BMC Endocrine Disorders (Aug 2024)

Generation of a mouse model of thyroid storm and preliminary investigation of the therapeutic effects of ghrelin

  • Chiaki Kurimoto,
  • Yasushi Furukawa,
  • Takashi Akamizu,
  • Asako Doi,
  • Ken Takeshima,
  • Shuhei Morita,
  • Hiroshi Iwakura,
  • Hiroyuki Ariyasu,
  • Hiroto Furuta,
  • Masahiro Nishi,
  • Taka-Aki Matsuoka

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-024-01680-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background Thyroid storm (TS), a life-threatening condition that can damage multiple organs, has limited therapeutic options. Hypercytokinemia is a suggested background, but the pathological condition is unclear and there are no appropriate animal models. We aimed to develop a TS mouse model by administration of triiodothyronine and lipopolysaccharide, and then to examine the effects of ghrelin on this model. Methods We evaluated the use of serum IL-6 levels as a representative marker of hypercytokinemia in patients with TS. To establish the mouse model, preliminary experiments were conducted to determine the non-lethal doses of triiodothyronine and lipopolysaccharide when administered individually. As a TS model, C57BL/6 mice were administered with triiodothyronine 1.0 mg/kg (subcutaneously, once daily for seven consecutive days) and lipopolysaccharide 0.5 mg/kg (intraperitoneally, on day 7) to develop a lethal model with approximately 30% survival on day 8. We assessed the survival ratio, mouse sepsis scores and blood biomarkers (IL-6, metanephrine, alanine aminotransferase) and evaluated the effects of ghrelin 300 µg/kg on these parameters in TS model. Results Serum IL-6 was increased in patients with TS compared with those with Graves’ disease as the diseased control (18.2 vs. 2.85 pg/mL, P < .05, n = 4 each). The dosage for the murine TS model was triiodothyronine 1.0 mg/kg and lipopolysaccharide 0.5 mg/kg. The TS model group had increased mouse sepsis score, serum IL-6, metanephrine and alanine aminotransferase. In this model, the ghrelin improved the survival rate to 66.7% (P < .01, vs. 0% [saline-treated group]) as well as the mouse sepsis score, and it decreased the serum IL-6 and metanephrine. Conclusion We established an animal model of TS that exhibits pathophysiological states similar to human TS with induction of serum IL-6 and other biomarkers by administration of T3 and LPS. The results suggest the potential effectiveness of ghrelin for TS in humans.

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