Thyroid disorders in mental patients.
OBJECTIVE
Thyroid hormones play important roles in brain development and function. Recent findings concerning thyroid hormones secretion, transport, and metabolism in the brain have provided a better understanding of the role of thyroid hormones in mental disorders.


RESULTS
The intracellular actions of thyroid hormones in brain are determined by a complex of factors, including circulating concentrations of thyroid hormones, availability of free hormone, activity of thyroid hormone transporters and deiodinase enzymes, and activity of thyroid hormone receptors. Individual genetic variations and mutations of thyroid-axis-related proteins influence thyroid hormone activity in the brain and contribute to the presentation of mental disorders, as well as to response to psychiatric treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Consideration of molecular mechanism related to genetic alterations in thyroid hormone transport into the neuron, intracellular thyroid hormone metabolism in the brain, as well as polymorphism in thyroid hormone receptors, opens new venues for better understanding of thyroid hormone effects in the brain as well as for finding genetic markers and new targets for the treatment of mental disorders.
Bunevicius
Robertas
R
Institute of Psychophysiology and Rehabilitation, Kaunas University of Medicine, Palanga, Lithuania. rob@ktl.mii.lt
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D027981:Symporters; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D000097564:Iodothyronine Deiodinase Type II
D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D027981:Symporters; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D000097564:Iodothyronine Deiodinase Type II; C090735:SLC16A2 protein, human