Thyrotrophin and thyroxine support immune homeostasis in humans.

The endocrine and the immune systems interact by sharing receptors for hormones and cytokines, cross-control and feedback mechanisms. To date, no comprehensive study has assessed the impact of thyroid hormones on immune homeostasis. By studying immune phenotype (cell populations, antibody concentrations, circulating cytokines, adipokines and acute-phase proteins, monocyte-platelet interactions and cytokine production capacity) in two large independent cohorts of healthy volunteers of Western European descent from the Human Functional Genomics Project (500FG and 300BCG cohorts), we identified a crucial role of the thyroid hormone thyroxin (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on the homeostasis of lymphocyte populations.

Divergent Metastatic Patterns Between Subtypes of Thyroid Carcinoma Results From the Nationwide Dutch Pathology Registry.

Background: Metastatic disease is the main cause of cancer-related mortality in thyroid carcinoma (TC) patients. Clinical studies have suggested differences in metastatic patterns between the different subtypes of TC. This study systematically evaluates the metastatic patterns of different subtypes in TC patients.

Interplay between thyroid cancer cells and macrophages: effects on IL-32 mediated cell death and thyroid cancer cell migration.

Purpose: Interleukin 32 (IL-32) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine of which different isoforms have been identified. Recently, IL-32 has been shown to act as a potent inducer of cell migration in several types of cancer. Although previous research showed that IL-32 is expressed in differentiated thyroid cancer (TC) cells, the role of IL-32 in TC cell migration has not been investigated.

The Influence of Energy Depletion by Metformin or Hypocaloric Diet on Thyroid Iodine Uptake in Healthy Volunteers: a Randomized Trial.

Sufficient thyroid iodine uptake is needed to ensure effective radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, which is mediated by the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS). Activation of AMP-activated-protein-kinase (AMPK), leads to decreased NIS expression and thyroid iodine uptake in in vitro and animal models. Clinically relevant conditions that lead to AMPK activation include metformin use and hypocaloric conditions.

Effect of PTEN inactivating germline mutations on innate immune cell function and thyroid cancer-induced macrophages in patients with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome.

PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is caused by inactivating germline PTEN mutations with subsequent activation of Akt-mTOR signaling, leading to an increased risk of developing thyroid carcinoma (TC). Activation of Akt-mTOR signaling is essential for innate immune cell activation and reprogramming of TC-induced macrophages. Here, we aim to assess the effect of PTEN mutations on innate immune cell function in PHTS patients, especially in the context of TC, using a unique ex vivo model.

Insights into the role of IL-32 in cancer.

Interleukin 32 (IL-32) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in the development of several diseases, including cancer. IL-32 is a rather peculiar cytokine because its protein structure does not show resemblance with any of the known cytokines, and an IL-32 receptor to facilitate extracellular signaling has not yet been identified. Thus far, 9 isoforms of IL-32 have been described, all of which show differences in terms of effects and in potency to elicit a specific effect.