Objective To investigate the expression of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like-lectin-1 (Siglec-1)in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis ( AIT) and its relationship with AIT. To explore the moduratory role of activated Siglec-1 on the differentiation of T cells and the promotion of in flammation after PBMC culture. Methods The peripheral whole blood and serum samples were collected from 30 AIT patients with normal thyroid function and 30 sex-and age-matched controls. The expression of sSiglec-1 in serum was detected by ELISA. The expression of Siglec-1 in PBMC was detected by RT-PCR and WB. The expression of Siglec-1 in CD14+ monocytes and the proportion of Th1 and Th17 cells in each group were detected by flow cytometry. The PBMC in AIT or control was stimulated with NaI in the presence or absence of LPS for 72 h. The expression of Siglec-1 in CD14+ monocytes and the proportion of Th1 and Th17 cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results sSiglec-1 in serum, Siglec-1 mRNA, and Siglec-1 protein in AIT patients'PBMC were higher than those in control group ( P＜0. 01). The expression of Siglec-1 in CD14+ monocytes by flow cytometry and differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells were significantly higher than that in control group ( both P＜0. 01). The expression of Siglec-1 in control and AIT patients was up-regulated by 5×10-5 mmol/L to 1×10-2 mmol/L stimulated with NaI in the presence or absence of LPS for 72 h (P＜0.01), but the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells was up-regulated only in patients (P＜0.01), and in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Elevated Siglec-1 expression in PBMCs and monocytes can potentially serve as a biomarker for AIT. Iodine may affect Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation by activating Siglec-1 to adjust the AIT immune response.

Objective To investigate the effect of VPA and molecular hydrogen(H2)on phenotypes of microglia treated with hypoxia. Methods Mouse hypoxic BV2 microglia were treated with VPA or H2. The levels of phenotypic markers of supernatant and cells were detected by ELISA, flow cytometry and real?time PCR,respectively. Results Hypoxia significantly increased mRNA level of M1 marker(iNOS)and reduced mRNA levels of M2 markers(CD206 and TGF?β)in BV2(P<0.05). Besides,the ratio between the mRNA levels of M1 increased(P<0.05). VPA significantly reduced protein level(CD16/32)and mRNA production(iNOS)of M1 markers in hypoxia?treated BV2(P<0.05). The ratio be?tween the mRNA levels of M1 markers and M2 markers(CD16:CD206,CD32:CD206,iNOS:CD206 and iNOS:TGF?β)were also significantly decreased(P<0.05). H2 significantly reduced both protein levels(TNF?α,CD16/32 and iNOS)and mRNA production(iNOS)of M1 markers and increased secretion of M2 marker(IL?10)in hypoxia?treated BV2(P<0.05). The ratio between the mRNA levels of M1 markers and M2 markers(CD16:CD206,iNOS:CD206 and iNOS:TGF?β)were also highly declined(P<0.05). Conclusion Hypoxia can induce microglial cells toward pro?inflammatory phenotype. Both VPA and H2 can inhibit hypoxia?induced inflammatory effect on microglia.

Objective To analyze the effects of valproic acid(VPA),a histone deacetylase(HDAC)inhibitor,on macrophage polarization in?duced by paraquat(PQ)or lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Methods Mouse RAW264.7 cells were cultured at 37℃with 5%CO2,passaged,and then given one of the following treatments:(1)PQ;(2)PQ+VPA(classⅠandⅡa HDAC inhibitor);(3)PQ+apicidin(classⅠHDAC inhibitor);(4)PQ+MC1568(classⅡa HDAC inhibitor);(5)LPS;(6)LPS+VPA;(7)LPS+apicidin;(8)LPS+MC1568. The cells and culture supernatants were harvested after 8 h of treatment. RT?PCR,ELISA,and flow cytometry were conducted to assess the expression levels of macrophage phenotyp?ic markers. Results Both PQ and LPS skewed the macrophage functional polarity toward proinflammatory phenotype. VPA,apicidin,and MC1568 all inhibited PQ?and LPS?induced macrophages polarizing toward pro?inflammatory phenotype ,but the inhibitory effects were different in some ways. Conclusion VPA inhibits the proinflammatory function of macrophages induced by PQ and LPS ,but the effect of VPA on PQ?and LPS?induced macrophages has its own characteristics.

Objective To investigate the changes and related factors of maternal thyroid autoantibodies during early pregnancy. Methods Urinary iodine concentration( UIC) , serum thyroid stimulating hormone( TSH) , free thyroxine ( FT4 ) , thyroid-peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb ) , thyroglobulin antibody ( TgAb ) concentrations were determined in 7 190 women during early pregnancy in an iodine-sufficient region of China. Results The prevalence of TPOAb positivity and TgAb positivity were 8. 7% and 12. 0% respectively. The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism increased significantly in group of thyroid antibody positivity. The prevalence of TPOAb positivity and TgAb positivity presented a U-shaped curve, ranging from mild iodine deficiency to iodine excess, especially increased significantly in the group with UIC<100 μg/L. Conclusion Prevalence of thyroid antibodies positivity became higher during early pregnancy. The positive thyroid autoantibodies during pregnancy were significantly associated with maternal hypothyroidism. Both iodine excess and iodine deficiency are risk factors of positive thyroid antibodies.

Objective To investigate the effect of subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy on hippocampus insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) signaling pathway in rat offspring.Methods A total of 60 female Wistar rats were evenly divided into control(CON),subclinical hypothyroidism(SCH),and clinical hypothyroidism (CH) groups.The hippocampus of progenies were collected on the postnatal day 3,postnatal day 7 to measure protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) by Western blot,IGF-Ⅰ and insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ receptor (IGF-Ⅰ R) by Elisa.Morris water maze and field excitatory postsynaptic potential long-term potentiation were measured at the postnatal 40 day.Results Western blot and Elisa revealed that levels of IGF-Ⅰ,IGF-Ⅰ R,and p-Akt of pups from SCH group were lower than that of CON group and were higher than CH group on day 3 (P ＜ 0.05).On day 7,the levels of IGF-Ⅰ,IGF Ⅰ R,and p-Akt of pups from SCH group were lower than CON group (P＜ 0.05),but no difference was observed in p-Akt and IGF-Ⅰ R level between SCH group and CH group (P ＞ 0.05).Latencies of all groups had shortened in Morris water maze test with increasing of training trials.The slope of field excitatory postsynaptic potenial was increased in all groups after Theta burst stimulation.The amplification percentage of slope of field excitatory postsynaptic potenial in SCH group's was lower than control group's but was higher than CH group's(all P values＜0.05).Conclusions Maternal subclinical hypothyroidism impairs long-term potentiation induction in hippocampus of rat might be associated with the levels of IGF-Ⅰ,IGF-Ⅰ R,and p-Akt.

A total of 1151 subjects were enrolled in this study.Metabolic syndrome (MS) was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.Significant differences in waist circumference,body mass index(BMI),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),systolic blood pressure(SBP),fat mass,Fat％ in different serum TSH levels were found.There were positive relation between fasting plasma glucose,DBP,SBP,and serum FT4 levels,between high density lipoprotein-cholesterol,DBP,SBP,waist circumference,fat mass,Fat％,and serum FT3 levels,even after adjustment for age and sex.Serum FT3 and FT4 levels were higher in the MS group than those in the control group.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and optimal time of levothyroxine (L-T4) treatment in pregnant rats with subclinical hypothyroidism.Methods Female adult Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n =10 per group):control,hypothyroid (H),subclinical hypothyroid (SCH),and SCH treated with L-T4 starting from the tenth,thirteenth,and seventeenth gestational day (GD10,GD13 and GD17),to restore normal thyroid hormone levels.Spatial learning was assessed in progenies by a water maze test and fEPSPs recording.Results Progenies from the SCH and H groups demonstrated significantly longer mean latency in the water maze test and a lower amplification percentage of the fEPSPs' amplitude and slope compared with the offspring of the control group.L-T4 treatment in the GD10 and GD13 groups significantly shortened mean latency and increased the amplification percentage of the fEPSPs' amplitude and slope as compared with the progeny of rats with subclinical hypothyroidism.However,L-T4 treatment in the GD17 group showed only minimal effect on spatial learning of offspring.Conclusion Maternal subclinical hypothyroidism may impair spatial learning in the offspring; L-T4 treatment started early during pregnancy may alleviate this adverse effect.

Data were collected through questionnaire from 505 women enrolled during early pregnancy.Based on soy intake frequency,the subjects were divided into three groups:frequent (three or more times per week),conventional ( more than twice per month but less than three times per week),and occasional ( two or fewer times per month).Serum TSH and FT4 were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay.The urinary concentrations of two primary isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) and creatinine were further assessed in 95 subjects from the three groups.The percentages of frequent,conventional,and occasional consumers were 18.6％,62.6％,and 18.8％,respectively.No difference was found in age,medical records,family history of thyroid diseases,serum FT4,TSH,and prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions among three groups. Both urinary daidzein and genistein levels were significantly higher in the frequent consumers compared with the other two groups.No correlations were found between urinary isoflavone levels and serum FT4 or TSH.These findings suggest that dietary soy consumption during early pregnancy seems not to be associated with the development of thyroid dysfunction.

To explore the dose- and time- dependent relationship between the chronic iodine excess and thyroid structure, ultrastructure, and thyroid function in autoimmune-prone NOD. H-2h4 mice. Chronic iodine excess leads to iodine-induced goiter with an ultrastructure of follicle epithelial cells injury in a dose and time dependent way.

Objective To verify the criteria proposed by National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry(NACB)guidelines in investigating the factors that affect serum TSH determination, and to determine the reference range of serum TSH in iodine-sufficient areas of China. Methods In 2007, 5 348 inhabitants were enrolled from 3 iodine-sufficient areas of Liaoning Province, and were asked to fulfill the questionnaire. Serum TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb)were determined, and thyroid ultrasonography was carried out. Results The distribution of TSH levels was skewed in healthy people and closely fit the curve of Gaussian distribution after logarithmic transformation. The levels of TSH in subjects of 12-19 years of age were significantly higher than those of other age groups(P＜0.01), and no significant difference was found among the latter groups. TSH level in females [(1.68±1.90)mIU/L] was higher than in males[(1.45±1.92)mIU/L, P＜0.01]. The reference range of TSH was 0.43-4.74 mIU/L in males, and 0.48-5.39 mIU/L in females. Family history of thyroid disease, abnormal thyroid ultrasonography, and positive thyroid antibodies were the factors that influenced TSH level. Conclusion The reference range of serum TSH in iodine-sufficient areas of China is established.