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Kevin M. Crofton, PhD US Environmental Protection Agency McKim Conference Duluth MN September 17, 2008. Thyroid Mediated CNS Dysfunction. How to use what we know about the structure and function of the thyroid system to generate data using in vitro methods that can populate QSAR models.
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Kevin M. Crofton, PhD US Environmental Protection Agency McKim Conference Duluth MN September 17, 2008 Thyroid Mediated CNS Dysfunction How to use what we know about the structure and function of the thyroid system to generate data using in vitro methods that can populate QSAR models
Outline • Thyroid hormones and homeostatic mechanisms • A mode-of-action for thyroid disruption and adverse outcomes on nervous system development • Targets for disruption • Targets for screening • Summary
I I I I I I O O O HO HO HO O O O CH2 CH2 CH2 CH CH CH C C C H H H NH NH NH O O O I I I I I I 2 2 2 I I I I I I O O O HO HO HO O O O CH2 CH2 CH2 CH CH CH C C C H H H NH NH NH O O O I I I 2 2 2 Thyroid Hormones- Structure and Function • T3 and T4 are the principle hormones synthesized and released by the thyroid gland • Development - Critical for differentiation and growth • Transient disruption = permanent effects • Adult – Important for energy and thermoregulation • Transient disruption = transient effects Thyroxin (T4) Triiodothyronine (T3)
Regulation of Thyroid Hormones TR Hypothalamus TRH TR Pit Acts as a ligand for nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) + Elimination from the body TSH Thyroid T3/T4 Catabolic Enzymes Blood T4 T3 Liver TH binding proteins 5’-deiodinases TH binding proteins Target Tissues
TR TR T3 T3 T4 AAAAA Transporter DI Cellular Acton of TH Corepressors Co Activator X Zoeller, 2003
Adverse Outcome Pathways Toxicity Pathways What do we know and not know about these pathways?
Major Sequelae of Thyroid Disruption • Adult Exposure • Thyroid tumors in laboratory animals • Not a relevant mechanism for human cancer • May increase incidence of cardiovascular disease • Neurodevelopment • Lack of THs result in adverse neurological development (sensory, motor, cognitive) • Species independent (fact) • Rat is appropriate animal model for neurodevelopmental effects • These are two different outcomes that can result from the same molecular targets • One is relevant for human health and one is not
Neurodevelopment and Thyroid Dysfunction • FACT: without adequate TH the nervous fails to properly develop • Iodine deficiency • Congenital hypothyroidism
Dose-Response and Critical WindowDioxins, Furans and PCBs - Hearing Loss Binding to PXR Hepatic Parent or Metabolite Exposure Hepatic Phase II Enzymes Binding to AhR Alter TR Mediated Proteins Loss of cochlear hair cells Serum T4 & T3 Tissue T3 Hearing Loss
CNS Protein (1) DItissue UGTs CNS malformation PXR Binding Response T4serum T3serum Functional Loss (eg. IQ) T3tissue TRactivation CNS Protein (2) Increasing Dose and/or Time
Dose-Response Perchlorate, Propylthiouracil and Hippocampal Physiology Thyroid PTU Binding to TPO Exposure Serum T4 & T3 Thyroid Perchlorate Inhibition Of TPO Alter TR Mediated Proteins Hippocampal T3 Synaptic Malformation Altered Synaptic Function Learning Impariment
Dose-Response Perchlorate, Propylthiouracil and Hippocampal Physiology Hippocampal physiology Water maze learning
What do we not know? • Dose-response relationships • Critical windows • Sensitive biomarkers (T4?) • However, we can’t get lost in the need to understand everything in the pathway • Causative and predictive is minimum • Quantitative models are the holy grail
What can we do to inform QSAR models • Develop in vitro test methods for known targets
In Vitro Models for Thyroid Disruptors • Iodine Symporter (NIS) • Thyroperoxidase (TPO) • Deiodinases • Transporters – Blood • Transporters – Cellular • Thyroid Receptors • Hepatic Nuclear Receptors
In Vitro Models – Thyroid Receptor Beta GeneBLAzer TRb-UAS-bla HEK293 Cell Line ** Substrate ** ** ** T3 Stimulation of TRb ** ** T3 (M) ** ** Cell line contains a beta-lactamse reporter gene under the control of an UAS response element stably integrated in Hek293 cells. This line also stably expresses a fusion protein consisting of the GAL4 DNA binding domain and the TRb ligand binding domain. Courtesy of Keith Houck, NCCT
T3 Levothyroxine Human TRb Reporter Gene Assay Heat Map of AC50’s1456 chemicals; 14 concentrations; agonist and antagonist modes Courtesy of Keith Houck, NCCT
TH Action Assay – T-Screen (Gutleb et al. EnvToxPharm 2005) - measures TH dependent cell proliferation in GH3 cells - 96 well plate assay
Summary • Thyroid pathways are known • Multiple targets involved • In vitro models are available for many of the targets • Need to begin testing chemicals