Week 25 Thyroid and parathyroid Flashcards
Anatomy of the thyroid gland
2 lobes and isthmus.
Highly vascular.
Follicular cells/Thyrocytes
Epithelial cells that produce thyroid hormone.
Thyroid follicles
Functional unit of the thyroid.
Parafollicular cells (C cells)
Neuroendocrine cells that produce calcitonin.
Stroma
CT capsule containing blood vessels and lymphatics.
Colloid
Contains thyroglobulin, the precursor for thyroid hormones.
What are the 2 main hormones produced by the thryroid?
T4 - Tyroxine, 93% of thyroid hormones.
T3 - Triiodothyronin, the remaining 7% of thyroid hormones.
Structure of T4
2 tyrosine molecules + 4 iodine atoms.
Structure of T3
2 tyrosine molecules + 3 iodine atoms.
Discuss the relationship between T4 and T3
Almost all T4 is converted into T3 in the target tissues.
T3 is 4x’s more potent than T4, present in smaller quantities for a much shorter duration.
Steps of thyroid hormone synthesis
- Thyroglobin synthesis
- Iodide trapping
- Iodide oxidation
- Iodination of thyroglobulin (organification)
- Coupling of iodotyrosines
- Endocytosis of thyroglobin
- Cleavage of thyroid hormones from thyroglobin
- Secretion of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream
Where does tyrosine come from?
Can be converted from phenylalanine.
PKU lacks the enzyme that converts Phe into Tyr so those individuals need to get it from diet.
Functions of thyroglobin
Precursor of thyroid hormones.
Storage of inactive thyroid hormones.
Recommended dietary intake of iodide
150ug
Where is iodide absorbed
Into blood circulation in the small intestine and skin.
How much absorbed iodide is excreted through the kidneys?
80%
20% used for hormone synthesis.
Iodide trapping
The process of concentrating iodide in the cell.
What is the difference in iodide concentration in the follicular cells vs blood?
30-250 x’s higher in follicular cells.
How is iodide transported?
Iodide pump (Sodium-Iodide Symporter, NIS)
2Na+ and 1 I- pumped in.
Active secondary tranport.
Na/K pump helps balance by actively pumping Na out of cell. Helps keep intracellular Na level low so that NIS can use the gradient to import both Na+ and I-.
What do mutations of the NIS lead to?
Thyroid hormone deficiency.
I- vs I2
I-, IODIDE, reduced form absorbed by the body.
I2, IODINE, oxidized form used in synthesis of thyroid hormones.
Discuss the oxidation of Iodide to Iodine
Iodide transported out the apical surface of the cell via Pendrin.
Once in the colloid, Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) oxidizes I- -> I2
I2 remains in colloid.
Discuss iodination (organification) of thyroglobin
Facilitated by TPO
Produces 2 intermediates:
MIT (first) or DIT (2MITs together)
Depends on how much iodine is present.
TPO + MIT + DIT + Thyroglobin = T3
TPO + DIT + DIT + Thyroglobin = T4
Still in colloid.
Discuss cleavage and secretion of polymers of thyroid hormones
Colloid complexes (thyroglobin + MIT/DIT/T3/T4) are brought back into the cell via pinocytosis.
Lysosomes merge with colloid droplets and proteases free the hormones.
T hormones transport back out basolateral surface of cell via diffusion and MCT8 transporters.