Background/aims: Mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR-beta) gene result in resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH). Mutation Delta337T in the TR-beta gene has been shown to have the characteristics of RTH syndrome in mice. The aim of this work was to study the possible involvement of TR-beta receptor in thyroid modulation of ClC-2 in mouse kidney.
Methods: Expression of mouse (Delta337T and normal C57BL/6) renal RNA and protein expression were studied by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively, in mice with hyper- or hypothyroidism. Renal function was studied by analysis of urinary electrolyte excretion. Studies of the ClC-2 promoter region were performed in immortalized renal proximal tubule (IRPT) cells.
Results: In RTH syndrome mice (Delta337T), renal dysfunction was found to be associated with changes in the fractional excretion of sodium (FE(Na)) and chloride (FE(Cl)). ClC-2 chloride channel mRNA and protein expression were found to be decreased by 40% in heterozygous and homozygous mutant mouse kidneys and high levels of plasma thyroid hormone were detected in both groups. Hypothyroidism induced by methimazole decreased the renal expression of ClC-2 in normal mice but not in Delta337T mutant mice. In in vitro studies performed on IRPT cells subjected to thyroid hormone treatment, the promoter region of the ClC-2 chloride channel was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusions: This work emphasizes the importance of thyroid hormone in electrolyte handling along the nephron and suggests its participation in renal ClC-2 gene transcription via the TR-beta receptor pathway.
Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.