The thyrotropin receptor (or TSH receptor) is a receptor (and associated protein) that responds to thyroid-stimulating hormone (also known as "thyrotropin") and stimulates the production of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The TSH receptor is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily of integral membrane proteins and is coupled to the Gs protein.
It is primarily found on the surface of the thyroid epithelial cells, but also found on adipose tissue and fibroblasts. The latter explains the reason of the myxedema finding during Graves disease. In addition, it has also been found to be expressed in the anterior pituitary gland, hypothalamus and kidneys. Its presence in the anterior pituitary gland may be involved in mediating the paracrine signaling feedback inhibition of thyrotropin along the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.
Function
Upon binding circulating TSH, a G-protein signal cascade activates adenylyl cyclase and intracellular levels of cAMP rise. cAMP activates all functional aspects of the thyroid cell, including iodine pumping; thyroglobulin synthesis, iodination, endocytosis, and proteolysis; thyroid peroxidase activity; and hormone release. TSHR is involved in regulating seasonal reproduction in vertebrates.
See also
- Graves' disease
References
Further reading
External links
- "Glycoprotein Hormone Receptors: TSH". IUPHAR Database of Receptors and Ion Channels. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- Thyrotropin Receptors at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- SSFA-GPHR: Sequence Structure Function Analysis of Glycoprotein Hormone Receptors
- GRIS: Glycoprotein-hormone Receptor Information System
- Overview of all the structural information available in the PDB for UniProt: P16473 (Thyrotropin receptor) at the PDBe-KB.
