A new polymorphism in the type II deiodinase gene is associated with circulating thyroid hormone parameters

• Published in: American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism 2005-07, Vol.289 (1), p.E75-E81
• Main Authors: Peeters, Robin P, van den Beld, Annewieke W, Attalki, Hayat, Toor, Hans van, de Rijke, Yolanda B, Kuiper, George G. J. M, Lamberts, Steven W. J, Janssen, Joop A. M. J. L, Uitterlinden, Andre G, Visser, Theo J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - genetics; Aging - metabolism; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases - genetics; DNA Mutational Analysis - methods; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - epidemiology; Genetic Testing - methods; Humans; Incidence; Iodide Peroxidase - genetics; Iodothyronine Deiodinase Type II; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands - epidemiology; Polymorphism, Genetic; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Statistics as Topic; Thyroid Hormones - blood
• ISSN: 0193-1849; 1522-1555
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00571.2004

Departments of 1 Internal Medicine, 2 Clinical Chemistry, and 3 Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Submitted 3 December 2004 ; accepted in final form 15 February 2005 Type II deiodinase (D2) is important in the regulation of local thyroid hormone bioactivity in certain tissues. D2 in skeletal muscle may also play a role in serum triiodothyronine (T 3 ) production. In this study, we identified a polymorphism in the 5'-UTR of the D2 gene (D2-ORFa-Gly3Asp). We investigated the association of D2-ORFa-Gly3Asp, and of the previously identified D2-Thr92Ala polymorphism, with serum iodothyronine levels. D2-ORFa-Gly3Asp was identified by sequencing the 5'-UTR of 15 randomly selected individuals. Genotypes for D2-ORFa-Gly3Asp were determined in 156 healthy blood donors (age 46.3 ± 12.2 yr) and 349 ambulant elderly men (age 77.7 ± 3.5 yr) and related to serum iodothyronine and TSH levels. D2-ORFa-Asp 3 had an allele frequency of 33.9% in blood bank donors and was associated with serum thyroxine (T 4 ; Gly/Gly vs. Gly/Asp vs. Asp/Asp = 7.06 ± 0.14 vs. 6.74 ± 0.15 vs. 6.29 ± 0.27 µg/dl, P = 0.01), free T 4 (1.22 ± 0.02 vs. 1.16 ± 0.02 vs. 1.06 ± 0.04 ng/dl, P = 0.001), reverse T 3 ( P = 0.01), and T 3 /T 4 ratio ( P = 0.002) in a dose-dependent manner, but not with serum T 3 ( P = 0.59). In elderly men, D2-ORFa-Asp 3 had a similar frequency but was not associated with serum iodothyronine levels. This new polymorphism in the 5'-UTR of D2 is associated with iodothyronine levels in blood donors but not in elderly men. We hypothesize that this might be explained by the decline in skeletal muscle size during aging, resulting in a relative decrease in the contribution of D2 to serum T 3 production. iodothyronines; open reading frame; population; association Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: R. P. Peeters, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Rm. Ee 502, Erasmus Univ. Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands (e-mail: r.peeters{at}erasmusmc.nl )