Expression data from normal adults and fetal human thyroids

Transcriptomic signature of human embryonic thyroid is not described so far. The goal of this project was to evaluate what enables the transition from differentiation to functional maturation of the human developing thyroid, by performing transcriptomic analysis of human thyroids covering the period of gestation weeks 7-11 and comparing it to adult human thyroids. We defined a non TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) dependent transition from differentiation to maturation of thyroid. The study also sought to shed light on possible factors that could replace TSH, which is absent in this window of gestational age, to trigger transition to the emergence of thyroid function. RNA from human fetal and adult thyroids were hybridized onto Affymetrix arrays, and compared to other human tissues of various organs from either fetuses or adults.