Tissue- and subunit-specific regulation of G-protein expression by hypo- and hyperthyroidism

Thyroid hormone status has profound effects on signal transduction in various tissues throughout the body. Therefore, we quantified the signal transducing G-proteins in the rat heart, cerebral cortex, vas deferens and liver by immunoblotting and pertussis toxin labeling in response to chemically induced hypothyroidism (treatment with propylthiouracil) and hyperthyroidism (treatment with triiodothyronine). Levels of the pertussis toxin (PTX) substrates Gi alpha and Go alpha in the heart and vas deferens were inversely correlated with thyroid hormone levels, i.e. Gi alpha and Go alpha were decreased or unchanged in hyperthyroid rats and increased in hypothyroid rats compared to control animals. The cerebral cortex and liver expression of PTX substrates Gi alpha and Go alpha was not affected by changes in thyroid hormone. Regulation of Gs alpha protein was more complex in that Gs alpha was unaffected in the other tissues tested. Expression of G-protein beta-subunits was not affected by thyroid status in the heart, liver, or cerebral cortex. Our results suggest that tissue- and G-protein-specific factors are involved in the regulation of G-protein subunits by thyroid hormone. Moreover, cardiac expression of Gs alpha is upregulated by increases or decreases in the normal level of thyroid hormone.