Diosgenin relieves goiter via the inhibition of thyrocyte proliferation in a mouse model of Graves＇ disease

• Published in: Acta pharmacologica Sinica 2014-01, Vol.35 (1), p.65-73
• Main Authors: Cai, Hu, Wang, Zhe, Zhang, Hai-qing, Wang, Fu-rong, Yu, Chun-xiao, Zhang, Feng-xia, Gao, Ling, Zhang, Jian, Zhao, Jia-jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; cyclin; Diosgenin - pharmacology; Diosgenin - therapeutic use; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Goiter - drug therapy; Goiter - pathology; Graves Disease - drug therapy; Graves Disease - pathology; HEK293 Cells; Humans; IGF-1; Immunology; Internal Medicine; Medical Microbiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Original; original-article; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Random Allocation; Thyroid Gland - cytology; Thyroid Gland - drug effects; Vaccine; 小鼠模型; 放射免疫分析法; 甲状腺激素受体; 甲状腺肿大; 细胞增殖; 薯蓣皂苷元
• ISSN: 1671-4083; 1745-7254
• DOI: 10.1038/aps.2013.133

Aim： To investigate the effects of diosgenin （Dio）, a naturally occurring steroid saponin, on goiter formation in a mouse model of Graves’ disease （GD） and the underlying mechanisms. Methods： Female BALB/c mice were injected with adenovirus expressing the A subunit of thyrotropin receptor to induce GD. The mice were treated with Dio （20, 100 mg·kg-1·d-1, ip） for 12 or 24 d. The serum levels of TT4 and TRAb were examined using radioimmunoassay and electrochemiluminescence. The size and morphology of thyroid glands were examined. Thyrocyte proliferation was determined using BrdU incorporation assay. The expression of proliferation-associated proteins IGF-1, NF-κB, cyclin D1, and PCNA in thyroids was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Results： The GD mice showed significantly high serum levels of TRAb and TT4 compared to the normal mice. Treatment of the GD mice with Dio for 24 d dose-dependently reduced the TT4 level and thyroid size, but did not affect the abnormal level of TRAb. Furthermore, Dio treatment dose-dependently reversed the morphological changes and reduced excessive thyrocyte proliferation in thyroids of the GD mice. Dio treatment also dose-dependently reduced the mRNA and protein levels of IGF-1, NF-κB, cyclin D1, and PCNA in thyroids of the GD mice. Conclusion： Dio relieves goiter in a mouse model of GD through the inhibition of thyrocyte proliferation. The mechanisms involve the suppression of IGF-1, NF-κB, cyclin D1, and PCNA expression.