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Zhou J, Zhu L. Shared genetic links between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders: evidence from a comprehensive genetic analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1370019. [PMID: 38904036 PMCID: PMC11187243 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1370019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Epidemiologic studies have suggested co-morbidity between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders. However, the shared genetic etiology and causal relationship between them remain currently unclear. Methods We assessed the genetic correlations between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders [anxiety disorders (ANX), schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BIP)] using summary association statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Two disease-associated pleiotropic risk loci and genes were identified, and pathway enrichment, tissue enrichment, and other analyses were performed to determine their specific functions. Furthermore, we explored the causal relationship between them through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Results We found significant genetic correlations between hypothyroidism with ANX, SCZ, and MDD, both in the Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) approach and the high-definition likelihood (HDL) approach. Meanwhile, the strongest correlation was observed between hypothyroidism and MDD (LDSC: rg=0.264, P=7.35×10-12; HDL: rg=0.304, P=4.14×10-17). We also determined a significant genetic correlation between MDD with free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. A total of 30 pleiotropic risk loci were identified between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders, of which the 15q14 locus was identified in both ANX and SCZ (P values are 6.59×10-11 and 2.10×10-12, respectively) and the 6p22.1 locus was identified in both MDD and SCZ (P values are 1.05×10-8 and 5.75×10-14, respectively). Sixteen pleiotropic risk loci were identified between MDD and indicators of thyroid function, of which, four loci associated with MDD (1p32.3, 6p22.1, 10q21.1, 11q13.4) were identified in both FT4 normal level and Hypothyroidism. Further, 79 pleiotropic genes were identified using Magma gene analysis (P<0.05/18776 = 2.66×10-6). Tissue-specific enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were highly enriched into six brain-related tissues. The pathway analysis mainly involved nucleosome assembly and lipoprotein particles. Finally, our two-sample MR analysis showed a significant causal effect of MDD on the increased risk of hypothyroidism, and BIP may reduce TSH normal levels. Conclusions Our findings not only provided evidence of a shared genetic etiology between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders, but also provided insights into the causal relationships and biological mechanisms that underlie their relationship. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pleiotropy between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders, while having important implications for intervention and treatment goals for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlong Zhou
- People’s Hospital of Deyang City, Affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Deyang, China
| | - Lv Zhu
- Department of Integrative Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Oelkrug R, Harder L, Pedaran M, Hoffmann A, Kolms B, Inderhees J, Gachkar S, Resch J, Johann K, Jöhren O, Krause K, Mittag J. Maternal thyroid hormone receptor β activation in mice sparks brown fat thermogenesis in the offspring. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6742. [PMID: 37875497 PMCID: PMC10597992 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42425-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that maternal thyroid hormones play an important role for the developing fetus; however, the consequences of maternal hyperthyroidism for the offspring remain poorly understood. Here we show in mice that maternal 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) treatment during pregnancy leads to improved glucose tolerance in the adult male offspring and hyperactivity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in both sexes starting early after birth. The activated BAT provides advantages upon cold exposure, reducing the strain on other thermogenic organs like muscle. This maternal BAT programming requires intact maternal thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) signaling, as offspring of mothers lacking this receptor display the opposite phenotype. On the molecular level, we identify distinct T3 induced alterations in maternal serum metabolites, including choline, a key metabolite for healthy pregnancy. Taken together, our results connect maternal TRβ activation to the fetal programming of a thermoregulatory phenotype in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Oelkrug
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Lisbeth Harder
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Mehdi Pedaran
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anne Hoffmann
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beke Kolms
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Julica Inderhees
- Bioanalytic Core Facility - Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sogol Gachkar
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Julia Resch
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kornelia Johann
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Olaf Jöhren
- Bioanalytic Core Facility - Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kerstin Krause
- Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Mittag
- Institute for Endocrinology & Diabetes - Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Brain Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
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Mendoza-León MJ, Mangalam AK, Regaldiz A, González-Madrid E, Rangel-Ramírez MA, Álvarez-Mardonez O, Vallejos OP, Méndez C, Bueno SM, Melo-González F, Duarte Y, Opazo MC, Kalergis AM, Riedel CA. Gut microbiota short-chain fatty acids and their impact on the host thyroid function and diseases. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1192216. [PMID: 37455925 PMCID: PMC10349397 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1192216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid disorders are clinically characterized by alterations of L-3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine (T4), L-3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), and/or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the blood. The most frequent thyroid disorders are hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroxinemia. These conditions affect cell differentiation, function, and metabolism. It has been reported that 40% of the world's population suffers from some type of thyroid disorder and that several factors increase susceptibility to these diseases. Among them are iodine intake, environmental contamination, smoking, certain drugs, and genetic factors. Recently, the intestinal microbiota, composed of more than trillions of microbes, has emerged as a critical player in human health, and dysbiosis has been linked to thyroid diseases. The intestinal microbiota can affect host physiology by producing metabolites derived from dietary fiber, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs have local actions in the intestine and can affect the central nervous system and immune system. Modulation of SCFAs-producing bacteria has also been connected to metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. In this review, we discuss how alterations in the production of SCFAs due to dysbiosis in patients could be related to thyroid disorders. The studies reviewed here may be of significant interest to endocrinology researchers and medical practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Mendoza-León
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Alejandro Regaldiz
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enrique González-Madrid
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ma. Andreina Rangel-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Oscar Álvarez-Mardonez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Omar P. Vallejos
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Constanza Méndez
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Susan M. Bueno
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Melo-González
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yorley Duarte
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ma. Cecilia Opazo
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia A. Riedel
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
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Dai W, Liu J, Xie H, Teng Z, Luo W, Yuan H, Chen J, Liu M, Zhang X. Association between subclinical hypothyroidism and psychotic features in Chinese young adults with first-episode and untreated major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:209-215. [PMID: 37086799 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid dysfunction is often reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and may be associated with depression severity and psychotic symptoms. We included young adults with first-episode and untreated MDD to avoid the effect of age and disease duration on thyroid dysfunction and psychotic symptoms. METHODS 481 young patients with MDD (aged 18-24 years) were recruited. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale and Global Impression of Severity Scale (CGIS) were used to assess depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms and disease severity, respectively. RESULTS The prevalence rate of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and thyroid antibody positivity was 56.76 % (273/481) and 26.61 % (128/481) in young MDD, respectively. A higher proportion of MDD patients with SCH displayed psychotic features (14.3 % vs. 5.3 %, OR = 2.985, p = 0.001). TSH was a risk factor for psychotic symptoms in MDD patient with SCH (B = 0.136, p = 0.017, OR = 1.384), with an AUC of 0.709, indicating acceptable discrimination. Multivariate regression analysis also showed that TSH was also independently associated with PANSS positive score (B = 0.339, t = 2.019, p = 0.045). LIMITATION This cross-sectional study design did not demonstrate a causal relationship. Relying solely on the PANSS positive subscale as psychotic symptoms may cause bias. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that SCH is common in young patients with first-episode and untreated MDD. MDD patients with higher TSH levels may suffer from more psychotic symptoms. Regular screening of serum thyroid hormones is necessary in patients with MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Dai
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Jieyu Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China; Department of Ultrasound Diagnostic, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Haiqing Xie
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnostic, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Ziwei Teng
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Wenbo Luo
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Jindong Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Minghui Liu
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnostic, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China.
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Marty MS, Sauer UG, Charlton A, Ghaffari R, Guignard D, Hallmark N, Hannas BR, Jacobi S, Marxfeld HA, Melching-Kollmuss S, Sheets LP, Urbisch D, Botham PA, van Ravenzwaay B. Towards a science-based testing strategy to identify maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and neurodevelopmental effects in the progeny-part III: how is substance-mediated thyroid hormone imbalance in pregnant/lactating rats or their progeny related to neurodevelopmental effects? Crit Rev Toxicol 2022; 52:546-617. [PMID: 36519295 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2022.2130166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This review investigated which patterns of thyroid- and brain-related effects are seen in rats upon gestational/lactational exposure to 14 substances causing thyroid hormone imbalance by four different modes-of-action (inhibition of thyroid peroxidase, sodium-iodide symporter and deiodinase activities, enhancement of thyroid hormone clearance) or to dietary iodine deficiency. Brain-related parameters included motor activity, cognitive function, acoustic startle response, hearing function, periventricular heterotopia, electrophysiology and brain gene expression. Specific modes-of-action were not related to specific patterns of brain-related effects. Based upon the rat data reviewed, maternal serum thyroid hormone levels do not show a causal relationship with statistically significant neurodevelopmental effects. Offspring serum thyroxine together with offspring serum triiodothyronine and thyroid stimulating hormone appear relevant to predict the likelihood for neurodevelopmental effects. Based upon the collated database, thresholds of ≥60%/≥50% offspring serum thyroxine reduction and ≥20% and statistically significant offspring serum triiodothyronine reduction indicate an increased likelihood for statistically significant neurodevelopmental effects; accuracies: 83% and 67% when excluding electrophysiology (and gene expression). Measurements of brain thyroid hormone levels are likely relevant, too. The extent of substance-mediated thyroid hormone imbalance appears more important than substance mode-of-action to predict neurodevelopmental impairment in rats. Pertinent research needs were identified, e.g. to determine whether the phenomenological offspring thyroid hormone thresholds are relevant for regulatory toxicity testing. The insight from this review shall be used to suggest a tiered testing strategy to determine whether gestational/lactational substance exposure may elicit thyroid hormone imbalance and potentially also neurodevelopmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ursula G Sauer
- Scientific Consultancy-Animal Welfare, Neubiberg, Germany
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Sauer UG, Asiimwe A, Botham PA, Charlton A, Hallmark N, Jacobi S, Marty S, Melching-Kollmuss S, Palha JA, Strauss V, van Ravenzwaay B, Swaen G. Toward a science-based testing strategy to identify maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and neurodevelopmental effects in the progeny - part I: which parameters from human studies are most relevant for toxicological assessments? Crit Rev Toxicol 2020; 50:740-763. [PMID: 33305658 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1839380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The 2018 European Food Safety Authority/European Chemicals Agency Guidance on the Identification of Endocrine Disruptors lacks clarity on how the presence or absence of substance-induced maternal thyroid hormone imbalance, or the potential for subsequent deleterious consequences in child neurodevelopment, should be established by toxicological assessments. To address these uncertainties, this narrative review evaluates human evidence on how altered maternal thyroid function may be associated with child neurodevelopmental outcomes; and seeks to identify parameters in human studies that appear most relevant for toxicological assessments. Serum levels of free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are most frequently measured when assessing thyroid function in pregnant women, whereas a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental parameters is used to evaluate child neurodevelopment. The human data confirms an association between altered maternal serum fT4 and/or TSH and increased risk for child neurodevelopmental impairment. Quantitative boundaries of effects indicative of increased risks need to be established. Moreover, it is unknown if altered serum levels of total T4, free or total triiodothyronine, or parameters unrelated to serum thyroid hormones might be more relevant indicators of such effects. None of the human studies established a link between substance-mediated liver enzyme induction and increased serum thyroid hormone clearance, let alone further to child neurodevelopmental impairment. This review identifies research needs to contribute to the development of toxicity testing strategies, to reliably predict whether substances have the potential to impair child neurodevelopment via maternal thyroid hormone imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula G Sauer
- Scientific Consultancy - Animal Welfare, Neubiberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sue Marty
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, USA
| | | | - Joana A Palha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimaraes, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center, Braga, Portugal
| | | | | | - Gerard Swaen
- Department of Complex Genetics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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