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In vivo Characterization of Endocrine Disrupting Chemical Effects via Thyroid Hormone Action Indicator Mouse
Published on: October 6, 2023
Thyroid hormone receptors in health and disease
A Boelen1, J Kwakkel, E Fliers
1Department of Endocrinology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.boelen@amc.uva.nl
Abstract:
Thyroid hormones (TH) play a key role in energy homeostasis throughout life. Thyroid hormone production and secretion by the thyroid gland is regulated via the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT)-axis. Thyroid hormone has to be transported into the cell, where it can bind to the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) in the nucleus to exert its effect on cellular gene-transcription. Mutations in both the THRA and THRB gene have been described, each inducing a characteristic phenotype clearly showing the selective effect of an excess or shortage of thyroid hormone in specific TRα and TRβ regulated organs. Profound changes in thyroid hormone metabolism occur during a variety of non-thyroidal illnesses, each associated with reduced TR expression in a tissue-specific manner. However, thyroid hormone action at the tissue level during illness is not a simple reflection of the extent of TR expression as illness has additional differential effects on local thyroid hormone availability in various organs.
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