Chronic stress influences the immune system through the thyroid axis

The aim of the present work was to analyze the effect of chronic stress on thyroid axis and its influence on the immune response. For this purpose a murine model of chronic stress was developed to evaluate and to correlate thyroid hormone levels with humoral alloimmune response. Results show a reduction in serum levels of thyroid hormones, specially a significant decrease in serum levels of tri-iodotyronine (T3) in stressed animals. On the other hand, alloimmunization was not able to induce an early increment in T3 and thyroxine (T4) levels as it was previously reported in normal animals. In addition, lower titers of alloantibodies were obtained in animals under stress conditions as compared to normal mice. The sustitutive T4 treatment in stressed animals increased significantly alloantibody production as well as the early increment in thyroid hormones after antigenic challenge. These findings suggest that chronic stress induces an alteration of the function of thyroid axis that alters the immune response. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.Fil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; ArgentinaFil: Gorelik, Gabriela Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lysionek, Alexis E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; ArgentinaFil: Genaro, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentin

Thyroid status modulates T lymphoma growth via cell cycle regulatory proteins and angiogenesis

We have shown in vitro that thyroid hormones (THs) regulate the balance between proliferation and apoptosis of T lymphoma cells. The effects of THs on tumor development have been studied, but the results are still controversial. Herein, we show the modulatory action of thyroid status on the in vivo growth of T lymphoma cells. For this purpose, euthyroid, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid mice received inoculations of EL4 cells to allow the development of solid tumors. Tumors in the hyperthyroid animals exhibited a higher growth rate, as evidenced by the early appearance of palpable solid tumors and the increased tumor volume. These results are consistent with the rate of cell division determined by staining tumor cells with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester. Additionally, hyperthyroid mice exhibited reduced survival. Hypothyroid mice did not differ significantly from the euthyroid controls with respect to these parameters. Additionally, only tumors from hyperthyroid animals had increased expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and active caspase 3. Differential expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins was also observed. The levels of cyclins D1 and D3 were augmented in the tumors of the hyperthyroid animals, whereas the cell cycle inhibitors p16/INK4A (CDKN2A) and p27/Kip1 (CDKN1B) and the tumor suppressor p53 (TRP53) were increased in hypothyroid mice. Intratumoral and peritumoral vasculogenesis was increased only in hyperthyroid mice. Therefore, we propose that the thyroid status modulates the in vivo growth of EL4 T lymphoma through the regulation of cyclin, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, and tumor suppressor gene expression, as well as the stimulation of angiogenesis.Fil: Sterle, Helena Andrea. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina ; ArgentinaFil: Valli, Eduardo. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina ; ArgentinaFil: Cayrol, Maria Florencia. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina ; ArgentinaFil: Paulazo, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Martinel Lamas, Diego José. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Díaz Flaqué, María Celeste. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina ; ArgentinaFil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Colombo, L.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Oncología ; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Vanina Araceli. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina ; ArgentinaFil: Barreiro Arcos, María Laura. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina ; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; Argentin

Classical and non-classical thyroid hormone intracellular pathways involved in T lymphoma growth

Thyroid hormones (THs) are important regulators of cell physiology. They are essential for the normal development and growth of mammals, especially for the neural differentiation and the regulation of the metabolism and the immune system. THs also induce the proliferation of several cell types. In human and murine T cell lymphomas (TCL) this effect involves the participation of genomic and nongenomic mechanisms as it was described by the use of free THs and non-cell permeable THs coupled to agarose (TH-ag). The classic actions of thyroid hormones involve the alteration of gene transcription via specific nuclear receptors. The discovery of other effects, independent of this classic mechanism, characterizes a new and non-classic mechanism that involves different signaling pathways. Both, free THs and TH-ag, activate protein kinase C, extracellular signalregulated kinases and NF-kB and they increase the intracellular calcium levels. However, only the preincubation of T cells with free THs leads to an increased intracellular content of signaling enzymes. T lymphomas display high expression levels of both, the TH nuclear receptors (TRs) and the putative membrane receptor for THs, the integrin αvβ3, which has been demonstrated to be responsible for THs non-genomic actions. Here, we reviewed the mechanisms involved in THs modulation of the lymphocyte physiology, analyzing the interplay between genomic and nongenomic actions in T cells and its contribution in the development of lymphomas.Fil: Barreiro Arcos, María Laura. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Sterle, Helena Andrea. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Cayrol, Maria Florencia. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Díaz Flaqué, María Celeste. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Valli, Eduardo. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Paulazo, Maria Alejandra. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentin

Integrative study of hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid-immune system interaction. Thyroid hormone mediated-modulation of lymphocyte activity through protein kinase C signaling pathway

Thyroid hormones play critical roles in differentiation, growth and metabolism, but their participation in immune system regulation has not been completely elucidated. Modulation of in vivo thyroid status was used to carry out an integrative analysis of the role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in T and B lymphocyte activity. The participation of the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway and the release of some cytokines upon antigenic stimulation were analyzed. Lymphocytes from hyperthyroid mice displayed higher T-and B-cell mitogen-induced proliferation, and those from hypothyroid mice displayed lower T- and B-cell mitogen-induced proliferation, compared with euthyroid animals. Reversion of hypothyroid state by triiodothyronine (T3) administration recovered the proliferative responses. No differences were found in lymphoid subset balance. Both total PKC content and mitogen-induced PKC translocation were higher in T and B cells from hyperthyroid mice, and lower in cells from hypothyroid mice, compared with controls. Levels of thyroid-stimulating (TSH) and TSH-releasing (TRH) hormones were not directly related to lymphocyte proliferative responses. After immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) and re-stimulation, in vitro spleen cells from hyper- or hypothyroid mice showed, respectively, increased or decreased production of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-γ cytokines. Additionally, an increase in IL-6 and IFN-γ levels was found in hyperthyroid cells after in vivo injection and in vitro re-stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results show for the first time a thyroid hormone-mediated regulation of PKC content and of cytokine production in lymphocytes; this regulation could be involved in the altered responsiveness to mitogen-induced proliferation of T and B cells. The results also confirm the important role that these hormones play in regulating lymphocyte reactivity. © 2006 Society for Endocrinology.Fil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Genaro, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Gorelik, Gabriela Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Barreiro Arcos, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Silberman, Dafne Magalí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Schuman, Mariano Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Silvia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Pirola, Carlos José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentin

Epigenetic modifications in tumor suppressor genes (TSG): its contribution to tumor development and its clinical relevance

Tumor development is the result of genetic and epigenetic alterations. The epigenetic mechanisms do not imply a change in the DNA sequence but can be as important as the genetic mechanisms for the onset and progression of cancer due to its important role in the regulation of gene expression. Methylation and acetylation of histones induce changes in the structure of chromatin that can repress or facilitate the expression of genes. Another epigenetic modification studied in recent years is the methylation of DNA. Recently it has been observed that there are abnormal patterns of DNA methylation in many types of cancers. The malignant cells are accompanied by a global hypomethylation that is associated with the activation of genes required for the invasion and metastasis and a local hypermethylation (CpG Islands) associated with the repression of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). Thus, the methylation of the TSG blocks its expression, contributing to the onset and tumor progression. Classic examples are the genes BRCA1, PRC, TP53 and PRDM in breast, colon, skin and lung cancer, respectively.The abnormal patterns of DNA methylation, as well as epigenetic modifications on histones, could be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of cancer and as targets of drugs, in order to correct these alterations and restore the function of the genes. This chapter analyses the current evidence on the role of epigenetic mechanisms involved in the progression of various types of cancer and their clinical relevance.Fil: Macri, Rodrigo Nahuel. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Costilla, M.. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Barreiro Arcos, María Laura. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentin

Thyroid hormones increase inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression down-stream PKC Đ in murine tumor T lymphocytes.

Regulation of cell proliferation by thyroid hormone (TH) has been demonstrated, but the effect of THs and the mechanisms involved in lymphocyte activity have not been elucidated. Differential expression of PKC isoenzymes and high nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity have been described in tumor T lymphocytes. We have analyzed the direct actions of TH on normal T lymphocytes and BW5147 T lymphoma cells in relation to PKC and NOS activities. THs increased tumor and mitogen-induced normal T lymphocyte proliferation. PKC isoenzyme-selective blockers impaired these effects in both cell types, indicating the participation of Ca 2+-dependent and -independent isoenzymes in normal and tumor cells, respectively. TH actions were blunted by extra- and intracellular Ca 2+ blockers only in normal T lymphocytes, whereas NOS blockers impaired TH-induced proliferation in T lymphoma cells. Incubation for 24 h with TH induced a rise in total and membrane-associated PKC activities in both cell types and led to a rapid and transient effect only in tumor cells. THs increased atypical PKC-ζ expression in BW5147 cells and classical PKC isoenzymes in mitogen-stimulated normal T cells. TH augmented NOS activity and inducible NOS protein and gene expression only in tumor cells. Blockade of PKC and the atypical PKC-ζ isoform inhibited TH-mediated stimulation of inducible NOS and cell proliferation. These results show, for the first time, that differential intracellular signals are involved in TH modulation of lymphocyte physiology and pathophysiology.Fil: Barreiro Arcos, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Gorelik, Gabriela Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Genaro, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentin

Thyroid hormone modulation of immunity: Its participation in chronic stress-induced immune alterations

The interaction between the immune and the neuroendocrine systems involves, in a bidirectional circuit, shared cellular receptors and their coupled signaling pathways. Disruptions of this circuit lead to pathological situations. Between the endocrine factors, thyroid hormones show to play a role in immunomodulation, maintaining immune system homeostasis in response to stress-mediated immunosuppression. Several experimental evidences showed that hypothyroidism leads to a depression of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, effects that were reversed by restoration of the euthyroid state. By other hand, chronic stressful situations impair T-cell mediated immunity, affecting the intracellular signals involved in lymphocyte activation. Consequently, a reduction in both T-cell dependent antibody production and lymphocyte function were also described. Besides, a decrease in thyroid hormone serum levels was observed in these conditions. These stress-induced endocrine-immune alterations impact in tumor development, as an enhancement of tumor growth was described in animal models of chronic stress. Interestingly, hormone replacement treatment of chronic stressed animals, which restored the euthyroid status, reversed the observed reduction of T-cell responses improving the outcome of tumor bearing animals. These evidences strengthen the important role that thyroid hormones play in immunomodulation, with a special emphasis in their participation as neuroendocrine regulators of stress-mediated immune deficit.Fil: Genaro, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Frick, Luciana Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Barreiro Arcos, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentin

Del laboratorio a la clínica : importancia de la regulación de la inmunidad ejercida por el estado tiroideo

Resumen: Una fina y compleja red de mecanismos autorregulados le permite al sistema inmune reaccionar ante el desafío antigénico para activar una respuesta de defensa contra agentes patógenos o extraños y volver luego a un modo de espera o vigilancia. Esta red de autorregulación mantiene la homeostasis y evita las dañinas respuestas autoinmunes. A pesar de su autonomía se ha demostrado que los sistemas inmune y neuroendócrino interactúan entre sí a través de una red bidireccional de la que participan los receptores para ligando s comunes y sus vías intracelulares de señalización. Las hormonas y neurotransmisores pueden afectar la función inmune y, a su vez, los factores inmunitarios como las citoquinas pueden ejercer cambios neuroendocrinos (Melmed, 2001; Wrona, 2006). Además, las células inmunes pueden producir hormonas y neurotransmisores, mientras que las citoquinas, principales factores solubles liberados por las células inmunes, pueden funcionar como hormonas y moduladores de ciertas respuestas del sistema nervioso central (Haddad, 2008). Las consecuencias de la disfunción entre estos componentes neuroendocrinos y la inmunidad son evidentes durante situaciones de estrés, lesiones físicas, infecciones y otras condiciones fisiopatológicas

Experimental evidence pointing to the bidirectional interaction between the immune system and the thyroid axis

Among the many examples of neuroendocrine-immune system interactions the relationship between the thyroid axis and the immune function has yet to be clearly established. Here we studied the influence of thyroid hormones on the course of an alloimmune response. Murine T3 and T4 levels were found to be increased a few days after the immunization of mice with allogeneic lymphoid cells. Besides in vivo treatment with T4 was shown to increase alloantibody titers during the early stages of alloimmunization and to enforce lymphoid proliferation in vitro in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. Conversely, lowering thyroid hormone seric levels by propylthiouracil treatment, negatively modulates the humoral and cellular alloimmune responses. The evidence here points to the existence of a bidirectional communication between both systems. The possibility that the antigenic challenge would increase the thyroid gland activity thus leading to a positive modulatory action upon the immune response is also discussed.Fil: Klecha, Alicia Juana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; ArgentinaFil: Genaro, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; ArgentinaFil: Lysionek, A. E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; ArgentinaFil: Caro, R. A.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; ArgentinaFil: Coluccia, A. G.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; ArgentinaFil: Cremaschi, Graciela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Física. Laboratorio de Radioisótopos; Argentin

Oxidative stress produced by hyperthyroidism status induces the antioxidant enzyme transcription through the activation of the nrf-2 factor in lymphoid tissues of balb/c mice

Abstract: Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disorder characterized by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Thyroid hormones exert pleiotropic actions on numerous tissues and induce an overall increase in metabolism, with an increase in energy demand and oxygen consumption. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hyperthyroidism on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lymph node and spleen cells of euthyroid and hyperthyroid mice, analyzing antioxidant mechanisms involved in the restitution of the cellular redox state. For this, thirty female Balb/c (H-2d) mice were randomly divided into two groups: euthyroid (by treatment with placebo) and hyperthyroid (by treatment with 12 mg/l of T4 in drinking water for 30 days). We found a significant increase in ROS and an increase in the genomic and protein expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) in lymph node and spleen cells of hyperthyroid mice. In vitro treatment with H2O2 (250 μM) of the lymphoid cells of euthyroid mice increased the expression levels of CAT and GPx-1. The hyperthyroidism increased the phosphorylation levels of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor) and the kinase activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Additionally, we found an increase in the expression of the classic isoenzymes of PKCα, β and γ. In conclusion, these results indicated that the increase in ROS found in the hyperthyroid state induces the antioxidant enzyme transcription through the activation of the Nrf-2 factor in lymphoid tissues. This shows the influence of hyperthyroidism on the regulation of the cellular antioxidant system