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Gorini F, Tonacci A. Tumor Microbial Communities and Thyroid Cancer Development-The Protective Role of Antioxidant Nutrients: Application Strategies and Future Directions. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1898. [PMID: 37891977 PMCID: PMC10604861 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer (TC), the most frequent malignancy of the endocrine system, has recorded an increasing incidence in the last decades. The etiology of TC remains at least partly unknown and, among modifiable risk factors, the gut microbiota and dietary nutrients (vitamins, essential microelements, polyphenols, probiotics) have been recognized to not only influence thyroid function, but exert critical effects on TC development and progression. Recent discoveries on the existence of tumor microbiota also in the TC microenvironment provide further evidence for the essential role of tumor microorganisms in TC etiology and severity, as well as acting as prognostic markers and as a potential target of adjuvant care in the treatment of TC patients. Therefore, in this review, we summarize current knowledge on the relationship of the tumor microbiome with the clinical tumor characteristics and TC progression, also illustrating the molecular mechanisms underlying this association, and how antioxidant nutrients may be used as a novel strategy to both control gut health and reduce the risk for TC. Furthermore, we discuss how new technologies might be exploited for the development of new foods with high nutritional values, antioxidant capability, and even attractiveness to the individual in terms of sensory and emotional features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gorini
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
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Sagaram M, Royer AJ, Hu H, Rajhans A, Parthasarathy R, Krishnasamy SS, Mokshagundam SP, Kong M, Schwandt ML, Parajuli D, Cave MC, Vatsalya V. Illustration of Gut-Thyroid Axis in Alcohol Use Disorder: Interplay of Gut Dysfunction, Pro-Inflammatory Responses, and Thyroid Function. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193100. [PMID: 36231061 PMCID: PMC9563601 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Heavy and chronic alcohol drinking leads to altered gut dysfunction, coupled with a pro-inflammatory state. Thyroid-associated hormones and proteins may be dysregulated by heavy and chronic alcohol intake; however, the mechanism for altered gut-derived changes in thyroid function has not been studied thus far. This study investigates the role of alcohol-induced gut dysfunction and pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in the thyroid function of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). (2) Methods: Male and female AUD patients (n = 44) were divided into Gr.1, patients with normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (n = 28, 0.8 ≤ TSH ≤ 3 mIU/L); and Gr.2, patients with clinically elevated TSH levels (n = 16, TSH > 3 mIU/L). Demographics, drinking measures, comprehensive metabolic panels, and candidate thyroid markers (TSH, circulating triiodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (fT4)) were analyzed. Gut-dysfunction-associated markers (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS-binding protein (LBP), and soluble LPS-induced pathogen-associated protein (sCD14)), and candidate pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, PAI-1) were also evaluated. (3) Results: Patients in both groups presented with a borderline overweight BMI category. Gr.2 reported numerically higher indices of chronic and heavy drinking patterns than Gr.1. The fT4 levels were elevated, while T3 was within normal limits in both groups. The gut dysfunction markers LBP and sCD14 were numerically elevated in Gr.2 vs. Gr.1, suggesting subtle ongoing changes. Candidate pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in Gr.2, including IL-1 β, MCP-1, and PAI-1. Gr.2 showed a strong and statistically significant effect on the gut–immune–thyroid response (r = 0.896, 36 p = 0.002) on TSH levels in a multivariate regression model with LBP, sCD14, and PAI-1 levels as upstream variables in the gut–thyroid pathway. In addition, AUROC analysis demonstrated that many of the cytokines strongly predicted TSH in Gr.2, including IL-6 (area = 0.774, 39 p < 0.001) and TNF-α (area = 0.708, p = 0.017), among others. This was not observed in Gr.1. Gr.2 demonstrated elevated fT4, as well as TSH, which suggests that there was subclinical thyroiditis with underlying CNS dysfunction and a lack of a negative feedback loop. (4) Conclusions: These findings reveal the toxic effects of heavy and chronic drinking that play a pathological role in thyroid gland dysregulation by employing the gut–brain axis. These results also emphasize potential directions to carefully evaluate thyroid dysregulation in the overall medical management of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasa Sagaram
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Clinical Laboratory for the Intervention Development of AUD and Organ Severity, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Amor J. Royer
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Clinical Laboratory for the Intervention Development of AUD and Organ Severity, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Huirong Hu
- Clinical Laboratory for the Intervention Development of AUD and Organ Severity, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Abhas Rajhans
- Clinical Laboratory for the Intervention Development of AUD and Organ Severity, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ranganathan Parthasarathy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Clinical Laboratory for the Intervention Development of AUD and Organ Severity, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | | | - Sri Prakash Mokshagundam
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Maiying Kong
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | | | - Dipendra Parajuli
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Robley Rex VA Medical Center, Louisville, KY 40206, USA
| | - Matthew C. Cave
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Robley Rex VA Medical Center, Louisville, KY 40206, USA
| | - Vatsalya Vatsalya
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Clinical Laboratory for the Intervention Development of AUD and Organ Severity, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-502-852-8928 or +1-502-488-0466
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