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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2020; 128(06/07): 469-472
DOI: 10.1055/a-1083-6272
Mini-Review

Age and Sex Influence Thyroid Hormone Effects in Target Tissues with Organ-Specific Responses

Helena Kerp
1   Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
Janina Gassen
1   Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
Dagmar Führer 
1   Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was performed in the framework of the DFG priority programme SPP1629 and supported by DFG grants FU356/7–1 and 7–2 to DF.
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Abstract

Age and sex impact prevalence and clinical features of thyroid disease. Thyroid dysfunction occurs with a higher frequency in elderly patients and females. Moreover, age alters clinical presentation of hyper- and hypothyroidism and onset of thyroid hormone (TH) related co-morbidities leading to increased risk for underdiagnosis and maltreatment in the elderly. Rodent models allow further insights into mechanisms of age- and sex-dependent TH action in target tissues. In this review, we summarize findings from mouse studies showing distinct effects of age and sex on systemic versus organ-specific TH action and discuss their wider implication for clinical care.

Key words

age - sex - thyroid hormones - mouse models


Publication History

Received: 01 September 2019
Received: 25 November 2019

Accepted: 12 December 2019

Article published online:
13 January 2020

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 

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