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DEHP Down-Regulates Tshr Gene Expression in Rat Thyroid Tissues and FRTL-5 Rat Thyrocytes: A Potential Mechanism of Thyroid Disruption
년도 2021
날짜 2021 Apr
페이지 /
학회지명		 36(2):447-454 / Endocrinology and Metabolism
논문저자 Min Joo Kim 1 2, Hwan Hee Kim 2, Young Shin Song 3, Ok-Hee Kim 4, Kyungho Choi 5, Sujin Kim 5 6, Byung-Chul Oh 4, Young Joo Park 2 7
Link 관련링크 https://www.e-enm.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.3803/EnM.2020.920 122회 연결
Affiliations
1 Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.
2 Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
3 Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
4 Department of Physiology, Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
5 Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
6 Department of Environmental Science and Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
7 Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract
Background: Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is known to disrupt thyroid hormonal status. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of this disruption is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the direct effects of DEHP on the thyroid gland.

Methods: DEHP (vehicle, 50 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg) was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 weeks. The expression of the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway in rat thyroid tissues was analyzed through RNA sequencing analysis, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. DEHP was treated to FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells, and an RT-PCR analysis was performed. A reporter gene assay containing the promoter of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) in Nthy-ori 3-1 human thyroid cells was constructed, and luciferase activity was determined.

Results: After DEHP treatment, the free thyroxine (T4) and total T4 levels in rats significantly decreased. RNA sequencing analysis of rat thyroid tissues showed little difference between vehicle and DEHP groups. In the RT-PCR analysis, Tshr expression was significantly lower in both DEHP groups (50 and 500 mg/kg) compared to that in the vehicle group, and IHC staining showed that TSHR expression in the 50 mg/kg DEHP group significantly decreased. DEHP treatment to FRTL-5 cells significantly down-regulated Tshr expression. DEHP treatment also reduced luciferase activity in a reporter gene assay for TSHR.

Conclusion: Although overall genetic changes in the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway are not clear, DEHP exposure could significantly down-regulate Tshr expression in thyroid glands. Down-regulation of Tshr gene appears to be one of potential mechanisms of thyroid disruption by DEHP exposure.

Keywords: Diethylhexyl phthalate; Endocrine disruptors; Receptors, thyrotropin; Thyroid gland.

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