Monique H. A. Kester

Association between mutations in a thyroid hormone transporter and severe X-linked psychomotor retardation

Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is a thyroid hormone transporter, the gene of which is located on the X chromosome. We tested whether mutations in MCT8 cause severe psychomotor retardation and high serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations in five unrelated young boys. The coding sequence of MCT8 was analysed by PCR and direct sequencing of its six exons. In two patients, gene deletions of 2.4 kb and 24 kb were recorded and in three patients missense mutations Ala150Val, Arg171 stop, and Leu397Pro were identified. We suggest that this novel syndrome of X-linked psychomotor retardation is due to a defect in T3 entry into neurons through MCT8, resulting in impaired T3 action and metabolism.

Effective Cellular Uptake and Efflux of Thyroid Hormone by Human Monocarboxylate Transporter 10

Cellular entry of thyroid hormone is mediated by plasma membrane transporters, among others a T-type (aromatic) amino acid transporter. Monocarboxylate transporter 10 (MCT10) has been reported to transport aromatic amino acids but not iodothyronines. Within the MCT family, MCT10 is most homologous to MCT8, which is a very important iodothyronine transporter but does not transport amino acids. In view of this paradox, we decided to reinvestigate the possible transport of thyroid hormone by human (h) MCT10 in comparison with hMCT8. Transfection of COS1 cells with hMCT10 cDNA resulted in 1) the production of an approximately 55 kDa protein located to the plasma membrane as shown by immunoblotting and confocal microscopy, 2) a strong increase in the affinity labeling of intracellular type I deiodinase by N-bromoacetyl-[(125)I]T(3), 3) a marked stimulation of cellular T(4) and, particularly, T(3) uptake, 4) a significant inhibition of T(3) uptake by phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan of 12.5%, 22.2%, and 51.4%, respectively, and 5) a marked increase in the intracellular deiodination of T(4) and T(3) by different deiodinases. Cotransfection studies using the cytosolic thyroid hormone-binding protein micro-crystallin (CRYM) indicated that hMCT10 facilitates both cellular uptake and efflux of T(4) and T(3). In the absence of CRYM, hMCT10 and hMCT8 increased T(3) uptake after 5 min incubation up to 4.0- and 1.9-fold, and in the presence of CRYM up to 6.9- and 5.8-fold, respectively. hMCT10 was less active toward T(4) than hMCT8. These findings establish that hMCT10 is at least as active a thyroid hormone transporter as hMCT8, and that both transporters facilitate iodothyronine uptake as well as efflux.

Potent Inhibition of Estrogen Sulfotransferase by Hydroxylated Metabolites of Polyhalogenated Aromatic Hydrocarbons Reveals Alternative Mechanism for Estrogenic Activity of Endocrine Disrupters

Polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs), such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polybrominated diphenylethers, and bisphenol A derivatives are persistent environmental pollutants, which are capable of interfering with reproductive and endocrine function in birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals. PHAHs exert estrogenic effects that may be mediated in part by their hydroxylated metabolites (PHAH-OHs), the mechanisms of which remain to be identified. PHAH-OHs show low affinity for the ER. Alternatively, they may exert their estrogenic effects by inhibiting E2 metabolism. As sulfation of E2 by estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) is an important pathway for E2 inactivation, inhibition of SULT1E1 may lead to an increased bioavailability of estrogens in tissues expressing this enzyme. Therefore, we studied the possible inhibition of human SULT1E1 by hydroxylated PHAH metabolites and the sulfation of the different compounds by SULT1E1. We found marked inhibition of SULT1E1 by various PHAH-OHs, in particular by compounds with two adjacent halogen substituents around the hydroxyl group that were effective at (sub)nanomolar concentrations. Depending on the structure, the inhibition is primarily competitive or noncompetitive. Most PHAH-OHs are also sulfated by SULT1E1. We also investigated the inhibitory effects of the various PHAH-OHs on E2 sulfation by human liver cytosol and found that the effects were strongly correlated with their inhibitions of recombinant SULT1E1 (r = 0.922). Based on these results, we hypothesize that hydroxylated PHAHs exert their estrogenic effects at least in part by inhibiting SULT1E1-catalyzed E2 sulfation.

Genotype-phenotype relationship in patients with mutations in thyroid hormone transporter MCT8

Loss-of-function mutations in thyroid hormone transporter monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) lead to severe X-linked psychomotor retardation and elevated serum T(3) levels. Most patients, for example those with mutations V235M, S448X, insI189, or delF230, cannot stand, walk, or speak. Patients with mutations L434W, L568P, and S194F, however, walk independently and/or develop some dysarthric speech. To study the relationship between mutation and phenotype, we transfected JEG3 and COS1 cells with wild-type or mutant MCT8. Expression and function of the transporter were studied by analyzing T(3) and T(4) uptake, T(3) metabolism (by cotransfected type 3 deiodinase), Western blotting, affinity labeling with N-bromoacetyl-T(3), immunocytochemistry, and quantitative RT-PCR. Wild-type MCT8 increased T(3) uptake and metabolism about 5-fold compared with empty vector controls. Mutants V235M, S448X, insI189, and delF230 did not significantly increase transport. However, S194F, L568P, and L434W showed about 20, 23, and 37% of wild-type activity. RT-PCR did not show significant differences in mRNA expression between wild-type and mutant MCT8. Immunocytochemistry detected the nonfunctional mutants V235M, insI189, and delF230 mostly in the cytoplasm, whereas mutants with residual function were expressed at the plasma membrane. Mutants S194F and L434W showed high protein expression but low affinity for N-bromoacetyl-T(3); L568P was detected in low amounts but showed relatively high affinity. Mutations in MCT8 cause loss of function through reduced protein expression, impaired trafficking to the plasma membrane, or reduced substrate affinity. Mutants L434W, L568P, and S194F showed significant residual transport capacity, which may underlie the more advanced psychomotor development observed in patients with these mutations.

Decreased cellular uptake and metabolism in Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) due to a novel mutation in the MCT8 thyroid hormone transporter

We report a novel 1 bp deletion (c.1834delC) in the MCT8 gene in a large Brazilian family with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), an X linked condition characterised by severe mental retardation and neurological dysfunction. The c.1834delC segregates with the disease in this family and it was not present in 100 control chromosomes, further confirming its pathogenicity. This mutation causes a frameshift and the inclusion of 64 additional amino acids in the C-terminal region of the protein. Pathogenic mutations in the MCT8 gene, which encodes a thyroid hormone transporter, results in elevated serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels, which were confirmed in four affected males of this family, while normal levels were found among obligate carriers. Through in vitro functional assays, we showed that this mutation decreases cellular T3 uptake and intracellular T3 metabolism. Therefore, the severe neurological defects present in the patients are due not only to deficiency of intracellular T3, but also to altered metabolism of T3 in central neurones. In addition, the severe muscle hypoplasia observed in most AHDS patients may be a consequence of high serum T3 levels.

Iodothyronine deiodinase enzyme activities in bone.

Euthyroid status is essential for normal skeletal development and maintenance of the adult skeleton, but the mechanisms which control supply of thyroid hormone to bone cells are poorly understood. Thyroid hormones enter target cells via monocarboxylate transporter-8 (MCT8), which provides a functional link between thyroid hormone uptake and metabolism in the regulation of T3-action but has not been investigated in bone. Most circulating active thyroid hormone (T3) is derived from outer ring deiodination of thyroxine (T4) mediated by the type 1 deiodinase enzyme (D1). The D2 isozyme regulates intra-cellular T3 supply and determines saturation of the nuclear T3-receptor (TR), whereas a third enzyme (D3) inactivates T4 and T3 to prevent hormone availability and reduce TR-saturation. The aim of this study was to determine whether MCT8 is expressed in the skeleton and whether chondrocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts express functional deiodinases. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and D1, D2 and D3 function by sensitive and highly specific determination of enzyme activities. MCT8 mRNA was expressed in chondrocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts at all stages of cell differentiation. D1 activity was undetectable in all cell types, D2 activity was only present in mature osteoblasts whereas D3 activity was evident throughout chondrocyte, osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation in primary cell cultures. These data suggest that T3 availability especially during skeletal development may be limited by D3-mediated catabolism rather than by MCT8 mediated cellular uptake or D2-dependent T3 production.

Novel pathogenic mechanism suggested by ex vivo analysis of MCT8 (SLC16A2) mutations

Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8; approved symbol SLC16A2) facilitates cellular uptake and efflux of 3,3′,5‐triiodothyronine (T3). Mutations in MCT8 are associated with severe psychomotor retardation, high serum T3 and low 3,3′,5′‐triiodothyronine (rT3) levels. Here we report three novel MCT8 mutations. Two subjects with the F501del mutation have mild psychomotor retardation with slightly elevated T3 and normal rT3 levels. T3 uptake was mildly affected in F501del fibroblasts and strongly decreased in fibroblasts from other MCT8 patients, while T3 efflux was always strongly reduced. Moreover, type 3 deiodinase activity was highly elevated in F501del fibroblasts, whereas it was reduced in fibroblasts from other MCT8 patients, probably reflecting parallel variation in cellular T3 content. Additionally, T3‐responsive genes were markedly upregulated by T3 treatment in F501del fibroblasts but not in fibroblasts with other MCT8 mutations. In conclusion, mutations in MCT8 result in a decreased T3 uptake in skin fibroblasts. The much milder clinical phenotype of patients with the F501del mutation may be correlated with the relatively small decrease in T3 uptake combined with an even greater decrease in T3 efflux. If fibroblasts are representative of central neurons, abnormal brain development associated with MCT8 mutations may be the consequence of either decreased or increased intracellular T3 concentrations. Hum Mutat 0,1‐10, 2008.