Project description:An imbalance in thyroid hormones (THs) is associated with reversible dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Whether hypothyroidism occurs in AD brains and how it affects AD pathology remain largely unknown. Here, we find that reduced conversion of thyroxine (T4) to tri-iodothyronine (T3) in the brain by decreased iodothyronine deiodinase 2 (DIO2) leads to hippocampal hypothyroidism in early AD model mice prior to TH changes in the blood. A TH deficiency causes immune tolerance with decreased phagocytic activity in microglia, thereby aggravating AD pathology. We demonstrate that microglial ecto-5’-nucleotidase (CD73) is reduced in the hypothyroid state and that its inhibition contributes to immune tolerance in microglia. Thus, our data define a molecular mechanism through which decreased conversion of T4 to T3 in the early AD brain, and consequent brain hypothyroidism causes microglial dysfunction and exacerbates AD pathology.
Project description:An imbalance in thyroid hormones (THs) is associated with reversible dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Whether hypothyroidism occurs in AD brains and how it affects AD pathology remain largely unknown. Here, we find that reduced conversion of thyroxine (T4) to tri-iodothyronine (T3) in the brain by decreased iodothyronine deiodinase 2 (DIO2) leads to hippocampal hypothyroidism in early AD model mice prior to TH changes in the blood. A TH deficiency causes immune tolerance with decreased phagocytic activity in microglia, thereby aggravating AD pathology. We demonstrate that microglial ecto-5’-nucleotidase (CD73) is reduced in the hypothyroid state and that its inhibition contributes to immune tolerance in microglia. Thus, our data define a molecular mechanism through which decreased conversion of T4 to T3 in the early AD brain, and consequent brain hypothyroidism causes microglial dysfunction and exacerbates AD pathology.
Project description:Expression data from different brain regions of mice Discrete brain areas were studied using an unbiased whole-transcript microarray approach (Ala92-Dio2 homozygotes vs Thr92-Dio2 homozygotes)
Project description:Levothyroxine (LT4) is a form of thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism. In the brain, T4 is converted to the active form T3 by type 2 deiodinase (D2). Thus, it is intriguing that carriers of the Thr92Ala polymorphism in the D2 gene (DIO2) exhibit clinical improvement when liothyronine (LT3) is added to LT4 therapy. Here, we report that D2 is a cargo protein in ER Golgi intermediary compartment (ERGIC) vesicles, recycling between ER and Golgi. The Thr92-to-Ala substitution (Ala92-D2) caused ER stress and activated the unfolded protein response (UPR). Ala92-D2 accumulated in the trans-Golgi and generated less T3, which was restored by eliminating ER stress with the chemical chaperone 4-phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA). An Ala92-Dio2 polymorphism-carrying mouse exhibited UPR and hypothyroidism in distinct brain areas. The mouse refrained from physical activity, slept more, and required additional time to memorize objects. Enhancing T3 signaling in the brain with LT3 improved cognition, whereas restoring proteostasis with 4-PBA eliminated the Ala92-Dio2 phenotype. In contrast, primary hypothyroidism intensified the Ala92-Dio2 phenotype, with only partial response to LT4 therapy. Disruption of cellular proteostasis and reduced Ala92-D2 activity may explain the failure of LT4 therapy in carriers of Thr92Ala-DIO2.
Project description:The monocarboxylate transporter 8 (Mct8) protein is a primary T4 and T3 (TH) transporter. Mutations of the MCT8-encoding, SLC16A2 gene alters thyroid function and thyroid hormone metabolism, and severely impairs neurodevelopment (Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, AHDS). Mct8-deficient mice manifest thyroid alterations but lack neurological signs. It is thought that Mct8 deficiency in mice is compensated by T4 transport through the Slco1c1-encoded organic anion transporter polypeptide 1c1 (Oatp1c1). This allows local brain generation of sufficient T3 by the Dio2-encoded type 2 deiodinase (D2). The Slc16a2/Slco1c1 (MO) and Slc16a2/Dio2 (MD) double knock out mice lacking T4 and T3 transport, or T3 transport and T4 deiodination, would be more approriate models of AHDS. The goal of this work was to compare the cerebral hypothyroidism of systemic hypothyroidism (SH) caused by thyroid gland blockade with that present in the double KOs.
Project description:Congenital hypothyroidism is a genetic condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient thyroid hormone (TH), resulting in metabolic dysfunction and growth retardation. Xb130-/- mice exhibit perturbations of thyrocyte cytoskeleton and polarity, develop postnatal transient growth retardation due to congenital hypothyroidism and leading to multinodular goiter in elderly. To determine the underlying mechanisms, we performed transcriptomic analyses on thyroid glands of mice at three age points – week 2 (W2, before visible growth retardation), W4 (at the nadir of growth), and W12 (immediately before full growth recovery. We compared gene expression between Xb130+/+ and Xb130-/- mice.
Project description:In patients undergoing thyroidectomy one of the goals of post-surgical follow-up is the correct maintenance of thyroid hormone (TH) levels by replacement therapy with levo-thyroxine (LT4). Nevertheless, some patients complain of symptoms of hypothyroidism (memory loss, weight gain, fatigue, depression, and reduced quality of life) despite values of thyroid hormones get the physiological range. Since this recurrent issue, we aim to compare serum proteomic profiles of LT4-euthyroid thyroidectomized patients with stable or reduced post-operative quality of life. Proteomic analysis highlights a different protein profile in serum of patients with reduced quality of life compared to the other although both resulted euthyroid. Differential proteins are involved in coagulation processes, complement system activation and in lipoprotein particles remodeling, that together lead to a pro-inflammatory response. Moreover, a particular protein isoform pattern of apolipoprotein A1 and alpha 1 antitrypsin, was also detected. This study suggests that LT4 replacement therapy might restore euthyroid conditions in thyroidectomized patients but in some cases without re-establish body tissues euthyroidism. This condition is reflected by the serum protein profile that shows a behavior similar to overt hypothyroidism.
Project description:We performed a whole-genome DNA methylation analysis (Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip) on peripheral whole blood of 23 twin pairs (10 monozygotic and 13 dizygotic) heterogeneously (4 concordant and 19 discordant) affected by Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) at birth.