Endocrinol Metab.  2019 Dec;34(4):340-348. 10.3803/EnM.2019.34.4.340.

Bisphenols and Thyroid Hormone

• Kim MJ
• Park YJ

• KMID: 2466252
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2019.34.4.340

Abstract

In recent decades, attention has been directed toward the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on human health. BPA has estrogenic activity and is regarded as a representative endocrine disruptor. In addition, mounting evidence indicates that BPA can disrupt thyroid hormone and its action. This review examined human epidemiological studies to investigate the association between BPA exposure and thyroid hormone levels, and analyzed in vivo and in vitro experiments to identify the causal relationship and its mechanism of action. BPA is involved in thyroid hormone action not only as a thyroid hormone receptor antagonist, but also through several other mechanisms. Since the use of bisphenols other than BPA has recently increased, we also reviewed the effects of other bisphenols on thyroid hormone action.

Keyword

Bisphenol A; Endocrine disruptors; Thyroid hormones; Receptors, thyroid hormone

MeSH Terms

Endocrine Disruptors
Epidemiologic Studies
Estrogens
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Receptors, Thyroid Hormone
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Hormones
Endocrine Disruptors
Estrogens
Receptors, Thyroid Hormone
Thyroid Hormones

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Chemicals can interfere with thyroid hormone action at several points. (A) The pituitary gland and hypothalamus regulate thyroid hormone synthesis through thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) release. (B) Thyroid hormone is synthesized in the thyroid gland. If TSH stimulates thyrocytes, iodine uptake via the sodium iodide symporter (NIS), thyroglobulin (Tg) production, and oxidation by thyroid peroxidase (TPO) occur. (C) Thyroid hormone is carried on binding proteins such as thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and transthyretin (TTR). (D) Thyroid hormone is metabolized in the liver by deiodinase (DIO), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), or sulfotransferase (SULT) and eliminated in bile. (E) Thyroid hormone binds to the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) in target cells and activates thyroid hormone signaling pathways. T4, thyroxine; T3, triiodothyronine.

• 

  Fig. 2 Structure of thyroid hormone and bisphenols. (A) Triiodothyronine, (B) bisphenol A, (C) bisphenol F, and (D) bisphenol S.

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