Do Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals Influence Foetal Development during Pregnancy?
Figure 1
The complex mechanisms of regulation of thyroid hormone homeostasis and the possible mechanism of action of the thyroid disrupting chemicals. The thyroid and the thyroid hormones, tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), participate with the hypothalamus, secreting thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), and pituitary, secreting thyrotropin (TSH) in a classical feedback controlled loop. Iodide is transported into the cell by the sodium-iodine symporter (NIS) and oxidized by thyroid peroxidase (TPO). TPO also catalyzes the iodination of thyrosine residues on thyroglobulin (Tg). All processes in the cell are stimulated by binding of TSH to the TSH receptor (TSH-R). In the circulation, thyroid hormones are bound to thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), albumin and prealbumin, and in some cases transthyretin (TTR). T4 is deiodinated by deiodinases in the liver and target tissues. In the target cells, T3 binds to nuclear thyroid hormone receptor (TR), and with the retinoid X receptor, it binds at specific sequences at the DNA string, forming the thyroid hormone response elements (TRE). In the liver, thyroid hormones are metabolized by UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT), and finally, the metabolites are excreted in the urine. (1) Inhibition of iodine uptake in the cells by inhibition of NIS: perchlorate, thiocyanate, nitrate, and phthalates. (2) TPO inhibition: NP and isoflavones. (3) Inhibition of TSH-R: DDT and PCB. (4) Binding to transport proteins: PCB, phthalates, phenol, flame retardants, and HCB. (5) Cellular uptake of thyroid hormones: phthalates and chlordanes. (6) Binding to thyroid hormone receptor and affecting gene expression: PCB, phenols, flame retardants, BPA and HCB. (7) Inhibition of deiodinases: Styrenes and UV-filters, (8) Activation of hepatic UDPGT: dioxins and pesticides, (9) Inhibition of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis: lead. (10) Excretion/clearance of thyroid hormones: PCB, dioxin, phenols, flame retardants, HCB, and BPA.
