Wnt-independent role of β-catenin in thyroid cell proliferation and differentiation

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been associated with thyroid cell growth and tumorigenesis. However, little is known regarding its involvement in the response to the key regulators of thyroid cell proliferation and differentiation. Here we show that TSH and IGF-1 increase β-catenin nuclear accumulation and its transcriptional activity in differentiated thyroid cells. This effect takes place in a Wnt-independent manner because TSH and IGF-1, through the activation of protein kinase A and protein kinase B/Akt, phosphorylate β-catenin at S552 and S675, which results in β-catenin release from E-cadherin at the adherens junctions. Nuclear β-catenin regulates thyroid cell proliferation, because its silencing or the overexpression of a dominant-negative form of T-cell factor 4 resulted in reduced levels of cyclin D1 and DNA synthesis. Furthermore, the β-catenin silencing markedly reduced the expression of Pax8, the main transcription factor involved in epithelial thyroid cell differentiation. Finally, we observed that β-catenin physically interacts with the transcription factor Pax8, increasing its transcriptional activity on the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene, a critical gene required for thyroid cell physiology. Taken together, our findings show that β-catenin plays a not yet described role in thyroid function including a functional interaction with Pax8.