MON-435 Impact of Time-Restricted Eating on Thyroid Inflammation and Gut Microbiota in Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Disclosure: J. Fu: None. S. Zhang: None. Q. Ye: None. H. Guan: None. Introduction: Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is characterized by a loss of immune tolerance to thyroid antigens, leading to follicular cell damage and, in severe cases, the development of hypothyroidism. In recent years, dietary factors have gained attention for their potential role in triggering or exacerbating AIT. Time-restricted eating (TRE), a form of intermittent fasting, has shown promise in improving metabolic, immune, and inflammatory conditions. However, the effects of dietary factors on AIT and its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods: We aimed to investigate the effects of TRE on thyroid inflammation and gut microbiota in AIT using C57BL/6 mice immunized with thyroglobulin (Tg) and fed with different fasting regimens. The mice were then divided into four groups: no fasting (Tg0), 12-hour fasting (Tg12), 16-hour fasting (Tg16), and alternate-day fasting (Tg24), with unimmune C57BL/6 mice serving as the control (blank) group. Thyroid autoantibody levels were measured using ELISA, thyroid and colon histology were assessed through H&E staining and AB-PAS staining, and flow cytometry was employed to analyze the distribution of T lymphocyte subsets in the spleen. The expression of colonic mucus markers MUC2 and ZO1 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing was conducted to investigate the gut microbiota composition in fecal samples. Results: After 4 weeks of TRE, compared to the Tg0 group, the levels of TPOAb in the TRE groups were significantly decreased, with Tg12 group showed the lowest levels of TPOAb (252.7 vs 163.5 mU/L, P<0.05). The proportion of Th2 cells in the Tg12, Tg16, and Tg24 groups was significantly lower than that in the Tg0 group, while the proportion of Th17 cells was notably higher in the Tg12 and Tg16 group. AB-PAS staining showed a reduction in mucus and goblet cells in AIT mice, with a significant decrease in goblet cells in the Tg16 group compared to the Tg0 group. The levels of MUC2 and ZO1 were significantly lower in the Tg16 group compared to the Tg0 group. For gut microbiota analysis, the Tg16 group showed a composition more similar to the blank group, with an increase in Bacteroidota and a decrease in Firmicutes compared to the Tg0 group. LDA score analysis highlighted significant enrichment of Lactobacillus, Bacteroidaceae, and Bacteroides in the Tg16 group, indicating notable microbial differences across the groups. Conclusion: These results indicate TRE reduced the production of thyroid autoantibodies and Th2 cells in AIT. The 16:8 time-restricted feeding regimen induced a gut microbiota profile in AIT mice similar to that of the blank group, while further investigation should examine whether alterations in gut microbiota mediates the impact of TRE on AIT. Presentation: Monday, July 14, 2025
Source: Journal of the Endocrine Society
Authors: Jinrong Fu, Shili Zhang, Qiting Ye, Haixia Guan
Language: English
Topic: Dietary Effects on Health
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,255
OpenAlex ID: W7093334602
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