An exploratory investigation of antibodies to NMDA-type glutamate receptor subunits in serum and cerebrospinal fluid among psychiatric patients with anti-thyroid antibodies

Prediction of the cognitive impairment development in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism

Objective. The aim of the present work is to define the risk factors that can affect the presence of a cognitive impairment and analyze the associations of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism (rs6265), vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism (rs2228570), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor gene polymorphism (rs4880213) with the cognitive impairment in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in the Western Ukraine population and predict the development of cognitive disorders in these patients.

Methods. The study involved 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology (hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, elevated serum antibodies anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase). Cognitive impairment in the examined patients was evaluated based on the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. BDNF, GRIN2B, and 25-OH Vitamin D levels in the serum of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using highly sensitive commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Genotyping of the VDR (rs2228570), BDNF (rs6265), and NMDA receptor (rs4880213) gene polymorphism was performed using TaqMan probes and Taq-Man Genotyping Master Mix (4371355) on CFX96™Real-Time PCR Detection System. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TaqMan genotyping was carried out according to the kit instructions.

Results. Strong direct relationship between the “Level GRIN2B” and cognitive impairments (p=0.006) was established after evaluating the complex model based on the values of the regression coefficient. An increase in the likelihood of cognitive impairment by 24.898-fold (p=0.012) was seen after assessing the effect of the CT rs6265 genotype. In addition, direct relationship between the influence of the TT rs6265 genotype and an increase in the likelihood of cognitive impairment by a factor of 21.734 (p=0.024) was also established.

Conclusion. The present data indicate that the BDNF, TSH, fT4, and vitamin D levels prognostically belong to the significant indicators of the cognitive impairment development.

Prediction of the Development of Depression in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism is frequently accompanied by depression symptoms, whereas depression is considered the most common mental disorder. AIM: It is crucial to analyze the associations of the brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism (rs6265), the VDR gene polymorphism (rs2228570), and the NMDA gene polymorphism (rs4880213) with the depression in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in the Western Ukrainian population and predict the development of depressive disorders in these patients. METHODS: The study involved a total of 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology. BDNF levels in the sera of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with highly sensitive Human BDNF ELISA Kit (Elabscience®, United States, Catalog No: E-EL-H0010) on E.I.A. Reader Sirio S (Seac, Italy). Genotyping of the VDR (rs2228570), BDNF (rs6265), and NMDA (rs4880213) gene polymorphism using TaqMan probes and TaqMan Genotyping Master Mix (4371355) on CFX96™Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Detection System (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., USA). PCR for TaqMan genotyping was carried out according to the kit instructions (Applied Biosystems, USA). We used the Student’s t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s Chi-square test, ROC-analysis, odds ratio test, relative odds ratio test. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were computed by binary logistic regression. RESULTS: When comparing the presence of depression on the Hamilton scale, statistically significant differences were found depending on BDNF gene polymorphism (rs6265) (p < 0.001), and non-statistically noticeable differences were detected depending on the VDR gene polymorphism (rs2228570) and NMDA gene polymorphism (rs4880213). Our study revealed a marked inverse connection between depression and BDNF levels (p < 0.001) and a reverse moderate correlation between depression and fT4 (p < 0.001) and 25-OH Vitamin D levels (p < 0.001). In addition, we identified a direct moderate correlation between pronounced levels of depression and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Indicators such as BDNF, TSH, fT4, anti-TPO, and 25-OH Vitamin D levels were found to be prognostically significant criteria for the risk of developing depression.

Association between NMDA gene polymorphism (rs4880213) and GRIN2B blood serum levels in thyroid pathology patients

The article discusses a new hypothesis that autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland can lead to depression and neurological complications. It is believed that the neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor plays a significant role in depression pathophysiology and neurological and mental diseases, respectively. The study involved 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology. GRIN2B levels in the sera of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with highly sensitive Human GRIN2B (Glutamate Receptor, Ionotropic, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate 2B) ELISA Kit. Genotyping of the glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1, GRIN1 (rs4880213) gene polymorphism. The CT genotype of the NMDA gene (rs4880213) was predominant in the surveyed population. The C allele of the NMDA gene was more frequent than the T allele among patients with thyroid disease. GRIN2B levels were significantly decreased in patients with postoperative hypothyroidism 3.45 times, and in patients with AIT-induced hypothyroidism, there was a probable increase in GRIN2B levels by 1.58 times compared with controls. GRIN2B levels were significantly different in patients of different groups depending on thyroid pathology. Our study showed direct close correlation (r=0.635) between GRIN2B and anti-TPO levels (p<0.001), a significant direct close correlation (r=0.527) between GRIN2B and anti-TG levels in the blood (p<0.001). Our results allow us to consider the GRIN2B level as an important prognostic minimally invasive marker of neurological complications in endocrine pathology.