Determination of Frequency of Type 2 Deiodinase Thr92Ala Polymorphism (rs225014) in 131I-treated Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients Undertaking L-thyroxine (L-T4) Suppression Therapy

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 deiodinase (DIO2) enzyme plays a vital role in peripheral T4 to T3 conversion and in the negative feedback regulation of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion. Thr92Ala polymorphism (rs225014) is a common single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that lowers DIO2 activity and is associated with diverse physiological disorders. Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients are given L-T4 therapy after total thyroidectomy and 131I treatment to suppress TSH levels. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of rs225014 in DTC patients and to investigate its effect on the thyroid function tests (TFTs) and L-T4 dose required to suppress TSH levels. Materials and Methods: The study included a DTC patient group and a control group. TFTs were estimated by RIA/IRMA kits. Genomic DNA of all the subjects was screened for rs225014 SNP by polymerase chain reaction. Results: The frequency of Thr/Thr (wild type), Thr/Ala (heterozygous mutant), and Ala/Ala (homozygous mutant) genotypes in the DTC patients’ group was 0.21, 0.52, and 0.27, respectively. T3 levels and T3/T4 ratio were significantly low in the Ala/Ala genotype in the DTC group indicating impaired DIO2 activity. L-T4 dose requirement to suppress TSH levels in the DTC patients harboring rs225014 SNP was not statistically different from the wild-type genotype. Conclusion: The SNP rs225014 was observed to be associated with T3 and T3/T4 ratio but not with the L-T4 dose in DTC harboring SNP suggesting the presence of a compensatory pathway to overcome DIO2 impairment. However, it is essential to study the genetic makeup of DTC patients showing reduced response to TSH suppression to enable quicker decision-making in the implementation of personalized L-T4 dose to prevent any adverse effects.