Nuclear T3 Receptors of Lymphocytes in Thyroid-hormone Resistance (thr)

The interaction of thyroid hormones with specific nuclear receptors in target cells is generally thought to be the site of initiation of hormone action. We investigated nuclear triiodothyronine (T3) binding in lymphocytes of 4 patients with partial generalized THR. The patients had a chronological age of 3.5, 13, 2.3 and 26 years, respectively, were clinically euthyroid and exhibited goiters of different sizes. Total and free thyroxine (T4) and T3 were significantly elevated in the presence of inappropriately increased TSH. The mode of inheritance was autosomal dominant in patients III and IV (father and son).