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Gestational caffeine exposure acts as a fetal thyroid-cytokine disruptor by activating caspase-3/BAX/Bcl-2/Cox2/NF-κB

Ahmed R G1

  • 1Division of Anatomy and Embryology , Zoology Department , Faculty of Science , Beni-Suef University , Beni-Suef , Egypt . Email: ahmedragab08@gmail.com ;

Toxicology Research
|April 19, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Gestational caffeine exposure in rats caused maternal hyperthyroidism and fetal hypothyroidism. This disruption affected fetal thyroid development and altered critical hormone and cytokine levels, impacting the maternofetal thyroid axis.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Gestational exposure to substances can impact maternal and fetal endocrine systems.
  • The thyroid axis is crucial for normal fetal development.
  • Caffeine is a widely consumed substance during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of gestational caffeine exposure on the maternofetal thyroid axis.
  • To examine fetal thyroid-cytokine communication during gestation.
  • To determine the impact of caffeine on fetal thyroid development and function.

Main Methods:

  • Pregnant rats were administered caffeine (120 or 150 mg kg-1) from gestation day 1 to 20.
  • Maternal and fetal thyroid hormone levels (TSH, FT3, FT4) were measured.
  • Fetal thyroid histopathology and gene expression (caspase-3, Bcl-2, BAX, Cox2, NF-κB) were analyzed.
  • Fetal serum levels of growth hormone (GH), IGF-II, VEGF, TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, leptin, MCP-1, and adiponectin were quantified.

Main Results:

  • Caffeine induced maternal hyperthyroidism and fetal hypothyroidism.
  • Fetal body weight was reduced, with pathological changes in the fetal thyroid gland.
  • Caffeine altered the expression of key genes involved in apoptosis and inflammation in the fetal thyroid.
  • Fetal serum levels of multiple hormones and cytokines were significantly affected, including GH, IGF-II, VEGF, and inflammatory markers.

Conclusions:

  • Gestational caffeine exposure disrupts the maternofetal thyroid axis in rats.
  • Caffeine exposure negatively impacts fetal thyroid development and function.
  • The findings suggest caffeine may interfere with fetal thyroid-cytokine signaling pathways.

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