Objective: Proinflammatory cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of non-thyroidal illness (NTI), as shown by studies with IL-6 2/2 and IL-12 2/2 mice. Interleukin (IL)-6 changes peripheral thyroid hormone metabolism, and IL-12 seems to be involved in the regulation of the central part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis during illness. IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine which shares important biological properties with IL-12, such as interferon (IFN)-g-inducing activity. Design: By studying the changes in the HPT-axis during bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced illness in IL-18 2/2 , IFNgR 2/2 and wild-type (WT) mice, we wanted to unravel the putative role of IL-18 and IFNg in the pathogenesis of NTI. Results: LPS induced a decrease in pituitary type 1 deiodinase (D1) activity (P , 0.05, ANOVA) in WT mice, but not in IL-18 2/2 mice, while the decrease in D2 activity was similar in both strains. LPS decreased serum thyroid hormone levels and liver D1 mRNA within 24 h similarly in IL-18 2/2 , and WT mice. The expression of IL-1, IL-6 and IFNg mRNA expression was significantly lower in IL-18 2/2 mice than in WT, while IL-12 mRNA expression was similar. IFNgR 2/2 mice had higher basal D1 activity in the pituitary than WT mice (P , 0.05); LPS induced a decrease of D2, but not of D1, activity in the pituitary which was similar in both strains. In the liver, the LPS-induced increase in cytokine expression was not different between IFNgR 2/2 mice and WT mice, and the decrease in serum T 3 and T 4 levels and hepatic D1 mRNA was also similar. Conclusions: The relative decrease in serum T 3 and T 4 and liver D1 mRNA in response to LPS is similar in IL-18 2/2 , IFNgR 2/2 and WT mice despite significant changes in hepatic cytokine induction. However, the LPS-induced decrease in D1 activity in the pituitary of WT mice is absent in IL-18 2/2 mice; in contrast, LPS did not decrease pituitary D1 activity in the IFNgR 2/2 mice or their WT, which might be due to the genetic background of the mice. Our results suggest that IL-18 is also involved in the regulation of the central part of the HPT axis during illness.

The gene expression of thyroid hormone receptors (TR) in ECRF24 immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated at both the mRNA and the protein level. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) production were measured in response to triiodothyronine (T 3 ) administration. A realtime PCR technique was used to quantify the presence of mRNAs encoding for the different isoforms of the TR. The binding of T 3 to nuclear TRs was studied in isolated endothelial cell nuclei by Scatchard analysis. Expression of TR at the protein level was investigated by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting using TR-isoformspecific polyclonal rabbit antisera. ET-1 and vWF were measured in cell supernatants with a two-site immunoenzymatic assay. Scatchard analysis yielded a maximum binding capacity of 55 fmol T 3 /mg DNA ( 200 sites/ cell) with a K d of 125 pmol/l. Messenger RNAs encoding for the TR 1 and the TR 2 and the TR 1 were observed. The approximate number of mRNA molecules per cell was at least 50 molecules per cell for TR 1, five for TR 2 and two for TR 1. Immunocytochemistry revealed (peri)nuclear staining for TR 1, TR 1 and TR 2. ET-1 and vWF secretion did not increase upon addition of T 3 (10 10

Previous studies have shown a diurnal variation of certain isoforms of thyroid hormone receptors (TR) in rat liver. The genesis of these diurnal changes is still unknown. To clarify whether the biological clock, located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), is involved, we made selective SCN lesions. Rats with an SCN lesion lost their circadian rhythm of plasma corticosterone and TSH when compared with intact animals. TR alpha 1 and TR alpha 2 mRNA expression of control rats was higher in the light period than in the dark period; changes that were abolished in the rats with SCN lesions. In contrast, liver TR beta 1 mRNA of intact rats showed a diurnal variation that failed to reach statistical significance. To evaluate whether these effects could be explained indirectly by the disappearance of rhythmic feeding behavior in rats with SCN lesions, we performed a second experiment in which otherwise intact animals were subjected to a regular feeding (RF) schedule, with one meal every 4 h. When compared with rats with free access to food, RF only affected TR beta 1 mRNA expression and had no effect on the diurnal changes in TR alpha 1 and TR alpha 2. We conclude that liver TR beta 1 expression is most clearly affected by food intake. Diurnal changes in liver TR alpha 1 and TR alpha 2 are controlled by the biological clock in the SCN but not via changes in the daily rhythm of food intake. The findings may have physiological relevance for diurnal variation of T(3)-dependent gene expression, which is supported by a diurnal variation in the expression of the 5'-deiodinase gene.

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Changes in both central and peripheral thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism occur during illness. These changes, known collectively as non-thyroidal illness, are apparently mediated by the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNFalpha and IFNgamma. IL-12 is involved in regulation of IFNgamma and TNFalpha. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of IL-12 in TH metabolism during illness. We studied TH metabolism both centrally (in the pituitary) and peripherally (in the liver) in IL-12 knock-out (IL-12 (-/-)) and wild type (WT) mice during illness induced by administration of bacterial endotoxin (LPS). LPS induced a similar decrease in serum T (3), T (4) and liver 5'-DI mRNA expression in IL-12 (-/-) and WT mice with the exception of a smaller reduction of serum T (4) in IL-12 (-/-) mice. In the pituitary, the LPS-induced decline in 5'-DI activity in WT mice was not observed in IL-12 (-/-) mice (p < 0.001), whereas the decrease in DII activity tended to be smaller in IL-12 (-/-) mice (p = 0.066). The lower decrease in pituitary activity of both DI and DII in IL-12 (-/-) mice is possibly related to the lower LPS-induced T (4) decrease. In conclusion, IL-12 is involved in the central regulation of the HPT axis during illness but not in the peripheral regulation.

We investigated the distribution and diurnal variation of TR(beta)1 protein expression in liver with specific antibodies against TR(beta)1. Immunohistochemistry showed a zonal distribution of TR(beta)1 with maximum expression in the pericentral zone matching some known T(3)-responsive enzyme activities in the liver, such as glutamine synthetase, cholesterol 7alpha- hydroxylase, and spot 14. Combining immunohistochemistry and image analysis we found and quantified the same zonal distribution for 5'-deiodinase type 1 as for TR(beta)1. Western blot analysis revealed a profound diurnal variation for TR(beta)1 protein expression, with highest levels at the beginning of the dark period. TR(beta)1 diurnal variation partly overlaps with the T(3)-responsive genes, cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase and spot 14. Furthermore, TR(beta)1 distribution along the porto-central axis does not change during the day, indicating that the zonal expression of TR(beta)1 is stable. This is the first time that zonal distribution in liver has been demonstrated for a member of the nuclear receptor family. This finding together with the observed diurnal rhythm has major implications for interpreting and timing experiments concerning the TR and its downstream actions in liver.

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