A unique combination of transcription factors controls differentiation of thyroid cells.
Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol
; 66: 307-56, 2001.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11051768
ABSTRACT
The thyroid follicular cell type is devoted to the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Several genes, whose protein products are essential for efficient hormone biosynthesis, are uniquely expressed in this cell type. A set of transcriptional regulators, unique to the thyroid follicular cell type, has been identified as responsible for thyroid specific gene expression; it comprises three transcription factors, named TTF-1, TTF-2, and Pax8, each of which is expressed also in cell types different from the thyroid follicular cells. However, the combination of these factors is unique to the thyroid hormone producing cells, strongly suggesting that they play an important role in differentiation of these cells. An overview of the molecular and biological features of these transcription factors is presented here. Data demonstrating that all three play also an important role in early thyroid development, at stages preceding expression of the differentiated phenotype, are also reviewed. The wide temporal expression, from the beginning of thyroid organogenesis to the adult state, is suggestive of a recycling of the thyroid-specific transcription factors, that is, the control of different sets of target genes at diverse developmental stages. The identification of molecular mechanisms leading to specific gene expression in thyroid cells renders this cell type an interesting model in which to address several aspects of cell differentiation and organogenesis.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fatores de Transcrição
/
Diferenciação Celular
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2001
Tipo de documento:
Article