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Catechin induced modulation in the activities of thyroid hormone synthesizing enzymes leading to hypothyroidism

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Abstract

Catechins, the flavonoids found in abundance in green tea, have many beneficial health effects such as antioxidative, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and hypotensive properties. However, flavonoids have antithyroid/goitrogenic effect, although less information is available about the effect of pure catechin on thyroid physiology. The present investigation has been undertaken to explore the effect of catechin administration on thyroid physiology in rat model. For the in vivo experiment catechin was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg body to male albino rats for 15 and 30 days, respectively, and thyroid activities were evaluated with respect to determination of serum levels of thyroid hormones, thyroid peroxidase, 5′-deiodinase I (5′-DI), and Na+, K+-ATPase activities that are involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormone. Catechin decreased the activities of thyroid peroxidase and thyroidal 5′-deiodinase I, while Na+, K+-ATPase activity significantly increased in dose-dependent manner; substantial decrease in serum T3 and T4 levels coupled with significant elevation of serum TSH were also noted. Histological examinations of the thyroid gland revealed marked hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of the thyroid follicles with depleted colloid content. In in vitro study, short-term exposure of rat thyroid tissue to catechin at the concentrations of 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30 mg/ml leads to decrease in the activities of thyroid peroxidase and 5′-deiodinase I, while the activity of thyroidal Na+, K+-ATPase remains unaltered even at high concentration of catechin treatment. The present study reinforces the concept that catechin, tea flavonoids possess potent antithyroid activity as evidenced from in vivo and in vitro studies.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

BTE:

Black tea extract

COMT:

Catechol-O-methyltransferase

DIT:

Diiodotyrosine

DMSO:

Dimethylsulfoxide

DTE:

Dithioerythritol

EC:

(−)-Epicatechin

ECG:

(−)-Epicatechin gallate

EDTA:

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

EGC:

(−)Epigallocatechin

EGCG:

(−)-Epigallocatechin gallate

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay

GTC:

Green tea catechins

GTE:

Green tea extract

GTP:

Green tea polyphenols

H&E:

Hematoxylin & Eosin

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

MIT:

Monoiodotyrosine

MTT:

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltrazolium bromide

Na+, K+-ATPase:

Sodium, Potassium Adenosine Triphosphatase

Na2ATP:

Adenosine-5′-triphosphoräure Dinatriumsalz

NIDDK:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

NIS:

Sodium-Iodide Symporter

PTU:

Propylthiouracil

RIA:

Radioimmunoassay

rT3:

Reverse T3

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

T3:

Tri-iodothyronine

T4:

Thyroxin

TBG:

Thyroxine-binding globulin

TPO:

Thyroid peroxidase

TRH:

Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone

Tris-ATP:

Hydroxymethyl Aminomethane Hydrochloride Adenosine Triphosphate

TSH:

Thyroid stimulating hormone

5′-DI:

5′-Monodeiodinase-I

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Acknowledgments

Acknowledgement is due to the National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF), Kolkata, India, for providing fellowship to Neela De for this work. The authors are grateful to Prof. Arun K. Ray (Bose Institute, India) for his contribution in conducting enzyme study. The authors thank Dr Syed N Kabir, Scientist, Cell Biology & Physiology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata, India, for his help in conducting RIA of TSH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology & Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Amar K. Chandra & Neela De

  2. University College of Science & Technology, 92, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, 700 009, West Bengal, India

    Amar K. Chandra

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  1. Amar K. Chandra
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  2. Neela De
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Correspondence to Amar K. Chandra.

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Chandra, A.K., De, N. Catechin induced modulation in the activities of thyroid hormone synthesizing enzymes leading to hypothyroidism. Mol Cell Biochem 374, 37–48 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-012-1503-8

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