Genetic polymorphism of thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG) in the Pacific area.

Human plasma samples, radiolabeled with [125I]thyroxin, from the Asian, Pacific, and Australian area have been subjected to isoelectric focusing to reveal genetic variation in thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG). A genetically determined electrophoretic slow variant, TBG S, indistinguishable from the variant found in black Africans, has been observed with a frequency of 1%-10% in all Melanesian and Polynesian populations studied. The TBG S variant is present also with low frequency in Micronesians and in some Indonesian populations. However, East Asians, Indians, and Australian Aborigines were found to be monomorphic.     

X-linked,polymorphic genetic variation of thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG) in baboons and screening of additional primates

X-linked polymorphic variation of thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG) is observed in several human groups. Isoelectric focusing of plasma samples labeled in vitro with [¹²⁵I]thyroxin, followed by autoradiography, also reveals genetically determined polymorphic electrophoretic variation in baboon TBG. The protein detected by this method in baboon plasma is immunologically similar to human TBG and is distinct from the other thyroxin-binding proteins, albumin and prealbumin. The isoelectric patterns of human and baboon TBG are very similar and both have an isoelectric range of pH 4.1 to 4.5. The baboon TBG polymorphism is inherited in a two-allele X-linked fashion, with a frequency of 72% for the common allele and 28% for the slow allele. A survey of seven other primate species including African green monkey, bonnet macaque, chimpanzee, crab-eating macaque, gorilla, rhesus monkey, and spider monkey revealed no polymorphic variation in TBG, although isoelectric patterns were similar to the human and baboon patterns. In addition, samples from pregnant chimpanzees demonstrate a pronounced quantitative anodal shift in relative band densities, a shift also observed in pregnant humans. This shift was not observed in samples from pregnant baboons. TBG should prove to be a useful X-linked genetic marker in baboons and provides a model of serum protein changes in pregnancy, at least in humans and chimpanzees.This research was supported by NIH Grant 2R01-EY-02388 and a Biomedical Research Support Grant from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.     

Comparative characteristics of molecular forms of human thyroxine-binding globulin

Two molecular variants, of thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG), TBG-1 and TBG-2, were obtained from human retroplacental blood by fractionation of pure TBG on concanavalin A-Sepharose. It was found that both variants are immunologically identical, have similar molecular weights, amino acid composition and spectral properties, and possess the same affinity for thyroid hormones. However, TBG-1 and TBG-2 differed in charge upon isoelectrofocusing and had different monosaccharide composition. The existence of two molecular variants of TBG in pregnancy is probably due to the peculiarities of the polypeptide chain glycosylation during TBG biosynthesis.     

A new polymorphism of thyroxin-binding globulin in three African groups (Mali) with endemic nodular goitre

Summary The thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG) polymorphism was investigated in three African groups: two belonged to the Bwa villages of Mali, and the third was a Dogon group living in the same area. The Bwa groups were characterized by the occurrence of nodular goitres, whereas the Dogon population did not show similar pathological symptoms. Females were more affected by goitre than males in the affected villages. The TBG polymorphism enabled us to demonstrate the presence of an undescribed allele (TBG C1) in these populations. The frequency of the TBG S allele was also higher than previously published in other African groups. We observed a disequilibrium in the distribution of the C and S alleles in the population, with an excess of homozygous TBG S individuals. No clear relationship between the TBG polymorphism and the number of nodules can be drawn.     

Detection of genetic variation with radioactive ligands. IV. X-linked, polymorphic genetic variation of thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG).

A genetically determined, polymorphic electrophoretic variant of thyroxin-binding alpha-globulin (TBG) is found in sera from populations of African and Oceania origin, although not in Caucasians nor Orientals. The TBG polymorphism is inherited in X-linked fashion, based on data from American blacks, and thus provides an X-chromosome marker with a relatively high gene frequency in this ethnic group (frequency of the slow allele, TBGs, is 11%). This slow variant should prove valuable in expanding the map of the X chromosome and in linkage studies. An additional family exhibiting X-linked TBG deficiency is also described.     

Corticosteroid-binding globulin, a structural basis for steroid transport and proteinase-triggered release

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is a serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) family member that transports glucocorticoids in blood and regulates their access to target cells. The 1.9A crystal structure of rat CBG shows that its steroid-binding site resembles the thyroxin-binding site in the related serpin, thyroxin-binding globulin, and mutagenesis studies have confirmed the contributions of key residues that constitute the steroid-binding pocket. Unlike thyroxin-bound thyroxin-binding globulin, the cortisol-bound CBG displays an "active" serpin conformation with the proteinase-sensitive, reactive center loop (RCL) fully expelled from the regulatory beta-sheet A. Moreover, the CBG structure allows us to predict that complete insertion of the proteolytically cleaved RCL into the serpin fold occurs in concert with a displacement and unwinding of helix D that would disrupt the steroid-binding site. This allosteric coupling between RCL positioning and occupancy of the CBG steroid-binding site, which resembles the ligand (glycosamino-glycan)-dependent activation of the thrombin inhibitory serpins heparin cofactor II and anti-thrombin RCLs, ensures both optimal recognition of CBG by target proteinases and efficient release of steroid to sites of action.     

Precise localization of the human thyroxine-binding globulin gene to chromosome Xq22.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization

The human thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) gene has been localized to X chromosome (Xq22.2) by in situ hybridization using a biotinylated gDNA probe. This is consistent with previous mapping of the TBG gene to chromosome Xq21-q22.     

Genetic studies on human thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG)

Summary An enzyme immunoassay technique combined with Western blotting is described to demonstrate thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) by isoelectric focusing in thin-layer polyacrylamide gels with 8mol/l urea. Quantitative evaluation was by laser densitometry. No genetic charge variants of TBG were encountered in a sample of 840 unrelated individuals from southwestern Germany. There was no correlation between structural and quantitative variations in the TBG protein. Results from a family with quantitative TBG deficiency strongly support the postulated X-linked mode of inheritance. The method described can be considered as an additional diagnostic tool in thyroid evaluation.     

A variant of porcine thyroxine-binding globulin has reduced affinity for thyroxine and is associated with testis size

The field of genomics applies the dissection of genetic differences toward an understanding of the biology of complex traits. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for testis size, plasma FSH in boars, and body composition (backfat) have been identified near the centromere on the X chromosome in a Meishan-White Composite resource population. Since thyroid function affects Sertoli cell development and adult testis size in rodents, and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) maps to this region on the porcine X chromosome, TBG was a positional candidate gene for testis size. We discovered a polymorphism in exon 2 of the porcine TBG gene that results in an amino acid change of the consensus histidine to an asparagine. This single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) resides in the ligand-binding domain of the mature polypeptide, and the Meishan allele is the conserved allele found in human, bovine, sheep, and rodent TBG. Binding studies indicate altered binding characteristics of the allelic variants of TBG with the asparagine (White Composite) isoform having significantly greater affinity for thyroxine than the histidine (Meishan) isoform. Alternate alleles in boars from the resource population are also significantly associated with testis weight. Therefore, this polymorphism in TBG is a candidate for the causative variation affecting testis size in boars.     

Radioimmunoelectrophoretic analysis of proteins binding 3, 3', 5'-triiodothyronine in human serum

The binding of purified 131I-3, 3', 5'-triiodothyronine (reverse T3) (rT3) to normal human serum components was investigated by a radioimmunoelectrophoretic technique. When anti-whole human serum was used, five distinct arcs of radioactivity were observed. Evidence was obtained that five of these radioactive arcs were not artifacts, but were due to components binding rT3. From the radioimmunoelectrophoretic patterns with specific antisera, five of these components were identified as thyroxine binding prealbumin, albumin, thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) and alpha 1-and beta-lipoproteins. No radioactive arc of TBG was detected in serum from a patient with TBG deficiency.     

Concentration of thyroxine-binding globulin: value of direct assay.

The concentration of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) in the serum can now be measured by direct assays that are simple and inexpensive. Comparison of a direct measurement of TBG concentration with a widely used indirect method (Thyopac-3) showed that the indirect method was inaccurate when TBG concentrations were high. This will result in an increase in the derived free thyroxine index (FTI), so that euthyroid patients with a raised TBG concentration may be at risk of being labelled thyrotoxic. Correction of serum total thyroxine (T4) concentration according to the actual TBG concentration (T4:TBG ratio) provided a better correlation with thyroid state than FTI.     

TBG-dependency of age related variations of thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) were determined in healthy individuals ranging in age from newborn to 95 years. T4: 10.25 +/- 1.62 microng/100 ml, T3: 1.62 +/- 0.35 ng/ml and TBG: 1.34 +/- 0.15 mg/100 ml, were found elevated until puberty compared to a middle age group with T4: 7.27 +/- 2.26 microng/100 ml, T3: 1.15 +/- 0.24 ng/ml and TBG: 0.98 +/- 14 mg/100 ml. T4 and T3 followed almost TBG concentration. In old age is dissociation between T4: 5.79 +/- 1.56 microng/100 ml, T3: 0.79 +/- 0.21 ng/ml and TBG: 1.28 +/- 0.15 mg/100 ml was found. Except for old age the ratio T4/TBG and T3/TBG minimized the age dependent variation of T4 and T3 and reduced the coefficient of variance from 26% to 17.7% for T4 and from 26.5 to 25% for T3. Age reduction of T4/TBG is 15% and of T3/TBG 13% respectively more pronounced than for T4 and T3 alone. These data indicate: 1) age related variations of T4 and T3 due to age dependency of TBG, 2) deviation of T4 and T3 values in old age from that expected by their TBG levels and 3) the importance of the routine use of hormone/TBG ratio.     

Thyroxine-binding globulin variant (TBG-Kumamoto): identification of a point mutation and genotype analysis of its family.

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) is the major thyroid hormone transport protein. Several inherited TBG variants resulting in partial or complete TBG deficiencies have been shown to be caused by either one or two nucleotide substitutions, or one nucleotide deletion in the coding regions of the TBG gene. In this report, a Japanese female patient (proband) with hyperthyroid state, whose lower TBG levels did not return to normal under the euthyroid state after treatment was examined. Genomic DNA samples from the proband with thyroxine-binding globulin deficiency (termed TBG-Kumamoto) and her family were subjected to the polymerase chain reaction, and the generated DNA fragments were sequenced. A single nucleotide substitution in the codon for the amino acid 363 of native TBG molecule (CCT to CTT) was found, resulting in the replacement of proline by leucine. It was revealed that the proband was a heterozygote and her father was a hemizygote. The mutation was confirmed by the allele-specific amplification of genomic DNAs from the proband and her father using oligonucleotide primers of normal or mutant residues at the 3' position in the polymerase chain reaction. These results indicate that the abnormality of TBG-Kumamoto is the consequence of this mutation. Genetically, this point mutation observed in TBG-Kumamoto might be classified as a new type of TBG deficiency.     

Thyroxine-binding globulin, triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyrotropin in newborn infants and children.

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyrotropin (TSH) have been determined by radioimmunoassay in plasma of newborn infants and throughout childhood until puberty. Mean maternal TBG concentration was 1.65 +/- 0.09 mg/100 ml (SEM) and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than cord blood levels of TBG (1.16 +/- 0.08 mg/100 ml (SEM). Throughout infancy and childhood TBG remained significantly elevated (p less than 0.01) compared to a middle age control group of healthy blood donors. T3, T4 and TSH concentrations behaved postnatally as known from previous studies. The T3 and T4 increase observed immediately after birth was not a secondary phenomenon due to changes in TBG concentration since this globulin did not change significantly during this period.     

Clinical study on increased serum thyroxine-binding globulin in cancerous state

Serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) in 169 patients with various cancers was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Eleven patients showed a high serum TBG level (greater than 35 micrograms/ml). Two of them had been treated with estrogen for prostate cancer. One patient had high serum TBG with serum hepatitis. Another 8 cases had normal liver function and also normal levels serum estrogen. Thus, about 4.7% (8/169) of the cancer patients had high serum TBG and mild hyperthyroxinemia caused by unknown mechanisms. The high TBG level in these patients continued until just before death, or in some cases decreased to normal after removal of cancer tumors by operation. Cancer is occasionally associated with an increase in serum TBG. Although the mechanism is not clear, the increased TBG in the cancerous state in interesting and has significance as a tumor marker.     

Linkage between the hormone binding site and the reactive center loop of thyroxine binding globulin

Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) is the major carrier of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in plasma. TBG is member of the serpin family of proteins although it has no proteinase inhibitory activity. In this study we show that TBG has properties typical of a metastable serpin and provide evidence that occupancy of the hormone binding site alters the conformation of the reactive center loop. After reactive center loop cleavage by endoproteinase Asp-N or neutrophil elastase the protein became more stable to guanidine hydrochloride denaturation compared to the native protein, as a result of loop insertion. In addition, incubation of the native protein with a reactive center loop peptide, caused a change in mobility on a native gel. This is consistent with the idea that thyroxine binding globulin is able to form a binary complex with the peptide as a result of beta-sheet A expansion. To assess the effect of cleavage and loop insertion on the hormone binding site we used the specific binding of a fluorophore, 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS). Loop insertion itself had no effect on ANS affinity, but cleavage with elastase at the P4'-P5' bond caused a reduction in affinity, presumably because this cleavage site is located within the hormone binding site. These data support the concept that cleavage of TBG by proteinases released in inflammation is a mechanism to deliver thyroid hormones to target tissues. A linkage between the occupancy state of the hormone binding site and the conformation of the reactive center loop was indicated by the observation that binding of T3 to native TBG reduced proteolytic susceptibility by both endoproteinase Asp-N and elastase.     

Effect of cyproterone acetate acutely administered on the pituitary-testicular axis.

The effect of cyproterone acetate (CA) on the pituitary-testicular axis was studied in 6 healthy men. A dose of 300 mg of CA was administered orally in the early morning, after 3 h blood samples were collected using a multiple sample technique. Testosterone (T) levels were decreased by CA in all subjects (p 0.01), LH in all (p less than 0.01) but one whereas 17-hydroxyprogesterone did not show any significant variation. In vitro, using an equilibrium dialysis, CA displaced T from plasma-binding proteins in males at 37 degrees C. The role of testosterone-binding globulin on the effects of CA on the pituitary-testicular axis remains to be clarified.     

New aspects of isolation and purification of thyroxine-binding globulin from human biological fluids

Based on the new data concerning the multicomponent system of thyroxine-binding proteins in human plasma, some methodological aspects of isolation and purification of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) were examined, and a simple two-step procedure for TBG purification was developed. Normal human blood serum, retroplacental serum and amniotic fluid were used as TBG sources. The procedure includes affinity chromatography and adsorption chromatography on a hydroxyapatite column. A biospecific adsorbent was synthesized by stepwise binding of epichlorohydrin and thyroxine to Sepharose. The yield of pure TBG varied from 60 to 80%, depending on the TBG source used. The properties of TBG preparations from retroplacental serum and amniotic fluid were identical; both preparations contained a pregnancy-associated molecular variant, TBG-1. Two novel serum thyroxine-binding proteins were detected, isolated and partly characterized.     

A senescence up-regulated protein: the rat thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG)

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), the major carrier of thyroid hormones in human serum, was thought to be absent in most species, including rodents. We demonstrated recently that in fact the rat possesses a TBG gene, virtually non-expressed in young adults, bu actively transcribed during post-natal development. We now find that the TBG gene is als increasingly re-expressed during senescence. Evidence is presented suggesting that physiologically decreased thyroid hormone levels, characteristic of neonates and of ageing rats, might consitute a common factor inducing up-regulation of TBG in both developmental and ageing processes. Rat TBG is to our knowledge the first biochemical ‘positive’ (i.e increasing) marker of non-pathological senescence, expressed at both biosynthetic and bloodstream levels.     

Sex hormone-binding globulin and thyroxine-binding globulin levels in premature thelarche

Premature thelarche is defined as the isolated development of breast tissue in girls less than 8 years of age. Although breast development is an estrogen-dependent process, these girls do not have elevated serum estrogen levels, and the hormonal basis for their condition is unclear. We studied the levels of two estrogen-dependent transport proteins, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), in order to determine if there was evidence for a more subtle estrogen effect in girls with premature thelarche. SHBG levels in girls with premature thelarche were not significantly different from those of prepubertal girls of the same ages and were significantly lower than those in girls undergoing pubertal development at the appropriate age (P less than 0.05) and in normal women (P less than 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in TBG levels between the girls with premature thelarche and prepubertal controls. There was also no significant difference in TBG levels between prepubertal girls and girls in early puberty. In contrast, women had TBG levels that were significantly lower than those in all girls studied. We conclude that the estrogen exposure (whether endogenous or exogenous) of girls with premature thelarche is less than that of girls in early true puberty and similar to that of other prepubertal girls. Further, changes in serum TBG are not as sensitive an indicator of estrogen effect as is breast development or changes in SHBG. This study also suggests that large amounts of exogenous estrogens are not an element in the development of premature thelarche.