Methimazole（MMI）是ICAM-1(细胞间粘附分子-1)基因转录的抑制剂。ICAM-1基因转录是通过调节STAT1(信号传感器和转录1的激活剂)实现的[1]。

ICAM-1(细胞间粘附分子-1)，也叫CD54，属于IGSF(免疫球蛋白超家族黏附分子)。IGSF在内皮细胞上和免疫系统细胞中表达[2]。ICAM-1是由ICAM-1基因编码,它通过结合LFA-1(淋巴细胞功能相关的分子-1)或Mac-1而发挥作用。已表明ICAM-1在有自身免疫性甲状腺疾病患者中异常表达。通过调节STAT1，Methimazole可以抑制ICAM-1的转录[1]。

Methimazole是ICAM-1表达的一种抑制剂，过氧化氢和IFN-γ处理都可以很大程度地提高ICAM-1的表达。在改良的FRTL-5大鼠甲状腺细胞中做试验，使用500 μM的Methimazole进行预处理细胞可以抑制ICAM-1 RNA的产生[1]。

用Methimazole处理蝌蚪试验中，甲状腺激素的基因表达量增加[3]。用Methimazole处理老鼠，进一步的研究CH(先天性甲状腺功能减退)的后代获得[4]。在这项研究中，通过给予0.025% Methimazole，雄性SD大鼠可以作为甲状腺模型做进一步研究[5]。使用怀孕的C57Bl/6小鼠模型，结果表明Methimazole可用于小鼠或大鼠，并没有造成严重的外部畸形[6]。

参考文献：
[1].Kim, H., et al., Methimazole as an antioxidant and immunomodulator in thyroid cells: mechanisms involving interferon-gamma signaling and H(2)O(2) scavenging. Mol Pharmacol, 2001. 60(5): p. 972-80.
[2].Kojima, R., M. Kawachi, and M. Ito, Butein suppresses ICAM-1 expression through the inhibition of IkappaBalpha and c-Jun phosphorylation in TNF-alpha- and PMA-treated HUVEC. Int Immunopharmacol, 2014. 19(14): p. 00484-6.
[3].Choi, J., et al., Unliganded thyroid hormone receptor alpha regulates developmental timing via gene repression as revealed by gene disruption in Xenopus tropicalis. Endocrinology, 2014. 2.
[4].O'Hare, E., et al., Effects of thyroxine treatment on histology and behavior using the methimazole model of congenital hypothyroidism in the rat. Neuroscience, 2014. 20: p. 128-138.
[5].Herwig, A., et al., A thyroid hormone challenge in hypothyroid rats identifies t3 regulated genes in the hypothalamus and in models with altered energy balance and glucose homeostasis. Thyroid, 2014. 24(11): p. 1575-93.
[6].Mallela, M.K., et al., Evaluation of developmental toxicity of propylthiouracil and methimazole. Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol, 2014. 101(4): p. 300-7.