Pharmacogenomic Response to Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Stimulation in Healthy Volunteers: The Influence of a Common Type 2 Deiodinase Genetic Polymorphism on Serum T3

This study intends to examine how a common genetic pattern affects thyroid function. Recent studies have demonstrated that a substance (enzyme) produced by a gene has an important role in controlling circulating thyroid hormone levels. A commonly found pattern in this gene exists in many individuals and might affect the function of the enzyme. These individuals need higher doses of thyroid hormone medication in certain situations (e.g. in the treatment of thyroid cancer after the thyroid gland has been removed) than those individuals without the variation. We intend to study this by looking at the response to a hormone-test in healthy volunteers with different genetic patterns. We plan to screen healthy volunteers using a blood test to identify their genetic pattern relating to the enzyme we are interested in. From this group, forty-five healthy volunteers will be recruited for the hormone-test. This test (called the TRH test) uses a hormone produced by the brain and stimulates the pituitary and thyroid gland. The response to this test will allow us to compare the function of the thyroid system in relation to the genetic pattern of the volunteer. We hypothesize that the stimulation of the thyroid hormone system will be decreased in volunteers with a specific genetic pattern and that these individuals will release less active thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland in response to the TRH test. This study will provide new information on the effect of a common genetic pattern on thyroid hormone function and will help us to better understand the way in which the thyroid hormone system operates. Ultimately, the results of this study might help to provide a more individualized therapy for patients in need of thyroid hormone replacement.