Expression of urocortin and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors in the horse thyroid gland.
Abstract: Urocortin (UCN) is a 40-amino-acid peptide and a member of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family, which includes CRH, urotensin I, sauvagine, UCN2 and UCN3. The biological actions of CRH family peptides are mediated via two types of G-protein-coupled receptors, namely CRH type 1 receptor (CRHR1) and CRH type 2 receptor (CRHR2). The biological effects of these peptides are mediated and modulated not only by CRH receptors but also via a highly conserved CRH-binding protein (CRHBP). Our aim was to investigate the expression of UCN, CRHR1, CRHR2 and CRHBP by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and reverse transcription with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the horse thyroid gland. The results showed that UCN, CRHR1 and CRHR2 were expressed in the thyroid gland, whereas CRHBP was not expressed. Specifically, UCN immunoreactivity (-IR) was found in the thyroid follicular cells, CRHR2-IR in the C-cells and CRHR1-IR in blood vessels. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR experiments confirmed the immunohistochemical data. These results suggest that a regulatory system exists in the mammalian thyroid gland based on UCN, CRHR1 and CRHR2 and that UCN plays a role in the regulation of thyroid physiological functions through a paracrine mechanism.
Publication Date: 2012-06-12 PubMed ID: 22684850DOI: 10.1007/s00441-012-1450-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper explores the existence of urocortin (UCN) and two types of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors (CRHR1 and CRHR2) in horse thyroid glands. The research indicates a clear presence of these elements in the thyroid glands, suggesting a regulatory system that impacts the gland’s physiological functions.
Introduction
- The research is focused on urocortin (UCN), a peptide part of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family which includes various proteins, one of them being CRH itself.
- This family of peptides operates through two types of G-protein-coupled receptors: CRH type 1 receptor (CRHR1) and CRH type 2 receptor (CRHR2).
- The researchers aimed to verify the expression of UCN, CRHR1, CRHR2, and a CRH-binding protein (CRHBP) in horse thyroid glands.
Methods
- The research team conducted immunohistochemistry, Western blot and reverse transcription with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect the presence of the specified proteins and receptors.
Findings
- The investigations revealed that the horse thyroid gland exhibited expression of UCN, CRHR1, and CRHR2. However, no expression of CRHBP was detected.
- Different parts of the thyroid gland showed different presence of these proteins: UCN was found in the thyroid follicular cells, CRHR2 in the C-cells, and CRHR1 in blood vessels.
- These immunohistochemical findings were further confirmed by Western blot analysis and RT-PCR experiments.
Significance of the Research
- The results signal that a regulatory system might exist in the mammalian thyroid gland involving UCN, CRHR1, and CRHR2.
- The results also suggest a role for UCN in the regulation of thyroid physiological functions using a paracrine mechanism.
Cite This Article
APA
Squillacioti C, De Luca A, Alì S, Paino S, Liguori G, Mirabella N.
(2012).
Expression of urocortin and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors in the horse thyroid gland.
Cell Tissue Res, 350(1), 45-53.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1450-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Structure, Functions and Biological Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Naples, Italy. caterina.squillacioti@unina.it
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blotting, Western
- Carrier Proteins / genetics
- Carrier Proteins / metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Horses / metabolism
- Immunohistochemistry
- Immunoprecipitation
- Male
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / genetics
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Thyroid Gland / cytology
- Thyroid Gland / metabolism
- Urocortins / genetics
- Urocortins / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Squillacioti C, Pelagalli A, Liguori G, Mirabella N. Urocortins in the mammalian endocrine system. Acta Vet Scand 2019 Oct 4;61(1):46.
- Liguori G, Squillacioti C, Assisi L, Pelagalli A, Vittoria A, Costagliola A, Mirabella N. Potential role of orexin A binding the receptor 1 for orexins in normal and cryptorchid dogs. BMC Vet Res 2018 Feb 27;14(1):55.
- Wang F, Zhao D, Xu WY, Liu Y, Sun H, Lu S, Ji Y, Jiang J, Chen Y, He Q, Gong C, Liu R, Su Z, Dong Y, Yan Z, Liu L. Blood leukocytes as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules: a prospective cohort study. BMC Med 2024 Apr 2;22(1):147.
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