Tumor necrosis factor: a putative mediator of the sick euthyroid syndrome in man.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Source:

J Clin Endocrinol Metab, Volume 71, Issue 6, p.1567-72 (1990)

Keywords:

Adult, Euthyroid Sick Syndromes, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Humans, Kinetics, Male, Recombinant Proteins, Thyroid hormones, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine, Triiodothyronine, Reverse, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Abstract:

<p>Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is believed to be an important mediator in many diseases that are associated with the sick euthyroid syndrome. To investigate the effect of TNF on thyroid hormone metabolism, we performed a controlled study in six healthy postabsorptive males, in whom plasma thyroid hormones and TSH were sequentially measured after iv bolus injections of recombinant human TNF (50 micrograms/m2) and isotonic saline. During the 10.5-h study TNF produced the characteristic changes in circulating thyroid hormones and TSH observed in the sick euthyroid syndrome. Compared with the control experiment, TNF induced significant decreases in T3 (-36 +/- 2%; saline, -20 +/- 3%; P less than 0.05) and TSH levels (-68 +/- 3%; saline, -44 +/- 8%; P less than 0.05) and a significant increase in rT3 values (+48 +/- 11%; saline, -12 +/- 7%; P less than 0.05). T4 and free T4 index were not affected by TNF. Free T4 showed a mean transient increase of 18% in five subjects (nonsignificant), which occurred synchronically with a transient 3.5-fold rise in circulating FFA levels. Our results suggest that TNF is involved, either directly or indirectly, in the pathogenesis of the sick euthyroid syndrome.</p>

National Library of Medicine (brackets, no "et al."): van der Poll T, Romijn JA, Wiersinga WM, Sauerwein HP. Tumor necrosis factor: a putative mediator of the sick euthyroid syndrome in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;71(6):1567-72.
National Library of Medicine (grant proposals with PMCID/PMID): van der Poll T, Romijn JA, Wiersinga WM, Sauerwein HP. Tumor necrosis factor: a putative mediator of the sick euthyroid syndrome in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;71(6):1567-72.
National Library of Medicine (NLM) - Grant with PMID: van der Poll T, Romijn JA, Wiersinga WM, Sauerwein HP. Tumor necrosis factor: a putative mediator of the sick euthyroid syndrome in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;71(6):1567-72.
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