Defective erythropoiesis caused by mutations of the thyroid hormone receptor α gene

PLoS Genet. 2017 Sep 14;13(9):e1006991. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006991. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Abstract

Patients with mutations of the THRA gene exhibit classical features of hypothyroidism, including erythroid disorders. We previously created a mutant mouse expressing a mutated TRα1 (denoted as PV; Thra1PV/+ mouse) that faithfully reproduces the classical hypothyroidism seen in patients. Using Thra1PV/+ mice, we explored how the TRα1PV mutant acted to cause abnormalities in erythropoiesis. Thra1PV/+ mice exhibited abnormal red blood cell indices similarly as reported for patients. The total bone marrow cells and erythrocytic progenitors were markedly reduced in the bone marrow of Thra1PV/+ mice. In vitro terminal differentiation assays showed a significant reduction of mature erythrocytes in Thra1PV/+ mice. In wild-type mice, the clonogenic potential of progenitors in the erythrocytic lineage was stimulated by thyroid hormone (T3), suggesting that T3 could directly accelerate the differentiation of progenitors to mature erythrocytes. Analysis of gene expression profiles showed that the key regulator of erythropoiesis, the Gata-1 gene, and its regulated genes, such as the Klf1, β-globin, dematin genes, CAII, band3 and eALAS genes, involved in the maturation of erythrocytes, was decreased in the bone marrow cells of Thra1PV/+ mice. We further elucidated that the Gata-1 gene was a T3-directly regulated gene and that TRα1PV could impair erythropoiesis via repression of the Gata-1 gene and its regulated genes. These results provide new insights into how TRα1 mutants acted to cause erythroid abnormalities in patients with mutations of the THRA gene. Importantly, the Thra1PV/+ mouse could serve as a preclinical mouse model to identify novel molecular targets for treatment of erythroid disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Erythrocytes
  • Erythropoiesis / genetics*
  • GATA1 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / genetics*
  • Hypothyroidism / physiopathology
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha / genetics*
  • Transcriptome
  • Triiodothyronine / genetics
  • beta-Globins / genetics

Substances

  • GATA1 Transcription Factor
  • Gata1 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha
  • beta-Globins
  • erythroid Kruppel-like factor
  • Triiodothyronine

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. SP was supported by a grant from the NIH and the Korean Visiting Scientist Training Award (KVSTA) through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI14C1192). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.