The close link between obesity and the thyroid. The study of the Cnr
59% of European adults and almost 1 in 3 children are overweight or suffer from obesity, a disease that makes them more exposed to other diseases, including those related to the thyroid gland
Is obesity often responsible for the onset of other pathologies, including those of the thyroid gland?
It is from this question that a study published in the Journal molecular endocrinology and conducted by the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of the National Research Council (Cnr-Ibbc), in collaboration with the University of Rome "La Sapienza" ( UniRoma1).
Indeed, research has highlighted the link between obesity and thyroid function.
THE TTF-2 PROTEIN
Researchers have established a relationship between adipocytes, the cells present in adipose tissue, and thyroid function. In particular with the TTF-2 protein, whose malfunction is related to pathologies such as thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism.
As explained Donato Civitareale, researcher of the Cnr-Ibbc and author of the research, "the protein Ttf-2 (Thyroid Transcription Factor 2) has a fundamental role both in the development and in the homeostasis of the thyroid gland, i.e. in its ability to self-regulate for proper functioning".
The goal, the authors state, is to provide useful elements for the development of treatments that reduce the effects of obesity on the thyroid gland.
HOW OBESITY INTERFERS WITH THE THYROID
“We have found that the signal generated by adipocytes, the cells that store body fat, interferes with the transcription factors of the follicular cells of the thyroid, i.e. with the proteins that are responsible for the gland's embryonic development and maintenance of its functions in old age. adult,” said Civitareale.
DATA AND ISSUES RELATED TO OBESITY
Obesity, the researchers point out, is one of the main public health problems worldwide and is constantly and worryingly increasing: 59% of European adults and almost 1 in 3 children are overweight or affected by obesity. The obese, compared to individuals of normal weight, are also more exposed to the onset of numerous diseases, including precisely those related to the thyroid.
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE REAL WORLD…
Civitareale then observed that "several clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that hypothyroidism – an abnormal functioning of the gland caused by its reduced ability to produce specific hormones – and thyroid cancer, as well as the presence of thyroid nodules and goiter , are more frequent in patients with high body mass values”.
… AND FROM THE LABORATORY
The laboratory therefore confirmed what had already been hypothesized. "The experimental tests, which we carried out in vivo and in vitro together with UniRoma1, show how the secretions of molecules generated by adipocytes inhibit the activity of Ttf-2", said Civitareale.
A DISCOVERY THAT COULD LEAD TO NEW DRUGS
“The inhibition of the activity of this protein, caused by adipocytes, would be one of the first biochemical signals that lead to an alteration of gene expression and, as mentioned, of thyroid homeostasis. In the future – concluded the researcher -, this result could lead us to the identification of pharmacological strategies capable of counteracting the harmful effects of obesity on the thyroid”.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/lo-stretto-legame-tra-obesita-e-tiroide-lo-studio-del-cnr/ on Mon, 26 Dec 2022 07:15:52 +0000.