases and tumors. Through genetic linkage analysis and exome sequencing, we previously identified an uncharacterized gene C14orf93 (RTFC , mouse homolog: 4931414P19Rik ) as a novel susceptibility gene for familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma, and demonstrated its function in promoting thyroid tumor. However, the role of RTFC in thyroid development and function remains unexplored. In this study, we found that knockout of Rtfc compromises the in vitro thyroid differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. In contrast, Rtfc −/− mice are viable and fertile, and the size and the morphology of thyroid are not affected by Rtfc knockout. However, female Rtfc −/− mice, but not male Rtfc −/− mice, display mild hypothyroidism. In summary, our data suggest the roles of Rtfc in in vitro thyroid differentiation of embryonic stem cells, and in vivo thyroid function.