Pathology of the TSH receptor.

Gain of function and loss of function mutations of the TSH receptor have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various thyroid diseases. Gain of function mutations, when somatic, are the first cause of autonomous nodules; when germline, they are responsible for hereditary non-autoimmune toxic thyroid hyperplasia and for some cases of sporadic congenital hyperthyroidism. A subset of mutations modifying the receptor selectivity have recently been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of familial gestational hyperthyroidism. These mutations are of great interest for understanding the mechanism of receptor activation. Loss of function mutations of the TSH receptor are responsible for different phenotypes ranging from asymptomatic resistance to TSH to overt congenital hypothyroidism.