Drinking water disinfection byproduct iodoacetic acid affects thyroid hormone synthesis in Nthy-ori 3–1 cells

Iodoacetic acid (IAA) is an emerging and the most genotoxic iodinated disinfection byproduct to date. IAA can disrupt the thyroid endocrine function in vivo and in vitro, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this work, transcriptome sequencing was used to investigate the effect of IAA on the cellular pathways of human thyroid follicular epithelial cell line Nthy-ori 3–1 and determine the mechanism of IAA on the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormone (TH) in Nthy-ori 3–1 cells. Results of transcriptome sequencing indicated that IAA affected the TH synthesis pathway in Nthy-ori 3–1 cells. IAA reduced the mRNA expression of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, sodium iodide symporter, thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, paired box 8 and thyroid transcription factor-2, inhibited the cAMP/PKA pathway and Na+-K+-ATPase, and decreased the iodine intake. The results were confirmed by our previous findings in vivo. Additionally, IAA downregulated glutathione and the mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase 1, leading to increased reactive oxygen species production. This study is the first to elucidate the mechanisms of IAA on TH synthesis in vitro. The mechanisms are associated with down-regulating the expression of genes related to TH synthesis, inhibiting iodine uptake, and inducing oxidative stress. These findings may improve future health risk assessment of IAA on thyroid in human. •IAA downregulated the expression of genes related to thyroid hormone synthesis.•IAA inhibited the cAMP/PKA pathway, Na+-K+-ATPase, and iodine intake.•IAA downregulated the GSH and GPx1 mRNA and increased the ROS production.•IAA disrupted thyroid hormone synthesis in Nthy-ori 3–1 cells.