101 | id == 101
101 | category_id == 6
101 | category_order == 4
101 | category_name == Thyroid
101 | category_color == #C47AC0
101 | slug == TPO-thyroid-peroxidase-autoimmunity
101 | title == Where Thyroid Function Meets the Immune System (TPO)
101 | meta_description == TPO (thyroid peroxidase) gene is crucial for thyroid hormone production. Learn the impact of TPO variants on thyroid health.
101 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The TPO gene encodes for thyroid peroxidase, a crucial enzyme for the production of thyroid hormones. Learn about the surprising link between TPO variants and thyroid autoimmunity.</strong></p>
101 | overall_score_text == Your thyroid health score (based on the TPO gene)
101 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TPO--Thyroid.jpg
101 | author_id == 9
101 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
101 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
101 | author_order == 45
101 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
101 | author_intro == <p><strong>Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>    <p>Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions&mdash;writing and health&mdash;and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.</p>
101 | reviewer == None
101 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
101 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
101 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
101 | publish_date == 2020
101 | publish_date == 2
101 | publish_date == 12
101 | avg_rating == 5.0
101 | tags_id == 264
101 | tags_name == anti-TPO antibodies
101 | tags_id == 33
101 | tags_name == Autoimmunity
101 | tags_id == 267
101 | tags_name == Graves' ophthalmopathy
101 | tags_id == 48
101 | tags_name == Hashimoto's
101 | tags_id == 265
101 | tags_name == Heavy metals
101 | tags_id == 95
101 | tags_name == Immune System
101 | tags_id == 24
101 | tags_name == Inflammation
101 | tags_id == 117
101 | tags_name == Levothyroxine
101 | tags_id == 44
101 | tags_name == Selenium
101 | tags_id == 41
101 | tags_name == Thyroid
101 | tags_id == 122
101 | tags_name == Toxins
101 | tags_id == 263
101 | tags_name == TPO gene
101 | permissions_favorite == False
101 | permissions_rate == False
101 | content_article == <h2><strong>What is TPO?</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/gene/tpo/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TPO gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase. This enzyme adds iodine atoms to tyrosine on </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroglobulin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroglobulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; a critical step in the production of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/thyroid-hormones-t4t3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">thyroid hormones</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TPO"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TPO is highly expressed in the thyroid and plays a central role in its functions. Genetic mutations that disable this enzyme are the most cause of inborn </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hypothyroidism-may-good-autoimmunity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">hypothyroidism</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and goiter [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7550241/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15863666/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7550241"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Such severe mutations occur rarely, but many TPO variants impact thyroid function in a more subtle way. We'll outline the main ones in this post.</span></p> <h2><strong>TPO Variants and Thyroid Function</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Typically, the genes associated with thyroid health are divided into two main groups. One group is involved in thyroid function and impacts hormone production; the other is involved in the immune response and impacts thyroid autoimmunity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3219766/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, in the case of TPO, these factors overlap: the gene regulates thyroid function, but its variants are associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders.</span></p> <h3><strong>Rs11675434</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a trial of 500 European subjects, one SNP in the TPO gene showed a significant association with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hashimotos/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (HD). This form of autoimmune hypothyroidism was 31% more common among people with the minor &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs11675434/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs11675434</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27268232"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 1400 Polish subjects, the same variant correlated with 64% higher rates of eye complications in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/graves-disease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Graves&rsquo; disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> patients (Graves&rsquo; ophthalmopathy). This group of authors conducted further research on over 2,300 and found the significant impact of rs11675434 only in older male patients [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25345847"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27829681"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Asian Populations</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Asian populations (Korea and Japan), scientists have identified one SNP, </span><a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/snp/rs2071403/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2071403</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is almost always inherited together with </span><a href="../../snp/rs11675434/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs11675434</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. They would normally act as a single genetic factor, but this was the exception. Unlike European studies, the major allele (G) correlated with thyroid autoimmunity in Asians [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28845025"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>Rs732609</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A clinical trial of 400 Indian subjects identified the third TPO variant in connection with thyroid health. Carriers of the &ldquo;C&rdquo; allele at </span><a href="../../snp/rs732609/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs732609</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Thr725Pro) had 45% higher rates of hypothyroidism [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24420335"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctors from Iran came to a similar conclusion after conducting a small study of 150 participants. The &ldquo;C&rdquo; allele correlated with subclinical or &ldquo;hidden&rdquo; hypothyroidism [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28500830"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>How It Works</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Anti-TPO Antibodies and Thyroid Autoimmunity</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anti-TPO antibodies are the hallmark of thyroid autoimmunity, especially Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease. Higher levels usually indicate more severe forms and may be associated with thyroid destruction [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5422478/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Comprehensive studies have confirmed the link between the above TPO variants and anti-TPO antibody positivity. In over 18,000 European subjects, those with rs11675434-T were 21% more likely to be positive and also had higher antibody levels [</span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004123"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 4,200 Korean people, rs2071403-G was associated with anti-TPO antibodies. More precisely, they were less common among people with the minor &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele. The third variant, rs732609-C, also showed a connection with the antibodies in the mentioned Iranian study [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103676/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28500830"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The above TPO variants are associated with the presence and levels of anti-TPO antibodies, the hallmark of thyroid autoimmunity.&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><strong>Why Do These SNPs Trigger Antibody Production?</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientists are far from the definite answer to this question, but they have suggested a few potential mechanisms.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asian subjects with the rs2071403-A allele, associated with less anti-TPO antibodies, had lower TPO expression in their thyroid tissue; this means fewer targets for the antibodies. The opposite allele would likely be beneficial in European populations, and researchers haven&rsquo;t yet explained this phenomenon [</span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004123"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103676/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, it&rsquo;s important to note that lower TPO is not necessarily a good thing. This enzyme is essential for thyroid function, and reduced levels may be associated with thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23754668"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3419406/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rs732609-C changes one amino acid (threonine to proline) in the TPO enzyme, which may interrupt its secondary structure. The immune system can mistakenly flag such enzymes as foreign structures and produce antibodies to destroy them [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24420335"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, the autoimmune background of rs732609-C has yet to be confirmed. According to the authors, this variant might also reduce thyroid hormones by suppressing TPO activity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24420335"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Specific SNPs in the TPO gene can increase its expression or change its structure, making it more prone to an autoimmune attack. This may result in the production of anti-TPO antibodies.</span></p> <h2><strong>Your TPO Results for Thyroid Autoimmunity</strong></h2> <p><em>You can see your genotype for the key TPO SNPs in the table below. However, keep in mind that these results are based on association studies, and more research will be needed to know what role (if any) these variants play in actually causing thyroid disorders.</em></p> <p><em>Also, many different factors &mdash; including other genetic and environmental factors &mdash; can influence thyroid health. Just because you have one of these genotypes does not necessarily mean you are at an increased risk of developing a thyroid disorder!</em></p> <h3><strong>SNP Table</strong></h3> <p><strong>*9074882679622049*</strong></p> <h3><strong>SNP Summary</strong></h3> <p><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p><strong>TPO </strong><a href="../../snp/rs11675434/"><strong>rs11675434</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;C&rdquo; doesn&rsquo;t correlate with thyroid autoimmunity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;T&rdquo; correlates with thyroid autoimmunity</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Other important SNP:</strong></p> <p><strong>TPO </strong><a href="../../snp/rs732609/"><strong>rs732609</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;A&rdquo; doesn&rsquo;t correlate with thyroid autoimmunity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;C&rdquo; correlates with thyroid autoimmunity</span></li> </ul> <h3><strong>Population Frequency</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For rs11675434, around 48% of European descendants carry one copy and 19% carry both copies of the minor &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele. It&rsquo;s a bit less common in East Asian and African populations, where 9-10% of people have both copies.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to rs732609, around 50% of Europeans have one and 16% have both copies of the &ldquo;C&rdquo; allele. It&rsquo;s much more common in African and South Asian (India) populations, where 43% and 30% of people carry both copies, respectively.</span></p> <p><strong>*4675634152857371*</strong></p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Support the Thyroid</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There isn&rsquo;t a known way to prevent thyroid autoimmunity, but doctors can successfully treat it with medications once diagnosed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low thyroid hormones can manifest with fatigue, a pale and puffy face, weight gain, and intolerance to cold temperatures. If you think you may be experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential to consult with your doctor to ensure you get adequate medical care [</span><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20351855"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the following sections, we'll discuss some lifestyle, diet, and supplement choices that may improve your overall health and potentially reduce the impact of TPO variants. However, keep in mind that they should not replace conventional medical treatment &mdash; and be sure to discuss any significant lifestyle changes or new supplements with your doctor first!</span></p> <p><strong>*8560275851540489*</strong></p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/heavy-metals-detox/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heavy metals</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, such as mercury and lead, can significantly contribute to your variants by increasing anti-TPO antibodies [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7704000"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Removal of mercury-containing dental amalgams cut anti-TPO antibodies in half in 27 people with mercury allergies and thyroid autoimmunity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16804512"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of over 5,600 Chinese adults, women exposed to more lead had higher anti-TPO antibodies, which are the hallmark of Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28667913"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therefore, avoiding exposure to heavy metals sources &mdash; such as cigarette smoke, air and water pollution, batteries, paints, and contaminated ocean fish &mdash; may lessen the impact of TPO variants and preserve your thyroid health [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28667913"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056571/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Check out our </span><a href="https://content.selfdecode.com/heavy-metals-detox/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">list of safe and proven ways to detox heavy metals</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Heavy metals may contribute to TPO-associated autoimmune hypothyroidism. Make sure to avoid mercury and lead exposure, and consider doing a heavy metal detox.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep in mind that the approaches listed below are still in the investigational phase when it comes to thyroid autoimmunity. The FDA hasn't approved them for the prevention or treatment of thyroid disorders.</span></em></p> <h3><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Selenium + Myo-Inositol</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several clinical studies have reported that </span><a href="https://content.selfdecode.com/health-benefits-selenium/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">selenium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplementation improves thyroid function and reduces anti-TPO antibody levels in people with Hashimoto&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5307254/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21094028"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://content.selfdecode.com/myoinositol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Myo-inositol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with selenium was effective for autoimmune hypothyroidism in three clinical trials. However, two of them lacked placebo control groups, making the results questionable. More research will be needed to confirm these preliminary findings [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28724175"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5331475/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jtr/2013/424163/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Vitamin D</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders are often <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/">vitamin D</a>-deficient. According to limited clinical evidence, vitamin D supplementation may reduce their anti-TPO antibodies [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29528579">R</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697689">R</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22443972">R</a>].</span></p> <h3><strong>Other</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctors are researching the potential of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to balance the immune response and combat autoimmunity. It reduced anti-TPO antibodies in two trials with 58 patients [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24158722"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20662037"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22718472"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In another trial of 43 patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism, LLLT didn&rsquo;t impact thyroid antibodies. Still, the treated patients showed fewer symptoms and required much lower doses of thyroid medications. Further research should investigate the therapeutic potential of LLLT [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6247385/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p>
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101 | content_learn_more_4675634152857371_text == Some of your TPO variants are slightly associated with thyroid disorders. However, keep in mind that TPO is just one of many different genetic factors that can influence thyroid health. Specific dietary and lifestyle changes may help by reducing anti-TPO antibodies — read on to learn more!
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rsIDs = rs11675434,rs732609,rs2071403
rsStatus = rs11675434,,chr2,1404043,C,G,T,,26,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs732609,TPO,chr2,1496155,A,C,G,T,13,3,HET
rsStatus = rs2071403,TPO,chr2,1413472,A,C,G,T,19,0,Normal
