The microRNA-Processing Enzyme Dicer Is Essential for Thyroid Function

Abstract: Dicer is a type III ribonuclease required for the biogenesis of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. To explore the functional role of miRNAs in thyroid gland function, we generated a thyrocyte-specific Dicer conditional knockout mouse. Here we show that development and early differentiation of the thyroid gland are not affected by the absence of Dicer, while severe hypothyroidism gradually develops after birth, leading to reduced body weight and shortened life span. Histological and molecular characterization of knockout mice reveals a dramatic loss of the thyroid gland follicular architecture associated with functional aberrations and down-regulation of several differentiation markers. The data presented in this study show for the first time that an intact miRNAs processing machinery is essential for thyroid physiology, suggesting that deregulation of specific miRNAs could be also involved in human thyroid dysfunctions.

Reale, C (author)
Cali, G (author)
Nitsch, L (author)
Fagman, Henrik,1975Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för biomedicin, avdelningen för patologi,Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Pathology(Swepub:gu)xfagmh (author)
Nilsson, Ola,1957Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för biomedicin, avdelningen för patologi,Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Pathology(Swepub:gu)xnilol (author)
Scarfo, M (author)
De Vita, G (author)
Di Lauro, R (author)
Göteborgs universitetInstitutionen för biomedicin, avdelningen för patologi (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Frezzetti, D; Reale, C; Cali, G; Nitsch, L; Fagman, Henrik, ...; Nilsson, Ola, 19 ...; show more...; Scarfo, M; De Vita, G; Di Lauro, R; show less...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Cancer and Oncol ...

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Basic Medicine; and Cell and Molecul ...

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