Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
A glycoprotein hormone produced by the anterior pituitary that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. TSH is relevant to peptide therapeutics because somatostatin analogues can suppress TSH secretion, and thyroid function monitoring is important during treatment with several peptide drug classes.
Technical Context
TSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein (shared α subunit with LH/FSH/hCG; unique β subunit) that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T3 and T4 via the TSH receptor (a GPCR). TSH is relevant to peptide therapeutics because: somatostatin analogues (particularly octreotide and pasireotide) suppress TSH secretion and can be used for TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas; thyroid function monitoring is recommended during some peptide drug therapies; and the CALCA gene (encoding both calcitonin and CGRP) is regulated by thyroid status. Additionally, recombinant TSH (thyrotropin alfa) is itself a therapeutic peptide used in thyroid cancer management.