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The acute-phase response (APR) is characterized by an impaired metabolism of the essential trace element selenium (Se). Moreover, low-Se concentrations correlate to mortality risk in sepsis. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of the central Se transport and storage protein selenoprotein P (Sepp1) during an APR in mice. Serum Se and Sepp1 concentrations declined in parallel after injection of lipopolysaccharide to 50 and 39% of control-injected littermates, respectively. This negative APR proceeded largely independent from hepatic Sepp1 transcript concentrations. Instead, we identified a set of hepatic transcripts involved in Se metabolism, which declined coordinately during the APR, including the selenocysteine-specific elongation factor (EFsec), selenophosphate-synthetase 2 (Sephs2), selenocysteine-tRNA[Ser]Sec synthase (SecS), and phosphoseryl-tRNA[Ser]Sec kinase (Pstk). Pstk reacted most strongly and qualified as a new limiting factor for Sepp1 biosynthesis in siRNA-mediated knockdown experiments in hepatocytes in culture. Analogous experiments were performed with mice transgenic for hepatocyte-specific human Sepp1 cDNA to verify this hypothesis. Similar kinetics and effect sizes of Sepp1 expression were observed as before in wild-type mice. We conclude that hepatic translation of Sepp1 mRNA is specifically impaired during the APR. This deficit disrupts regular Se metabolism, transport, and supply to peripheral tissues and likely aggravates the pathological status.

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BackgroundThere is growing evidence that, in addition to the reproductive system, the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis is a target of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). However, this is not reflected adequately in current screening and assessment procedures for endocrine activity that to date determine only general parameters of thyroid function.Objective and MethodsWe used several in vitro and ex vivo assays in an attempt to identify suitable biomarkers for antithyroid action testing a selected panel of putative EDCs.ResultsIn vitro we detected stimulation or inhibition of iodide uptake into FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells, inhibition of thyroid hormone binding to transthyretin, agonistic or antagonistic effects in a thyroid hormone receptor–dependent reporter assay, and inhibition of thyroid peroxidase using a novel assay system based on human recombinant thyroperoxidase that might be suitable for routine screening for potential EDCs. In rats, chronic application of several EDCs led to changes in thyroid morphology, alterations of thyrotropin and thyroid hormone serum levels as well as alterations in peripheral thyroid hormone–regulated end points such as malic enzyme and type I 5′-deiodinase activity.ConclusionsAs the effects of EDCs do not reflect classic mechanisms of hormone-dependent regulation and feedback, we believe multitarget and multimodal actions of EDCs affect the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis. These complex effects require a diverse approach for screening, evaluation, and risk assessment of potential antithyroid compounds. This approach involves novel in vitro or cell-based screening assays in order to assess thyroid hormone synthesis, transport, metabolism, and action as well as in vivo assays to measure thyroid hormone–regulated tissue-specific and developmental end points in animals.

We present a method for ultra-low-loss coupling between two single-mode optical fibers with different mode-field diameters using multimode interference in a graded-index multimode optical fiber. We perform a detailed analysis of the interference effects and show that the graded-index fiber can also be used as a beam expander or condenser. The results are important for devices in which optical fibers with different mode-field diameters are coupled in series, such as in ultra-short-pulse fiber ring lasers, or in optical fiber communication links.