Transcriptomic signatures of thyroid hormone disruption in the rat liver

Thyroid hormones (THs) are crucial for metabolism and neurodevelopment. Disruption to the TH system can thus lead to a number of adverse outcomes. TH system disruption can be caused by many different mechanisms and compounds. In vivo, the effect pattern in different tissues can be a combination of chemical specific effects (mediated through other mechanisms) and the effects brought on by TH deficiency. Chemicals with known mode of action generally disturb the TH system through disruption of TH synthesis. This is the case for the thyroperoxidase (TPO) inhibitors propylthiouracil (PTU), methimazole (MMI), and amitrol (AMI). Other chemicals, such as the polybromined flame retardant mixture (DE71) and the UV-filter octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), disrupt the TH system through a much more elusive mode of action. But emerging evidence suggest that the liver can play a role.