Researchers have successfully developed a protocol for producing thyroid follicular epithelial cells (TFCs), which could lead to novel cell-based therapies for hypothyroidism.
In their study, published in Stem Cell Reports, the researchers successfully derived TFCs from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can be differentiated toward any cell after reprogramming to an embryonic stem cell-like state.
"Induced pluripotent stem cells offer a powerful tool for regenerative medicine because they provide an unlimited source of patient-specific cells that can potentially be used to treat a range of diseases," says Darrell Kotton, founding director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM), and David C. Seldin Professor of Medicine at Boston University. "This study brings us one step closer to using iPSC-derived thyroid cells for cell-based therapies in hypothyroidism."
The serum-free differentiation protocol developed by the team has been optimized to induce the development of TFCs. In the study, the team demonstrated the protocol's ability to successfully differentiate iPSCs into mature TFCs within one month. Once transplanted into a thyroid-deficient animal model, these differentiated TFCs formed thyroid-like structures that are key to proper thyroid function.
"Our findings offer a significant advancement in the ability to generate human thyroid cells in the lab. While further work is needed before this can become a clinical therapy, the protocol we've developed could pave the way for regenerative treatments for hypothyroidism," said Dr. Hollenberg, president of Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Professor of Medicine at the school. "One day, we hope to offer a cell-based solution for patients who undergo thyroid surgery or are born with congenital hypothyroidism."