The effects of perchlorate on thyroidal gene expression are different from the effects of iodide deficiency

Perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate: Environmental relevant NIS-inhibitors pollutants and their impact on thyroid function and human health

Thyroid disruptors are found in food, atmosphere, soil, and water. These contaminants interfere with the thyroid function through the impairment of thyroid hormone synthesis, plasma transport, peripheral metabolism, transport into the target cells, and thyroid hormone action. It is well known that iodide uptake mediated by the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) is the first limiting step involved in thyroid hormones production. Therefore, it has been described that several thyroid disruptors interfere with the thyroid function through the regulation of NIS expression and/or activity. Perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate competitively inhibit the NIS-mediated iodide uptake. These contaminants are mainly found in food, water and in the smoke of cigarettes. Although the impact of the human exposure to these anions is highly controversial, some studies indicated their deleterious effects in the thyroid function, especially in individuals living in iodine deficient areas. Considering the critical role of thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones for growth, metabolism, and development, this review summarizes the impact of the exposure to these NIS-inhibitors on thyroid function and their consequences for human health.

Evolution and developmental expression of the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS, slc5a5) gene family: Implications for perchlorate toxicology

The vertebrate sodium-iodide symporter (NIS or SLC5A5) transports iodide into the thyroid follicular cells that synthesize thyroid hormone. The SLC5A protein family includes transporters of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Disruption of SLC5A5 function by perchlorate, a pervasive environmental contaminant, leads to human pathologies, especially hypothyroidism. Perchlorate also disrupts the sexual development of model animals, including threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and zebrafish (Danio rerio), but the mechanism of action is unknown. To test the hypothesis that SLC5A5 paralogs are expressed in tissues necessary for the development of reproductive organs, and therefore are plausible candidates to mediate the effects of perchlorate on sexual development, we first investigated the evolutionary history of Slc5a paralogs to better understand potential functional trajectories of the gene family. We identified two clades of slc5a paralogs with respect to an outgroup of sodium/choline cotransporters (slc5a7); these clades are the NIS clade of sodium/iodide and lactate cotransporters (slc5a5, slc5a6, slc5a8, slc5a8, and slc5a12) and the SGLT clade of sodium/glucose cotransporters (slc5a1, slc5a2, slc5a3, slc5a4, slc5a10, and slc5a11). We also characterized expression patterns of slc5a genes during development. Stickleback embryos and early larvae expressed NIS clade genes in connective tissue, cartilage, teeth, and thyroid. Stickleback males and females expressed slc5a5 and its paralogs in gonads. Single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) on zebrafish sex-genotyped gonads revealed that NIS clade-expressing cells included germ cells (slc5a5, slc5a6a, and slc5a6b) and gonadal soma cells (slc5a8l). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that perchlorate exerts its effects on sexual development by interacting with slc5a5 or its paralogs in reproductive tissues. These findings show novel expression domains of slc5 genes in stickleback and zebrafish, which suggest similar functions across vertebrates including humans, and provide candidates to mediate the effects of perchlorate on sexual development.

Perchlorate occurrence, sub-basin contribution and risk hotspots for drinking water sources in China based on industrial agglomeration method

Perchlorate is a persistent inorganic contaminant which has attracted wide attention because of its harmful effects on physical health. Despite the potential adverse effects to humans via drinking water, related research at the national scale in China are scarce. In this study, the occurrence of perchlorate in major river basins in China was investigated from 2009 to 2020. Generally, except for the Yangtze River Basin, perchlorate concentrations in the surface water of other river basins were low, ranging from < 0.01 to 8.53 μg/L. The results of a specialized field sampling and tracking program in the Yangtze River Basin in 2019 showed that the Xiangjiang River basin is the greatest contributor of perchlorate in the Yangtze River Basin, accounting for 58.63% of the total perchlorate input. Furthermore, based on correlation analysis between production enterprise information and measured concentrations in sampled sites, fireworks and explosives production industries were identified as the major sources of perchlorate contamination in surface water. The risk map showed that the central-southern part of China and the central part of Xinjiang province were risk hotspots for perchlorate contamination. The results gave insights into how to conduct more precise risk assessment and policy intervention towards prevention of perchlorate contamination.

SCREENED: A Multistage Model of Thyroid Gland Function for Screening Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in a Biologically Sex-Specific Manner

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are chemicals that contribute to health problems by interfering with the physiological production and target effects of hormones, with proven impacts on a number of endocrine systems including the thyroid gland. Exposure to EDs has also been associated with impairment of the reproductive system and incidence in occurrence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases during ageing. SCREENED aims at developing in vitro assays based on rodent and human thyroid cells organized in three different three-dimensional (3D) constructs. Due to different levels of anatomical complexity, each of these constructs has the potential to increasingly mimic the structure and function of the native thyroid gland, ultimately achieving relevant features of its 3D organization including: 1) a 3D organoid based on stem cell-derived thyrocytes, 2) a 3D organoid based on a decellularized thyroid lobe stromal matrix repopulated with stem cell-derived thyrocytes, and 3) a bioprinted organoid based on stem cell-derived thyrocytes able to mimic the spatial and geometrical features of a native thyroid gland. These 3D constructs will be hosted in a modular microbioreactor equipped with innovative sensing technology and enabling precise control of cell culture conditions. New superparamagnetic biocompatible and biomimetic particles will be used to produce "magnetic cells" to support precise spatiotemporal homing of the cells in the 3D decellularized and bioprinted constructs. Finally, these 3D constructs will be used to screen the effect of EDs on the thyroid function in a unique biological sex-specific manner. Their performance will be assessed individually, in comparison with each other, and against in vivo studies. The resulting 3D assays are expected to yield responses to low doses of different EDs, with sensitivity and specificity higher than that of classical 2D in vitro assays and animal models. Supporting the "Adverse Outcome Pathway" concept, proteogenomic analysis and biological computational modelling of the underlying mode of action of the tested EDs will be pursued to gain a mechanistic understanding of the chain of events from exposure to adverse toxic effects on thyroid function. For future uptake, SCREENED will engage discussion with relevant stakeholder groups, including regulatory bodies and industry, to ensure that the assays will fit with purposes of ED safety assessment. In this project review, we will briefly discuss the current state of the art in cellular assays of EDs and how our project aims at further advancing the field of cellular assays for EDs interfering with the thyroid gland.

Evaluation of hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis function by chronic perchlorate exposure in male rats

Perchlorate is a widespread endocrine disruptor that was previously correlated with increased serum TSH levels and decreased thyroid hormones production both in animals and humans. Even so, the regulation of gene/protein expression in the hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid by chronic perchlorate exposure was not completely elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the disruption of hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis by chronic perchlorate exposure. Male Wistar rats were treated or not with NaClO₄ in the drinking water (35 mg/Kg/day) for 60 days. Thereafter, hormone/cytokines serum levels were measured through multiplex assays; genes/proteins expression were investigated by qPCR/Western Blotting and thyroid morphology was evaluated through histological analysis. Serum TSH levels were increased and serum T₄ /T₃ levels were decreased in perchlorate-treated animals. This treatment also altered the thyrotropin-releasing hormone mRNA/protein content in the hypothalamus. Additionally, the expression of both subunits of TSH were increased in the pituitary of perchlorate-treated rats, which also presented significant alterations in the thyroid morphology/gene expression. Furthermore, perchlorate exposure reduced liver Dio1 mRNA expression and increased the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the thyroid and the serum. In conclusion, our study adds novel findings about the perchlorate-induced disruption of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis gene/protein expression in male rats. The data presented herein also suggest that perchlorate induces thyroid and systemic inflammation through the increased production of cytokines. Taken together, our results suggest that perchlorate contamination should be monitored, especially in the individuals most susceptible to the deleterious effects of reduced levels of thyroid hormones.

Developmental timing of perchlorate exposure alters threespine stickleback dermal bone

Adequate levels of thyroid hormone are critical during development and metamorphosis, and for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Perchlorate, a common contaminant of water sources, inhibits thyroid function in vertebrates. We utilized threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to determine if timing of perchlorate exposure during development impacts adult dermal skeletal phenotypes. Fish were exposed to water contaminated with perchlorate (30mg/L or 100mg/L) beginning at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 42, 154 or 305days post fertilization until sexual maturity at 1year of age. A reciprocal treatment moved stickleback from contaminated to clean water on the same schedule providing for different stages of initial exposure and different treatment durations. Perchlorate exposure caused concentration-dependent significant differences in growth for some bony traits. Continuous exposure initiated within the first 21days post fertilization had the greatest effects on skeletal traits. Exposure to perchlorate at this early stage can result in small traits or abnormal skeletal morphology of adult fish which could affect predator avoidance and survival.

Perchlorate disrupts embryonic androgen synthesis and reproductive development in threespine stickleback without changing whole-body levels of thyroid hormone

Perchlorate, an environmental contaminant, disrupts normal functioning of the thyroid. We previously showed that perchlorate disrupts behavior and gonad development, and induces external morphological changes in a vertebrate model organism, the threespine stickleback. Whether perchlorate alters these phenotypes via a thyroid-mediated mechanism, and the extent to which the effects depend on dose, are unknown. To address these questions, we chronically exposed stickleback to control conditions and to three concentrations of perchlorate (10, 30 and 100ppm) at various developmental stages from fertilization to reproductive maturity. Adults chronically exposed to perchlorate had increased numbers of thyroid follicles and decreased numbers of thyrocytes. Surprisingly, T4 and T3 levels in larval, juvenile, and adult whole fish chronically exposed to perchlorate did not differ from controls, except at the lowest perchlorate dose, suggesting a non-monotonic dose response curve. We found no detectable abnormalities in external phenotype at any dose of perchlorate, indicating that the increased number of thyroid follicles compensated for the disruptive effects of these doses. In contrast to external morphology, gonadal development was altered substantially, with the highest dose of perchlorate causing the largest effects. Perchlorate increased the number both of early stage ovarian follicles in females and of advanced spermatogenic stages in males. Perchlorate also disrupted embryonic androgen levels. We conclude that chronic perchlorate exposure may not result in lasting adult gross morphological changes but can produce lasting modifications to gonads when compensation of T3 and T4 levels occurs by thyroid follicle hyperplasia. Perchlorate may therefore affect vertebrate development via both thyroidal and non-thyroidal mechanisms.

Environmental perchlorate exposure: potential adverse thyroid effects

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review will present a general overview of the sources, human studies, and proposed regulatory action regarding environmental perchlorate exposure.

RECENT FINDINGS

Some recent studies have reported significant associations between urinary perchlorate concentrations, thyroid dysfunction, and decreased infant intelligence quotient in groups who would be particularly susceptible to perchlorate effects. An update regarding the recently proposed regulatory actions and potential costs surrounding amelioration of perchlorate contamination is provided.

SUMMARY

The potential adverse thyroidal effects of environmental perchlorate exposure remain controversial, and further research is needed to further define its relationship to human health among pregnant and lactating women and their infants.

Metal composition of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) regulating ClO(-)4 adsorption to calcined LDHs via the memory effect and hydrogen bonding

A series of calcined carbonate layered double hydroxides (CLDHs) with various metal compositions and different M(2+)/M(3+) ratios were prepared as adsorbents for perchlorate. Adsorption isotherms fit Langmuir model well, and the adsorption amount followed the order of MgAl-CLDHs ≥ MgFe-CLDHs >> ZnAl-CLDHs. The isotherms of MgAl-CLDHs and MgFe-CLDHs displayed a two-step shape at low and high concentration ranges and increased with an increase in the M(2+)/M(3+) ratio from 2 to 4. The two-step isotherm was not observed for ZnAl-CLDHs, and the adsorption was minimally affected by the M(2+)/M(3+) ratio. The LDHs, CLDHs and the reconstructed samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, FT-IR and Raman spectra to delineate the analysis of perchlorate adsorption mechanisms. The perchlorate adsorption of MgAl-CLDHs and MgFe-CLDHs was dominated by the structural memory effect and the hydrogen bonds between the free hydroxyl groups on the reconstructed-LDHs and the oxygen atoms of the perchlorates. For ZnAl-CLDHs, the perchlorate adsorption was controlled by the structural memory effect only, as the hydroxyl groups on the hydroxide layers preferred to form strong hydrogen bonds with carbonate over perchlorate, which locked the intercalated perchlorate into a more confined nano-interlayer. Several distinct binding mechanisms of perchlorate by CLDHs with unique M(2+) ions were proposed.

Aromatic and hydrophobic surfaces of wood-derived biochar enhance perchlorate adsorption via hydrogen bonding to oxygen-containing organic groups

The pH-dependent adsorption of perchlorate (ClO4(-)) by wood-derived biochars produced at 200-700 °C (referred as FB200-FB700) was investigated to probe the anion retention mechanisms of biochars and to identify the interactions of water and biochar. ClO4(-) adsorption was controlled by the surface polarities and structural compositions of the organic components of biochars, rather than their inorganic mineral components. FB500-FB700 biochars with low polarity and high aromaticity displayed a superior ClO4(-) adsorption capacity, but which was affected by solution pH. Besides electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding to oxygen-containing groups on biochars was proposed the dominant force for perchlorate adsorption, which led to the maximum adsorption occurring near pHIEP, where surface charge equals zero. The dissociation of these surface oxygen-containing groups was monitored by zeta potential curves, which indicated that the H-bonds donors on biochar surface for ClO4(-) binding were changed from -COOH (ClO4(-)···HOOC-) and -OH (ClO4(-)···HO-) to -OH alone with an increase in pH. The H-bond force was strengthened by the condensed aromatic surfaces, since high temperature biochars provided a hydrophobic microenvironment to accommodate weakly hydrated perchlorate and facilitated the H-bonds for ClO4(-) binding to functional groups by the large π subunit of their aromatic substrate. Lastly, the batch and column tests of ClO4(-) adsorption showed that biochars like FB700 are effective adsorbents for anion pollutant removal via H-bonding interaction.

Triplex blue-shifting hydrogen bonds of ClO4(-)···H-C in the nanointerlayer of montmorillonite complexed with cetyltrimethylammonium cation from hydrophilic to hydrophobic properties

In this study, molecular interactions of perchlorate (ClO4(-)), an emerging pollutant, with cetyltrimethylammonium(CTMA(+)) complexed in the nanointerlayer of negatively charged montmorillonite were characterized using the zeta potentials, FTIR, Raman, and XRD spectroscopy and quantified using quantum mechanical calculations and sorption experiments. We found that blue-shifting hydrogen bonds assisted in the uptake of ClO4(-) from water into the nanointerlayer spacing of CTMA(+)-montmorillonite and were tunable according to CTMA(+) loading. FTIR spectra presented an obvious 47 cm(-1) blue shift in the C-H vibration coming from the N-terminal methyl group of CTMA(+) when ClO4(-) was absorbed. Quantum mechanical calculations based on density functional theory demonstrated that triplex blue-shifting hydrogen bonds of C-H···O were formed between the three terminal methyl groups of CTMA(+) and three oxygen atoms of ClO4(-). The contribution of blue-shifting hydrogen bonds to perchlorate uptake switched from a ClO4(-)/CTMA(+) ratio of 0.0453 at low CTMA(+) loadings to a ClO4(-)/CTMA(+) ratio of 0.2563 (5.6-fold) at high CTMA(+) loadings, which can be ascribed to the evolution of the nanointerlayer microenvironments from hydrophilic properties to hydrophobic properties. The blue-shifting hydrogen bond of C-H···O that is tunable with the hydrophobic nature of the organic phase should be recognized to elucidate the biochemical behavior of perchlorate in organisms.

Relative source contributions for perchlorate exposures in a lactating human cohort

Perchlorate is an iodine-uptake inhibitor and common contaminant of food and drinking water. Understanding the amount of perchlorate exposure occurring through non-water sources is essential for accurate estimates of human exposure levels, and establishment of drinking water limits for this pervasive contaminant. The study objective was to determine the amount of perchlorate intake derived from diet rather than water. Subjects provided drinking water samples, detailed fluid-intake records, 24h urine collections and four milk samples for nine days. Samples were analyzed for perchlorate by isotope dilution ion chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Amounts of perchlorate derived from drinking water and dietary sources were calculated for each individual. Water of local origin was found to contribute a minor fraction of perchlorate intake. Estimated fraction intake from drinking water ranged from 0 to 36%. The mean and median dose of perchlorate derived from non-water sources by lactating women was 0.18 μg/kg/day (range: 0.06 to 0.36 μg/kg/day.) Lactating women consumed more fluid (mean 2.424 L/day) than has been assumed in recent risk assessments for perchlorate. The data reported here indicate that lactating women may be exposed to perchlorate through dietary sources at markedly higher levels than estimated previously. Exposures to perchlorate from non-water sources may be higher than recent estimates, including those used to develop drinking water standards.

Perchlorate trophic transfer increases tissue concentrations above ambient water exposure alone in a predatory fish

This study examined effects of varying concentrations of the environmental contaminant perchlorate in northern pike (Esox lucius) based on exposure in water and/or from prey (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus). Routes of exposure to pike were through contaminated water at 0, 10, or 100 mg/L perchlorate for 49 d and/or through feeding, 1 per day over 14 d, sticklebacks that were previously maintained in water at 0, 10, or 100 mg/L perchlorate. Both water and food significantly contributed to pike tissue concentrations of perchlorate as compared to controls, but, as expected for a water-soluble contaminant, perchlorate did not biomagnify from prey to predatory fish. Pike gastrointestinal tissue retained significantly more perchlorate than other tissues combined. Route of exposure and concentration of perchlorate in various media are important to consider in risk assessment when evaluating uptake and tissue concentration of perchlorate because significantly higher tissue concentrations may result from combined prey and water exposures than from prey or water exposures alone in a concentration-dependent manner.