A protective role for type 3 deiodinase, a thyroid hormone-inactivating enzyme, in cochlear development and auditory function

Lily Ng, Arturo Hernandez, Wenxuan He, Tianying Ren, Maya Srinivas, Ma Michelle, Valerie A. Galton, Donald L. St Germain, Douglas Forrest

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thyroid hormone is necessary for cochlear development and auditory function, but the factors that control these processes are poorly understood. Previous evidence indicated that in mice, the serum supply of thyroid hormone is augmented within the cochlea itself by type 2 deiodinase, which amplifies the level of T 3, the active form of thyroid hormone, before the onset of hearing. We now report that type 3 deiodinase, a thyroid hormone-inactivating enzyme encoded by Dio3, is ex- pressed in the immature cochlea before type 2 deiodinase. Dio3-/- mice display auditory deficits and accelerated cochlear differentiation, contrasting with the retardation caused by deletion of type 2 deiodinase. The Dio3 mRNA expression pattern in the greater epithelial ridge, stria vascularis, and spiral ganglion partly overlaps with that of thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ), the T 3 receptor that is primarily responsible for auditory development. The proposal that type 3 deiodinase prevents premature stimulation of TRβ was supported by deleting TRβ, which converted the Dio3-/- cochlear phenotype from one of accelerated to one of delayed differentiation. The results indicate a protective role for type 3 deiodinase in hearing. The auditory system illustrates the considerable extent to which tissues can autoregulate their developmental response to thyroid hormone through both type 2 and 3 deiodinases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1952-1960
Number of pages9
JournalEndocrinology
Volume150
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A protective role for type 3 deiodinase, a thyroid hormone-inactivating enzyme, in cochlear development and auditory function'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this