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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
08:33
An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
The DREAM protein is associated with thyroid enlargement and nodular development
Marcos Rivas1, Britt Mellström, Begoña Torres
1Departamento Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid, Spain.
Molecular Endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)
|March 21, 2009
Summary
The study reveals that DREAM protein interacts with the TSH receptor (TSHR), modulating its activity and potentially causing thyroid enlargement. This discovery offers new insights into thyroid pathologies like goiter.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are crucial in disease pathophysiology and are key therapeutic targets.
- The TSH receptor (TSHR), a GPCR, regulates thyroid function, and its dysfunction is linked to thyroid cancer and goiter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of DREAM (downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator) in modulating TSHR activity.
- To explore the potential link between DREAM and thyroid pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the direct protein-protein interaction between DREAM and TSHR.
- Examined the effect of DREAM on TSHR coupling with Galphas.
- Analyzed thyroid gland size in transgenic mice overexpressing DREAM.
- Assessed DREAM protein levels in human multinodular goiters.
Main Results:
- DREAM directly interacts with TSHR, enhancing its coupling with Galphas.
- Overexpression of DREAM in transgenic mice led to significant thyroid enlargement.
- Elevated DREAM protein levels were found in human multinodular goiters.
Conclusions:
- DREAM acts as a novel modulator of TSHR activity through direct interaction.
- DREAM plays a role in thyroid gland size regulation.
- Increased DREAM levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of human multinodular goiter, suggesting a new therapeutic target.
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