title: Increased plasma thyroid hormone concentrations in LDL receptor deficient mice may be explained by inhibition of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent expression of hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overexpression of SREBP-1 causes a repression of hepatic genes involved in phase II metabolism. In LDL receptor deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice, active levels of SREBP-1 in the liver are increased. We investigated the hypothesis that LDLR(-/-) mice have increased concentrations of thyroid hormones in plasma due to a reduced hepatic glucuronidation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female LDLR(-/-) and wild-type mice were used to study the effect of the LDLR(-/-) genotype on thyroid hormone metabolism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LDLR(-/-) mice had a higher concentration of nuclear SREBP-1, higher concentrations of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in plasma, a lower expression of relevant UGT1A isoforms, reduced activities of pNP-UGT, T(3)-UGT and T(4)-UGT and a lower mRNA and protein concentration of AhR in the liver than wild-type mice (P<0.05). Plasma concentration of TSH, mRNA concentrations of various genes involved in thyroid hormone synthesis in the thyroid, activity of deiodinase and mRNA concentrations of two thyroid hormone responsive genes, CYP7A1 and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, in the liver did not differ between both genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that LDLR(-/-) mice have increased concentrations of thyroid hormones in plasma. This effect is probably due to an inhibition of thyroid hormone glucuronidation, which might be caused by down-regulation of UGT genes due to a reduced expression of AhR. However, with respect to plasma TSH concentration and expression of thyroid hormone responsive genes no overt hyperthyroidism was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LDL receptor deficiency leads to a reduced glucuronidation of thyroid hormones in the liver which causes a moderate increase of plasma thyroid hormone concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Denise K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gessner
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ringseis
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000235:genetics; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D011973:Receptors, LDL; C497388:Srebf1 protein, mouse; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; C502772:Cyp7a1 protein, mouse; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D013974:Thyroxine