Thyrotropin (TSH) action on thyroid hormone deiodination and secretion: one aspect of thyrotropin regulation of thyroid cell biology.

TSH, the major signalling factor for the thyroid follicles, controls thyrocyte function in concert with other modulators of cell growth, differentiation and structural organization of the follicular-endothelial network. Most of the TSH effects are mediated by TSH binding to the TSH receptor which stimulates adenylate cyclase catalyzed cAMP production. TSH is involved in the regulation of thyroidal uptake of small molecules and nutrients, intracellular transport of thyrocyte specific proteins, and in most of the steps of thyroid hormone synthesis, storage and release. These cellular events require the fine tuned regulation of metabolic reactions, morphological differentiation and cell proliferation. Thyrocytes also express a highly active Type I iodothyronine 5' deiodinase which is controlled by TSH stimulated cAMP production. The thyrocyte specific 5' deiodinase isozyme has marked influence on the amount of T3 secreted by the thyroid. This 5' deiodinase isozyme shows most of the characteristics of the type I 5' deiodinase found in liver and kidney and is also blocked by PTU, other 5' deiodinase inhibitors, and iodinated X-ray contrast agents such as iopanoic acid, which are occasionally used in thyrotoxicosis to inhibit thyroidal T3-production by this enzyme. In contrast to the liver and kidney type I 5' deiodinase T4 and T3 are not able to induce this enzyme in thyrocytes. However, TSH stimulated cAMP production increases the thyroidal isozyme activity in contrast to the liver and kidney enzyme. This review summarizes the data on the various experimental models used up to date to characterize the thyroidal type I 5' deiodinase in various species including man.