Furosemide, fenclofenac, diclofenac, mefenamic acid and meclofenamic acid inhibit specific T3 binding in isolated rat hepatic nuclei

Exposure to diclofenac alters thyroid hormone levels and transcription of genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in zebrafish embryos/larvae

Diclofenac (DCF), one of typical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has been frequently detected in various environmental media. Nevertheless，the potential endocrine disrupting effects of DCF on fish were poorly understood. In the present study, zebrafish embryos/larvae were used as a model to evaluate the adverse effects of DCF on development and thyroid system. The results demonstrated that DCF only significantly decreased the heart rate at 72 h post-fertilization (hpf), exhibiting limited influence on the embryonic development of zebrafish. Treatment with DCF significantly reduced whole-body thyroxine (T4) levels, and changed transcriptional levels of several genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. These findings provide important information regarding to the mechanisms of DCF-induced developmental toxicity and thyroid disruption in fish.

T-Screen as a tool to identify thyroid hormone receptor active compounds

The T-Screen represents an in vitro bioassay based on thyroid hormone dependent cell proliferation of a rat pituitary tumour cell line (GH3) in serum-free medium. It can be used to study interference of compounds with thyroid hormone at the cellular level, thus bridging the gap between limitations of assays using either isolated molecules (enzymes, transport proteins) or complex in vivo experiments with all the complex feedback mechanisms present. Compounds are tested both in the absence and presence of thyroid hormone (EC(50) concentration of T(3)) to test for both agonistic and antagonistic potency. Thyroid hormones (3,3'-5-triiodothyronine: T(3) and 3,3',5,5'-tetraiodothyroxine: T(4)) and compounds resembling the structure of thyroid hormones (3,3'-5-triiodothyroacetic acid: Triac; 3,3',5,5'-tetraiodothyroacetic acid: Tetrac) induced cell growth, with the rank order Triac > T(3) > Tetrac > T(4) (relative potency = 1.35 > 1 > 0.29 > 0.07), which is identical to published affinities of these compounds for nuclear thyroid hormone receptors. Exposure to 5,5'-diphenylhydantoin (DPH) in the presence of 0.25nM T(3) resulted in up to 60% decreased cell growth at 200μM DPH. No effect of DPH on basal metabolic activity of GH3 cells was observed at this concentration. Fentinchloride (IC(50) = 21nM) decreased cell growth induced by 0.25nM T(3), whereas parallel exposure to these concentrations in the absence of T(3) did not alter basal metabolic activities of GH3 cells. Apolar sediment extracts from the Dommel (34%) and Terneuzen (14%) decreased cell growth in the presence of 0.25nM T(3), whereas the extract from Hoogeveen increased cell growth (26%) and the extract from North Sea Channel had no effect. The T-Screen proved to be a fast and functional assay for assessing thyroid hormone receptor active potencies of pure chemicals or environmental mixtures.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and spinal nociceptive processing

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a direct action on spinal nociceptive processing in vivo with a relative order of potency which correlates with their capacity as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase activity. However, recent clinical surveys and new in vivo evidence strongly suggest that for some of these agents, centrally mediated analgesia may also be achieved by additional mechanisms, which are independent of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition. In this review we explore the likelihood for such mechanisms following an extensive survey of existing data. The implications of these mechanisms are discussed in the light of our current understanding of spinal nociceptive processing.

Characterization of cytoplasmic T3 binding sites by adsorption to hydroxyapatite: effects of drug inhibitors of T3 and relationship to glutathione-S-transferases

To facilitate studies of thyroid hormone (T3) binding to cytoplasmic proteins, we prepared monkey (M. fascicularis) liver cytosol (100,000g supernatant) and examined T3 binding using hydroxyapatite (HAP) separation. HAP adsorbs cytoplasmic and nuclear binding sites but not serum T4 binding proteins. Cytosol was incubated with [125I]T3 for 30 min at 4 degrees C and separated by adding an equal volume of HAP (15 g/100 mL). After a further incubation of 10 min, the HAP pellet was washed three times in buffer containing Triton X-100, 0.5%. With this method, a single class of T3 binding site was observed with Kd 15.8 +/- 1.2 nM, concentration 0.62 +/- 0.17 pmol/mg protein (n = 3, mean +/- SD). We used this assay to assess potential drug inhibitors of cytoplasmic binding and to evaluate the proposal that glutathione-S-transferases (GST) and cytoplasmic T3 binding proteins are identical. Displacement of [125I]T3 by unlabeled iodothyronines relative to T3 (100) was T4 58, Triac 7, rT3 7, Tetrac less than or equal to 1. This hierarchy indicates that this binding site is distinct from nuclear or serum binding sites. T3 binding was displaceable by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and nonbile acid cholephils (NBAC). Half-inhibitory concentrations (microM, mean +/- SD, n greater than or equal to 3) were diclofenac 4.9 +/- 1.3, mefenamic acid 13.6 +/- 0.6, bromosulphthalein 45 +/- 3, iopanoic acid approximately 200. Amiodarone and furosemide were inactive up to 100 microM. No displacement was observed with cortisol or the bile acid taurocholate, up to 100 microM. Dithiothreitol, 5 mM, did not change binding affinity or capacity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)