Presence of TSHR in NK Cells and Action of TSH on NK Cells

Introduction: Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is widely expressed in human tissues and cells. TSHR is not only involved in thyroid disease but also in the neuroendocrine-immune regulatory network. However, no study has exclusively focused on the expression and function of TSHR in natural killer (NK) cells.

Methods: We studied TSHR expression using reverse transcription PCR to verify TSHR mRNA transcripts in human and mouse NK cells. Human and mouse thyroid and liver tissues as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or spleen lymphoid cells (SLCs) were used as controls. The TSHR protein levels in NK-92 cells were determined by immunofluorescence staining. The function of TSHR in NK cells was investigated by measuring the TSH-stimulated cAMP levels.

Results: TSHR mRNA was detected in human and mouse NK cells as well as in NK-92 cells and had the same sequence as that of thyroid-derived, PBMC-derived, and liver-derived mRNA. The TSHR protein was also expressed in the cell membrane of NK-92 cells. Furthermore, the cAMP levels in NK-92 cells were significantly higher after adding 102 mIU/mL of bovine TSH at p < 0.05, which stimulated cAMP production in NK-92 cells.

Conclusions: Our findings confirm that TSHR is present and functional in NK cells and provide key clues for the potential regulatory effects of TSH on TSHR in NK cells in the immune system.