Cognitive function in hypothyroidism: what is that deiodinase again?

β-Sitosterol & quercetin enhances brain development in iodine deficient rat models

BACKGROUND

Recently thyroid hormone studies on brain growth, development and activity are regaining popularity. Thyroid hormones have long been believed to play critical role in mammalian brain growth and maturation regulating facets of neuronal cell growth, proliferation and differentiation and further signaling and glial cell differentiation. Deficiency of these hormones in mother leads to mental retardation in the subsequent offspring's.

METHODS

In this presented study, brain development of iodine deficient rat models created through deficiency in feeding, mating and further selection. Young adult female wistar rats were induced with iodine deficiency and then mated with healthy male rats. These pregnant hypothyroid induced females were treated with β-sitosterol (150 mg/kg/day) and quercetin (150 mg/kg/day) alone and in combination for whole gestation period. Analysis were dealt with the genetic and histological studies of the pups brain. PCR based RNA analysis was also carried out. Histology was done using eosin and hematoxylin.

RESULTS

Positive impacts of the β-sitosterol and quercetin on the iodine deficient brain were observed upon histological and PCR analysis. Altogether, the analysis proves that combined doses of β-sitosterol and quercetin for normal brain development in iodine deficient infants hence can be potentially applied as therapeutics in iodine deficiency circumstances.

Accelerating functional gene discovery in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis causes debilitating pain and disability, resulting in a considerable socioeconomic burden, yet no drugs are available that prevent disease onset or progression. Here, we develop, validate and use rapid-throughput imaging techniques to identify abnormal joint phenotypes in randomly selected mutant mice generated by the International Knockout Mouse Consortium. We identify 14 genes with functional involvement in osteoarthritis pathogenesis, including the homeobox gene Pitx1, and functionally characterize 6 candidate human osteoarthritis genes in mouse models. We demonstrate sensitivity of the methods by identifying age-related degenerative joint damage in wild-type mice. Finally, we phenotype previously generated mutant mice with an osteoarthritis-associated polymorphism in the Dio2 gene by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and demonstrate a protective role in disease onset with public health implications. We hope this expanding resource of mutant mice will accelerate functional gene discovery in osteoarthritis and offer drug discovery opportunities for this common, incapacitating chronic disease.

Deiodinases, organic anion transporter polypeptide polymorphisms and symptoms of anxiety and depression after ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Emotional disturbances, such as anxiety and depression are common after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Individual variation in emotional outcome is strongly influenced by genetic factors. One of pituitary axis, is the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, a critical regulator of post-stroke recovery, suggesting that allelic variants in thyroid hormone (TH) signaling regulation can influence stroke outcome.

AIM

To determine associations between AIS emotional outcome and allelic variants of the TH metabolizing enzymes 1-3 type deiodinase (DIO1-3) and the membrane transporting organic anion polypeptide 1C1 (OATP1C1).

METHODS

Eligible AIS patients from Lithuania (n=168) were genotyped for ten DIO1-3 and OATP1C1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP): DIO1 rs12095080-A/G, rs11206244-C/T, and rs2235544-A/C; DIO2 rs225014-T/C and rs225015-G/A; DIO3 rs945006-T/G; OATP1C1 rs974453-G/A, rs10444412-T/C, rs10770704-C/T, and rs1515777-A/G. Emotional outcome was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at discharge from the neurology department after experienced index AIS.

RESULTS

After adjustment for potential confounders, the major allelic (wild-type) DIO1-rs12095080 genotype (AA) was associated with higher odds ratio of anxiety symptoms (OR = 5.16; 95% CI: 1.04-25.58; p = 0.045), conversely, DIO1-rs11206244 wild-type genotype (CC) and wild-type OATP1C1-rs1515777 allele containing the genotypes (AA + AG) were associated with lower odds ratio of symptoms of anxiety (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.14-0.96; p = 0.041 and OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.76; p = 0.011, respectively). Wild-type OATP1C1-rs974453 genotype (GG) was associated with higher odds ratio of symptoms of depression (OR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.04-7.12; p = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

Allelic variants in thyroid axis genes may predict emotional outcomes of AIS.