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Tanycytes control the hormonal output of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis

Author

Listed:
  • Helge Müller-Fielitz

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Marcus Stahr

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Mareike Bernau

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Marius Richter

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Sebastian Abele

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Victor Krajka

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Anika Benzin

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Jan Wenzel

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Kathrin Kalies

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Jens Mittag

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Heike Heuer

    (Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine)

  • Stefan Offermanns

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research)

  • Markus Schwaninger

    (University of Lübeck)

Abstract

The hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis maintains circulating thyroid hormone levels in a narrow physiological range. As axons containing thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) terminate on hypothalamic tanycytes, these specialized glial cells have been suggested to influence the activity of the HPT axis, but their exact role remained enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that stimulation of the TRH receptor 1 increases intracellular calcium in tanycytes of the median eminence via Gαq/11 proteins. Activation of Gαq/11 pathways increases the size of tanycyte endfeet that shield pituitary vessels and induces the activity of the TRH-degrading ectoenzyme. Both mechanisms may limit the TRH release to the pituitary. Indeed, blocking TRH signaling in tanycytes by deleting Gαq/11 proteins in vivo enhances the response of the HPT axis to the chemogenetic activation of TRH neurons. In conclusion, we identify new TRH- and Gαq/11-dependent mechanisms in the median eminence by which tanycytes control the activity of the HPT axis.

Suggested Citation

  • Helge Müller-Fielitz & Marcus Stahr & Mareike Bernau & Marius Richter & Sebastian Abele & Victor Krajka & Anika Benzin & Jan Wenzel & Kathrin Kalies & Jens Mittag & Heike Heuer & Stefan Offermanns & M, 2017. "Tanycytes control the hormonal output of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00604-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00604-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Qiang Yu & Igor Gamayun & Philipp Wartenberg & Qian Zhang & Sen Qiao & Soumya Kusumakshi & Sarah Candlish & Viktoria Götz & Shuping Wen & Debajyoti Das & Amanda Wyatt & Vanessa Wahl & Fabien Ectors & , 2023. "Bitter taste cells in the ventricular walls of the murine brain regulate glucose homeostasis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.

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