Thyroid axis participates in high-temperature-induced male sex reversal through its activation by the stress response

Extreme temperatures, PM2.5 and trajectories of impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity: A longitudinal study of patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

The climate change scenario has witnessed an increase in extreme temperature events (ETEs), including heat waves and cold spells, and a heightened occurrence of compounding with fine particulate matter (PM2.5). However, the impact of this phenomenon on the sensitivity to thyroid hormones (THs) in humans is unclear, especially in a group as specific as schizophrenia.

METHODS

A longitudinal study was constructed using longitudinal measurements of thyroid function in schizophrenia in the Anhui Mental Health Center. The latent growth mixture model was applied to assess the optimal trajectory of change in impaired THs sensitivity. We then used logistic regression to explore associations between heat waves, cold spells, and PM2.5 with impaired THs sensitivity trajectories in the total population and different gender and age subgroups. Furthermore, the effect of the frequency, intensity, and duration of ETEs in the above associations was explored, as well as an assessment of the interaction between ETEs and PM2.5.

RESULTS

Among 931 participants, we identified two classifications of trajectories of impaired THs sensitivity: "Low-stable" (n = 836, 89.80 %) and "Rise-slight down" (n = 95, 10.20 %). Logistic regression showed significant associations between each additional day of heat waves (≥3 days with temperature thresholds above the 95th percentile) and cold spells (≥3 days with temperature thresholds below the 5th percentile) and "Rise-slight down" trajectory, with odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) of 1.06 (1.02, 1.10) and 1.19 (1.14, 1.24), respectively, and the strength of this association increased with the intensity and duration of ETEs. Subgroup analyses indicated that the association was more pronounced in males and the age group above 40 years. Furthermore, PM2.5 was found to interact with heat waves, with high concentrations exacerbating the effects of heat waves.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that mitigating both ETEs and PM2.5 exposures may bring health co-benefits in preventing thyroid impairment in schizophrenia.

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Early Heat Stress Response in the Brain of Chinese Tongue Sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

As a common influencing factor in the environment, temperature greatly influences the fish that live in the water all their life. The essential economic fish Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis), a benthic fish, will experience both physiological and behavioral changes due to increases in temperature. The brain, as the central hub of fish and a crucial regulatory organ, is particularly sensitive to temperature changes and will be affected. However, previous research has mainly concentrated on the impact of temperature on the gonads of C. semilaevis. Instead, our study examines the brain using transcriptomics to investigate specific genes and pathways that can quickly respond to temperature changes. The fish were subjected to various periods of heat stress (1 h, 2 h, 3 h, and 5 h) before extracting the brain for transcriptome analysis. After conducting transcriptomic analyses, we identified distinct genes and pathways in males and females. The pathways were mainly related to cortisol synthesis and secretion, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, TGF beta signaling pathway, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway, while the genes included the HSP family, tshr, c-fos, c-jun, cxcr4, camk2b, and igf2. Our study offers valuable insights into the regulation mechanisms of the brain's response to temperature stress.