Article
Biology
Bin-Yan Hsu, Nina Cossin-Sevrin, Antoine Stier, Suvi Ruuskanen
Summary: The early-life environment can affect later-life health by programming the length of telomeres. Previous studies have shown that exposure to elevated prenatal thyroid hormones (THs) can increase postnatal telomere length in collared flycatchers. In this study, researchers examined the effect of THs on telomere dynamics, length, and survival in wild great tits. They found that prenatal THs did not significantly affect telomere length at day 7 after hatching but influenced telomere shortening at day 14 and in the following winter. The study suggests that the effects of prenatal THs on telomeres may have long-lasting effects on senescence.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ceyhun Bereketoglu, Ajay Pradhan
Summary: This review investigates the effects of plasticizers on the thyroid system of animals and humans, revealing that plasticizers could alter thyroid function and lead to various medical problems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Teresa Peluso, Valeria Nittoli, Carla Reale, Immacolata Porreca, Filomena Russo, Luca Roberto, Antonia Giacco, Elena Silvestri, Massimo Mallardo, Mario De Felice, Concetta Ambrosino
Summary: Early life exposure to Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals (EDCs), such as the pesticide Chlorpyrifos (CPF), has been found to affect thyroid activity, glucose metabolism, and lipid metabolism. In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of CPF exposure on the metabolism and signaling of thyroid hormones (THs) and lipid/glucose metabolism in mice. They found that these processes were altered in males that were exposed to CPF, leading to hypothyroidism and systemic hyperglycemia. Additionally, the researchers discovered that CPF affected glucose metabolism and TH levels through the modulation of FOXO1 activity in liver cells. These findings highlight the importance of considering the intergenerational and sex-specific effects of CPF exposure on metabolic homeostasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Jieqiong Hu, Yunxin Ji, Xiaoe Lang, Xiang-Yang Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between thyroid function and abnormal lipid metabolism in young patients with first-episode and drug naive major depressive disorder. The results showed that thyroid function parameters, especially TSH levels, were implicated in abnormal lipid metabolism in these patients.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mang Sun, Xining Cao, Yuhao Wu, Lianju Shen, Guanghui Wei
Summary: Prenatal exposure to organochlorines and PFAS may be associated with lower neonatal TT4 levels.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Farzaneh Shakeri, Bahram Bibak, Mohammad Reza Safdari, Zakieh Keshavarzi, Tannaz Jamialahmadi, Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Amirhossein Sahebkar
Summary: There is a growing body of literature on the positive therapeutic potentials of curcumin in thyroid gland disorders, with its effects on various biological pathways. This review aims to summarize the research related to curcumin's therapeutic effects on thyroid dysfunction.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jing-Yu Qin, Wenyi Jia, Shaoguo Ru, Jiu-Qiang Xiong, Jun Wang, Weiwei Wang, Liping Hao, Xiaona Zhang
Summary: In this study, it was demonstrated that environmental concentrations of BPA, BPS, and BPF induce cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. BPA decreased heart rate and increased the distance between the sinus venosus and bulbus arteriosus in zebrafish, while BPF promoted heart pumping, shortened the SV-BA distance, and increased body weight.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Dotan Moskovich, Adi Alfandari, Yael Finkelshtein, Avivit Weisz, Aviva Katzav, Debora Kidron, Evgeny Edelstein, Daniel Veroslavski, Ruth Perets, Nissim Arbib, Yfat Kadan, Ami Fishman, Bernard Lerer, Martin Ellis, Osnat Ashur-Fabian
Summary: The active thyroid hormone T3 acts as a tumor suppressor in HGSOC by promoting cell differentiation and mitochondrial respiration, but tumors evolve a strategy to avoid these effects by expressing the T3 catabolizing enzyme DIO3. Knocking down DIO3 in HGSOC cells increases T3 availability, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting tumor proliferation and growth. This study suggests DIO3 as a promising target for inhibition in HGSOC by regulating tumorigenesis and metabolic reprogramming.
Article
Cell Biology
Erika Chavira-Suarez, Luis Antonio Reyes-Castro, Itzel Ivonn Lopez-Tenorio, Lilia Vargas-Hernandez, Guadalupe L. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Roberto Chavira, Paola Zarate-Segura, Aaron Dominguez-Lopez, Felipe Vadillo-Ortega, Elena Zambrano
Summary: Maternal obesity has negative consequences on offspring development due to changes in steroid hormones and DNA methylation marks. Glucocorticoids play a role in metabolism regulation, and in this study, obese mothers had higher concentrations of progesterone and corticosterone, while lower levels of estradiol. Fetal weight was lower in maternal obesity, and male umbilical cords showed increased methylation of the RXR alpha gene and decreased mRNA and protein expression compared to control.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Han-Bin Huang, Chi-Ying Siao, Yuan-Ting C. Lo, Shu-Fang Shih, Chieh-Hua Lu, Po-Chin Huang
Summary: This study investigated the mediating influence of thyroid hormone levels on the association between phthalate exposure and insulin resistance. Results indicated that thyroid function plays a crucial mediating role in the relationship between phthalate exposure and glucose metabolism.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Pierre Deviche, Karen Sweazea, Frederic Angelier
Summary: Urban environments differ from natural environments in various aspects, and the success of organisms in urban environments requires physiological plasticity and adjustments. However, existing data analysis indicates no consistent patterns distinguishing urban and non-urban birds. Future research should prioritize mechanistic approaches to identify environmental factors shaping phenotypic responses to urbanization and their neuroendocrine and metabolic bases. Standardizing approaches and using representative models in diverse urban ecosystems may benefit researchers.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiyuan Yao, Yidong Wang, Yifei Ma, Mengmeng Fu, Huimin Wang, Deliang Tang, Jisheng Nie
Summary: We investigated the link between maternal urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites and thyroid hormones in 120 pairs of pregnant women and newborns. PAH metabolites were measured through high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, while thyroid hormones were measured using a flow fluorescence assay. The study found that there was a negative impact of total OH PAHs in maternal urine on triiodothyronine (T3) levels. The results also showed associations between maternal urinary PAH metabolites and thyroid hormones in umbilical cord blood plasma, suggesting that prenatal exposure to PAHs may disrupt neonatal thyroid function.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Irene Lopez-Mateo, Diego Rodriguez-Munoz, Juan Vladimir de la Rosa, Antonio Castrillo, Susana Alemany, Ana Aranda
Summary: This study reveals that the thyroid hormone T3 is essential for the growth of immortal macrophages and regulates multiple signaling pathways and metabolic processes. T3 has widespread effects on transcriptional and post-transcriptional actions in macrophages. However, its effects are weaker in primary macrophages. Additionally, T3 can reduce the response to IFN-gamma in both immortal and primary macrophages.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Josef Koehrle, Caroline Fraedrich
Summary: Iodothyronine deiodinases (DIO) are a family of selenoproteins that play a crucial role in controlling the availability of thyroid hormones. DIO1 and DIO2 activate the prohormone T4 to the active form T3, while DIO3 inactivates both T4 and T3. DIOs are regulated by various factors and exhibit species-specific expression patterns. Selenium status has a modest impact on DIO expression, and DIO function is impaired during severe selenium deficiency. DIO variants and mutations have been identified, and efforts are underway to develop selective drugs targeting DIO. This review focuses on the biochemical characteristics and importance of DIOs in the production of active hormone T3, as well as the impact of nutritional, pharmacological, and environmental factors on DIO function.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Foteini Anifantaki, Panagiota Pervanidou, Irene Lambrinoudaki, Konstantinos Panoulis, Nikos Vlahos, Makarios Eleftheriades
Summary: The fetal brain is highly susceptible to environmental influences, particularly maternal stress levels and hormone concentrations, which play a crucial role in fetal neurodevelopment. Cortisol and thyroid hormones are key players in this process, with insufficient or excessive hormone levels potentially causing abnormalities in neuronal function.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronika N. Laine, Bernice Sepers, Melanie Lindner, Fleur Gawehns, Suvi Ruuskanen, Kees van Oers
Summary: The field of molecular biology is rapidly advancing and there is a growing interest in studying ecological epigenetics, particularly in wild vertebrates. This review provides a practical guide for researchers studying DNA methylation variation in wild vertebrates, discussing technical aspects, limitations, and data analysis methods.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Suvi Ruuskanen, Benjamin Fuchs, Riitta Nissinen, Pere Puigbo, Miia Rainio, Kari Saikkonen, Marjo Helander
Summary: Non-target organisms are exposed to herbicides globally, with increasing evidence showing their profound effects on ecosystem functions through altered microbial communities. This paper provides a comprehensive framework on how herbicide residues can impact ecosystem-level outcomes through changes in microbiomes. These changes in soil microbiomes can influence nutrient cycling, plant-soil processes, and trophic interactions such as herbivory and pollination, leading to ecosystem and evolutionary consequences for both microbes and hosts. Addressing the threats posed by agrochemicals to ecosystem functions and services requires a comprehensive understanding of microbe-mediated risks and the development of appropriate tools and solutions.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Bin-Yan Hsu, Nina Cossin-Sevrin, Antoine Stier, Suvi Ruuskanen
Summary: The early-life environment can affect later-life health by programming the length of telomeres. Previous studies have shown that exposure to elevated prenatal thyroid hormones (THs) can increase postnatal telomere length in collared flycatchers. In this study, researchers examined the effect of THs on telomere dynamics, length, and survival in wild great tits. They found that prenatal THs did not significantly affect telomere length at day 7 after hatching but influenced telomere shortening at day 14 and in the following winter. The study suggests that the effects of prenatal THs on telomeres may have long-lasting effects on senescence.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Olivia Hicks, Akiko Kato, Danuta M. Wisniewska, Coline Marciau, Frederic Angelier, Yan Ropert-Coudert, Arne Hegemann
Summary: There is a significant interest in measuring immune function in wild animals, but field conditions often present methodological challenges due to handling stress that can affect physiology. Although it is widely agreed that immune function is influenced by handling stress, previous studies have yielded inconsistent results, particularly in long-lived species. This study investigates the impact of capture and handling duration on innate immune function in the long-lived Adelie penguin and finds no evidence of changes in immune function up to a holding time of 2 hours, suggesting greater resilience against handling stress compared to other species. This opens up possibilities for studying immune function in similar species even if samples cannot be taken immediately after capture.
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Anne Cillard, Tatiana Fuentes Rodriguez, Jean -Patrice Robin, Pierre Bize, Antoine Stier, Vincent A. Viblanc
Summary: This article reports a highly unusual observation of chick-chick feeding behavior in King penguins. Non-sibling chicks hatched at different times were observed, with the older chick feeding the younger one. This raises questions about the role of the early social environment in the acquisition of essential parenting skills in this species.
Article
Ecology
A. K. Pettersen, S. Ruuskanen, A. Nord, J. F. Nilsson, M. R. Minano, L. J. Fitzpatrick, G. M. While, T. Uller
Summary: The thermal sensitivity of early life stages can restrict species distributions. In this study, we examined the mechanisms that enable successful development in cool climates for wall lizards. We found evidence of local adaptation to cool climate, with embryos from high altitudes using less energy to complete development and allocating more energy towards tissue production.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
K. Makinen, M. Rajasilta, S. Ruuskanen, T. Karpela, A. Lauerma, J. Sahlsten
Summary: Temperature has an effect on the reproductive success and development of Baltic herring. Elevated temperature results in a faster developmental rate, lower early-stage mortality and hatching success, smaller size-at-hatch, larger yolk sac size, and a higher amount of larval malformations. Maternal traits are also associated with egg and offspring traits.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Zoology
F. Stephen Dobson, Claire Saraux, Vincent A. Viblanc
Summary: Phenotypic plasticity of reproductive and somatic efforts was found in female Columbian ground squirrels, indicating variability in resource allocation. Individual variation was observed, but the pattern of responses among individuals in the population varied.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biology
Kirsty J. MacLeod, Sinead English, Suvi K. Ruuskanen, Barbara Taborsky
Summary: The social environment is a significant source of stress for animals and has both positive and negative effects on their well-being. This review discusses the history of social stress research, explores the various social stressors and their impact on organisms throughout their life, and examines the physiological mechanisms and potential adaptive value of responses to social stress. The paper also highlights the outstanding challenges in social stress research and proposes a framework for future studies.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefania Casagrande, Jasmine L. Loveland, Marlene Oefele, Winnie Boner, Sara Lupi, Antoine Stier, Michaela Hau
Summary: This article examined the telomere erosion in rapidly developing great tits under stressful conditions. The findings suggest that nucleotide availability is crucial for preventing telomere attrition during fast growth.
Article
Microbiology
Martta Liukkonen, Mikaela Hukkanen, Nina Cossin-Sevrin, Antoine Stier, Eero Vesterinen, Kirsten Grond, Suvi Ruuskanen
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between the formation of the gut microbiome and survival in wild great tit nestlings and found no clear association between early-life environment, offspring condition, and gut microbiome. This suggests that brood size is not a significant contributing factor to nestling condition and gut microbiome and that other environmental and genetic factors may be more strongly linked.