[Metal-binding functions and antioxidant properties in human thyroid gland under iodine deficient nodular colloidal goiter].

Copper and zinc levels in the tissue of thyroid gland (TG) and their metal-binding proteins metallothioneins (MT) as well as state of the antioxidant system in persons that had no thyroid disease and patients with endemic iodine deficiency nodular colloidal goiter has been investigated. In the patients with thyroid disease, oxidative damage was indicated despite elevated levels of MT-SH and glutathione, and elevated copper and decreased zinc concentration in TG tissue. MTs partly bound the excess of copper but its concentration in the unbound to MT form was two-fold compared to the control value.