Binding of iodinated contrast media (ICM) and their transformation products with hormone receptors: Are ICM the new EDCs?

[helvella]

We have seen many posts - and responses - regarding iodinated contrast media (ICM) and their effects on the subjects. This interesting abstract takes the view from what happens afterwards.

I can't see an obvious reason that the testing approach wouldn't also apply to the subject given ICM. Thereby helping to explain why some people react so badly to ICM.

What can be done about this? Well, apart from minimising usage (use the smallest doses possible and use only when needed), the next step might be to collect the waste from subjects. Possibly encouraging them to stay for a day or two in order that the majority of the compounds can be collected and appropriately treated.

ICM = iodinated contrast media

EDCs = endocrine disrupting chemicals

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Jul 11;692:32-36. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.159. [Epub ahead of print]

Binding of iodinated contrast media (ICM) and their transformation products with hormone receptors: Are ICM the new EDCs?

Singh RR1, Rajnarayanan R2, Aga DS3.

Author information

1 Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States.

2 Department of Basic Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Jonesboro, AR 72467, United States.

3 Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States. Electronic address: [e-mail].

Abstract

Iodinated contrast media (ICM) have been detected at high concentrations (as high as about 3 μg/L) in surface water systems, and recently in fish brains and gonad. The mismatch between the polarity of ICM and the high lipid content of brain raises questions on whether their bioaccumulation is receptor-mediated. Furthermore, the structural similarity of ICM to the natural thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine suggest potential binding of ICM to nuclear receptors in the endocrine system. Therefore, an in silico approach based on Surflex-Dock module of SYBYL was used to investigate the molecular docking of selected ICM (diatrizoic acid, iohexol, iopamidol, and iopromide). These ICM showed interaction with nuclear receptors that play key roles in endocrine regulation, including the androgen and estrogen receptors. Furthermore, the results indicate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) as one of the viable targets in the endocrine disrupting potential of ICM with higher Cscores for the ICM and iopromide transformation products than the reference ligand for the receptor. The data obtained from in silico calculations showed stronger binding of iohexol to the transthyretin-binding pocket compared to the natural hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, suggesting the potential of ICM to act as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.

KEYWORDS:

Bioaccumulation; Endocrine disrupting compounds; In silico approach; Iodinated contrast media; Nuclear receptor

PMID: 31336298

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.159

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/313...

[Hidden]

I read (if remember right, it was years ago) that male fish were becoming more feminised by increase of estrogen products from contraceptives. so now it's thyroid hormones that are being affected.

Epidemic in thyroid problems?!!!

[RockyPath]

This is so sad. The volume and variety of endocrine disrupters flooding the aquatic environment is cataclysmic. The Age of Chemicals is bringing down ecosystems.

Thyroid hormones excreted by people like us were among the first identified that I recall, but all of the pharmaceuticals that people ingest, including NSAIDs, end up in wastewater and then wreak havoc on the rest of the life forms around us. Wastewater systems aren’t designed for the degree of extraction that would be required, and then there’s the disposal of what’s collected.

Already, most industrial wastes, along with plastics and paper collected for recycling, are shipped to third world countries for inexpensive processing. It’s distressing.

[Treepie in reply to RockyPath]

human waste and medical waste was reported shipped this week.No doubt by corrupt folk like those who dumped an 80 foot length of waste along a footpath.

[vocalEK]

Why can't researchers speak normal English?

Therefore, an in silico approach based on Surflex-Dock module of SYBYL was used to investigate the molecular docking of selected ICM (diatrizoic acid, iohexol, iopamidol, and iopromide).

It's bad enough that most of us have no idea what a "Surflex-Dock module of SYBYL" might be, but I had to look up "in silico" to find out it has to do with creating a computer model. So why not just say that?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to vocalEK]

I do understand but to be fair, they are not expecting us to read their papers!

I do feel they might have worded it differently if they had written it up for patients to read. At least, I hope so.

[vocalEK in reply to helvella]

I hope so too, but to be really fair, most practicing doctors really don't have the same vocabulary as the researchers.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to vocalEK]

I am sure that is true!

[AmandaK]

In a recent BBC programme about the lies we are told/marketed re foodstuffs there was an almost throwaway comment that the cocktail of chemicals ingested through eating fruit and vegetables that have been sprayed led, in trials, to the feminisation of rats. When tested with individual chemicals the rats weren't affected. It was the combination that caused the problems.

So even 'healthy' foods are far from healthy.

I can see a time when we will need to return to growing our own food, baking our own bread. Not sure about keeping and butchering our own livestock. That would definitely make me turn to vegetarianism!