Thyroid Toxicogenomics: A Multi-Organ Paradigm

Alternatives to animal testing are presently being developed within integrated strategies for the testing of a wide range of chemical stressors that have adverse effects on the thyroid system. In contrast to several other toxicological endpoints, the number of studies using so-called 'omics technologies for studying thyroid hormone disruption is still very limited. In order to support the future development of thyroid toxicogenomics, the current chapter presents a detailed overview of the thyroid hormone system, the potential modes of action involved in chemically induced thyroid disruption, and currently available in vitro assays for detecting such disruption. The overview also suggests future directions for this up-and-coming field, including possibilities for 'omics-based assays as a valuable addition to the currently available integrated testing strategies.