Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The autoregulatory response of thyroid follicles to excess iodine involves different steps and processes, most notably the acute inhibition of thyroglobulin (Tg) iodination called the Wolff-Chaikoff phenomenon, and the subsequent downregulation of the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) during the so-called escape from the Wolff-Chaikoff phenomenon. The molecular mechanisms involved in these phenomena are still incompletely understood. In previous studies, we have found p...

Background and objectives: Recent studies have identified pleiotropic roles for the Nrf2 antioxidant response in the physiology of the thyroid gland and in the pathophysiology of various thyroid diseases. Various natural compounds have antioxidant properties and/or thyroidal effects, but it is not well known whether and how the two are related. The aim of the present study was to characterize in a systematic manner the thyroidal and antioxidant effects of natural compounds.</p...

Introduction: Nrf2 (Nfe2l2) is a transcription factor that regulates a series of cytoprotective and antioxidant enzymes. Upon exposure to oxidative or electrophilic stress, Nrf2 enters the nucleus and induces its target genes expression. Follicular thyroid cells have physiologically high levels of reactive oxygen species as oxidation of iodine is essential for iodination of thyroglobulin and thyroid hormones synthesis. We have shown previously that Nrf2 pathway is active in th...

Background/Aims: Food intake is orchestrated by complex neuronal networksresiding in the forebrain, hypothalamus, and brainstem, via orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides. Nesfatin-1, the amino-terminal fragment of nucleobindin 2, is a potent anorexigenic and anti-obesogenic neuropeptide, with widespread central distribution in rodents. In obese humans, our research group has recently reported reduced nesfatin-1 protein expression in the lateral hypothalamic area, a brain ...

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a protein exclusively synthesized by follicular thyroid cells. Serum Tg levels depend on thyroid volume, serum TSH levels, gender, age, smoking, and iodine intake. Consequently, serum Tg reference range may exhibit variations among different populations. It is crucial to establish population-specific reference ranges, especially when interpreting serum Tg values in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer who have undergone...

Objective: Because thyroid hormones positively regulate basal metabolic rate (BMR), one would expect that researchers systematically evaluate thyroid function in studies focused on BMR or resting energy expenditure (REE). The persent study aimed to document the percentage of human metabolic studies that find a difference in BMR/REE following an intervention and subsequently go on to evaluate whether thyroid function is altered.Methods: A literature searc...

Background and objectives: Sulforaphane is one of the best studied Nrf2-activating compounds. In preclinical studies, it is usually administered either intravenously or via gavage. While these administration methods are efficacious in activating Nrf2 in target tissues, they have certain disadvantages: (i) they are invasive and thus not optimal from the perspective of the 3Rs (Replacement-Reduction-Refinement), notably regarding Refinement; (ii) their invasive nature may potent...

Objective: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is not only the most frequent autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), but it also has a significant impact on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and it has been variably associated with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Even though its pathogenesis is still incompletely understood, oxidative stress is believed to play an important role. Hypothyroidism related to later stages of HT can be treated with levothyroxine sub...

Background: KEAP1 gene (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1) that encodes the main inhibitor of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related transcription factor 2 (Nrf2), a central mediator of antioxidant responses, has been found to be one of the mutated genes that lead to familial multinodular goiter (MNG). The proposed association of KEAP1 with familial MNG is based on only two loss-of-function mutations in respective Japanese families. To date, there is no experim...