Thyroid Hormone interaction with the sympathetic nervous system, via &;#945;2 adrenoceptor signaling, to regulate endochondral bone growth: and in vitro evaluation. [Ph.D. Thesis (Morphofunctional Sciences)]. São Paulo: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo; 2017.

Author(s)

Manuela Miranda Rodrigues

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2018-02-26

Examining board members

Cecilia Helena de Azevedo Gouveia Ferreira; Frank Beier; Anselmo Sigari Moriscot; Bruno Ferraz de Souza

• Advisor: Cecilia Helena de Azevedo Gouveia Ferreira

Abstract

It is well known that thyroid hormone (TH) is essential for normal bone growth and development. However, the mechanisms by which TH regulates these processes are poorly understood. Recently, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) was identified as a potent regulator of bone metabolism. In vivo studies by our group have shown that TH interacts with the SNS to regulate bone mass and structure, and that this interaction involves α2 adrenoceptor (α2-AR) signaling. We have also identified the presence of α2A- , α2B- e α2C-AR subtypes in the epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) of mice. In addition, we have found that mice with isolated gene deletion of α2A-AR and α2C-AR (α2A-AR -/- and α2C- AR -/- ) show a disorganized EGP, shorter long bones and a delay in endochondral ossification (EO). In vivo studies revealed that the EGP of α2A-AR -/- and α2C-AR -/- animals respond differently (than those of wild-type animals), to TH excess and deficiency, which strongly suggests that TH also interacts with the SNS to regulate bone growth and development. Through a long bone organ culture system, the present study had the goal of investigating if TH interacts with the SNS directly in the skeleton, to regulate the longitudinal bone growth and if α2-AR is involved in this process. Therefore, we evaluated the linear bone growth of tibias derived from 15.5-day-old WT and α2C-AR -/- mouse embryos (E15.5) for 6 days. We have seen that the KO tibias showed a lower longitudinal growth when compared to WT tibias, and that treatment with 10-8 M triiodothyronine (T3) significantly decreased the longitudinal growth of the WT tibias, which was not seen in the KO tibias. We found that the treatment with UK 14.304 (UK), a non-selective α2-agonist, induced the longitudinal growth only of the KO tibias. The expression of genes related to the terminal differentiation of chondrocytes (Col X, IGF-1, Wnt-4 and Runx2) was shown to be increased in the KO tibias (when compared to the expression in WT tibias). Treatment with T3, as expected, stimulated the expression of these genes in WT tibias, but decreased the expression in KO samples, highlighting the importance of these receptors in the modulation of T3 actions. We observed that the local ? 2 -AR activation by UK blocked the expression of these chondrocyte differentiation- related genes, in addition to blocking the positive effects of T3 (UK + T3) in the expression of these genes. These findings show that α2 adrenoceptors act directly in the skeleton, to control the terminal differentiation of chondrocytes and, therefore, the longitudinal bone growth, in addition to allow an interaction with the TH signaling pathway to control these processes. In conclusion, this study shows that TH interacts with the SNS, locally in the skeleton, via α2 adrenergic signaling, to modulate the longitudinal bone growth. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/19020-4 - Study of the interaction between thyroid hormone and the alpha2Adrenergic system in the endochondral bone growth: an organ culture evaluation (femur and tibia)
• Grantee: Manuela Miranda Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate