title: Expression of thyroid hormone transporters in the human hypothalamus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transport of thyroid hormone across the plasma membrane is required for proper thyroid hormone action and metabolism. Several specific thyroid hormone transporters have been identified capable of facilitating uptake and/or efflux of thyroid hormones. Monocarboxylate transporter (MCT)-8, MCT10, and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1C1 (OATP1C1) are the best-characterized specific thyroid hormone transporters to date.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our earlier studies in the human hypothalamus have shown that MCT8 is present in neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and infundibular nucleus (IFN) and in tanycytes. We hypothesized that also MCT10 and OATP1C1 are present in specific areas of the human hypothalamus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied postmortem brain samples of patients with known serum thyroid hormone levels using immunocytochemistry to investigate the distribution of MCT10 and OATP1C1 in the hypothalamus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found strong neuronal MCT10 immunocytochemical staining in a number of hypothalamic nuclei, including the PVN, IFN, and supraoptic nucleus. Intense staining was also observed in neurons of the lateral hypothalamus including the perifornical area. OATP1C1 immunoreactivity was present in glial cells throughout the hypothalamus. In addition, staining was present in capillary walls and in neurons of the PVN, IFN, and supraoptic nucleus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strong expression of MCT10 and OATP1C1 in the human hypothalamus indicates a possible role in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, G2-136, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. anneke.alkemade@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alkemade
authors.forename: Edith C H
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Friesema
authors.forename: Andries
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalsbeek
authors.forename: Dick F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Swaab
authors.forename: Theo J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fliers
mesh_terms: D026921:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D026921:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; C498964:SLC16A10 protein, human; C473187:SLCO1C1 protein, human; D013963:Thyroid Hormones