Nitric Oxide/cGMP Signaling Inhibits TSH-Stimulated Iodide Uptake and Expression of Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin mRNA in FRTL-5 Thyroid Cells

Objective: Nitric oxide (NO) induces morphological and functional alterations in primary cultured thyroid cells. The aim of this paper was to analyze the direct influence of a long-term exposition to NO on parameters of thyroid hormone biosynthesis in FRTL-5 cells. Design: Cells were treated with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) for 24–72 h. Main Outcome: SNP (50–500 μmol/L) reduced iodide uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition of iodide uptake increased progressively with time and matched nitrite accumulation. SNP inhibited thyroperoxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG) mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. SNP enhanced 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production. 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine phosphate (cAMP) generation was reduced by a high SNP concentration after 48 h. 8-Bromoguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP), a cGMP analog, inhibited iodide uptake as well as TPO and TG mRNA expression. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK) inhibitor KT-5823 reversed SNP or 8-Br-cGMP-inhibited iodide uptake. Thyroid-stimulating hormone pretreatment for 24–48 h prevented SNP-reduced iodide uptake although nitrite levels remained unaffected. Conclusion: These findings favor a long-term inhibitory role of the NO/cGMP pathway on parameters of thyroid hormone biosynthesis. A novel property of NO to inhibit TPO and TG mRNA expression is supported. The NO action on iodide uptake could involve cGK mediation. The long-term inhibition of steps of thyroid hormonogenesis by NO could be of interest in thyroid pathophysiology.