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Interconnection between circadian clocks and thyroid function

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 15, pages 590–600 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

Circadian rhythmicity is an approximately 24-h cell-autonomous period driven by transcription–translation feedback loops of specific genes, which are referred to as ‘circadian clock genes’. In mammals, the central circadian pacemaker, which is located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus, controls peripheral circadian clocks. The circadian system regulates virtually all physiological processes, which are further modulated by changes in the external environment, such as light exposure and the timing of food intake. Chronic circadian disruption caused by shift work, travel across time zones or irregular sleep–wake cycles has long-term consequences for our health and is an important lifestyle factor that contributes to the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cancer. Although the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis is under the control of the circadian clock via the suprachiasmatic nucleus pacemaker, daily TSH secretion profiles are disrupted in some patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Disruption of circadian rhythms has been recognized as a perturbation of the endocrine system and of cell cycle progression. Expression profiles of circadian clock genes are abnormal in well-differentiated thyroid cancer but not in the benign nodules or a healthy thyroid. Therefore, the characterization of the thyroid clock machinery might improve the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Key points

  • The hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis is controlled by the central circadian pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

  • Daily TSH secretion profiles are often disrupted in patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

  • Circadian dysfunction caused by shift work, travel across time zones or irregular sleep–wake cycles might be a novel lifestyle risk factor for disturbances in thyroid homeostasis in modern societies.

  • Disruption of circadian clock genes in vivo and in vitro disturbs cell cycle progression.

  • The circadian clock is thought to be disrupted in well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

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Fig. 1: Hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis.
Fig. 2: The hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis is under circadian regulation.
Fig. 3: The circadian transcriptional and translational feedback loop machinery in mammals.
Fig. 4: Temporal changes of plasma TSH level in human.
Fig. 5: Circadian disruption can drive thyroid diseases.
Fig. 6: Pars tuberalis-derived TSH regulates seasonal thyroid hormone function.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grants-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research (26000013) and for Young Scientists (B) (17K15574), the Human Frontier Science Program (RGP0030/2015) and the National Institutes of Health (PO1 AG-11412 and R01 DK-15070). The Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules is supported by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan

    Keisuke Ikegami

  2. Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Samuel Refetoff & Eve Van Cauter

  3. Department of Paediatrics and Committee on Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Samuel Refetoff

  4. Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    Takashi Yoshimura

  5. Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    Takashi Yoshimura

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All authors researched data for the article, contributed to discussion of the content, wrote the article and reviewed and/or edited the manuscript before submission.

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Glossary

Ultradian rhythm

A recurrent cycle with a period shorter than 24 h.

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Ikegami, K., Refetoff, S., Van Cauter, E. et al. Interconnection between circadian clocks and thyroid function. Nat Rev Endocrinol 15, 590–600 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-019-0237-z

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