Minireview: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors in Thyroid Gland Development: An Update

• Published in: Endocrinology (Philadelphia) Vol. 152; no. 8; pp. 2948 - 2956
• Main Authors: De Felice, Mario, Di Lauro, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chevy Chase, MD Endocrine Society 01-08-2011; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Survival; Fibroblast Growth Factors - physiology; Foregut; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones; Humans; Morphogenesis; Nuclear Proteins - physiology; Paired Box Transcription Factors - physiology; PAX8 Transcription Factor; Reviews; Signal Transduction; Stem Cells - cytology; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; Thyroid Gland - cytology; Thyroid Gland - embryology; Thyroid hormones; Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; Transcription Factors - physiology; Tretinoin - physiology; Vertebrates; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Development; Thyroid gland; Endocrine gland
• ISSN: 0013-7227; 1945-7170
• DOI: 10.1210/en.2011-0204

In vertebrates the portion of the thyroid gland synthesizing the thyroid hormones develops from a small group of endodermal cells in the foregut. The nature of the signals that lead to the biochemical and morphogenetic events responsible for the organization of these cells into the adult thyroid gland has only recently become evident. In this review we summarize recent developments in the understanding of these processes, derived from evidence collected in several organisms.