title: Human longevity is characterised by high thyroid stimulating hormone secretion without altered energy metabolism.
abstract: Few studies have included subjects with the propensity to reach old age in good health, with the aim to disentangle mechanisms contributing to staying healthier for longer. The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis maintains circulating levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone (TH) in an inverse relationship. Greater longevity has been associated with higher TSH and lower TH levels, but mechanisms underlying TSH/TH differences and longevity remain unknown. The HPT axis plays a pivotal role in growth, development and energy metabolism. We report that offspring of nonagenarians with at least one nonagenarian sibling have increased TSH secretion but similar bioactivity of TSH and similar TH levels compared to controls. Healthy offspring and spousal controls had similar resting metabolic rate and core body temperature. We propose that pleiotropic effects of the HPT axis may favour longevity without altering energy metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akintola
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roelfsema
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Spoel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cobbaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ballieux
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Endocrine Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary [2] Semmelweis University, János Szentágothai PhD School of Neurosciences, Budapest, H-1085 Hungary.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Egri
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kvarta-Papp
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrine Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gereben
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Endocrine Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary [2] Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tupper Research Institute, Tufts Medical Centre, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.affiliation: Section of Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Slagboom
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Grond
authors.affiliation: UMR 7221 CNRS / MNHN Evolution des Régulations Endocriniennes, Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Demeneix
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pijl
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands [2] Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: R G J
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Westendorp
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Heemst
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D007455:Iodine / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine