Thyroid Hormone Signaling and the Liver.

TitleThyroid Hormone Signaling and the Liver.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsRitter MJ, Amano I, Hollenberg AN
JournalHepatology
Volume72
Issue2
Pagination742-752
Date Published2020 08
ISSN1527-3350
KeywordsAnimals, Cholesterol, Humans, Liver, Signal Transduction, Thyroid Hormones
Abstract

Thyroid hormone (TH) plays a critical role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis throughout life. It is well known that the liver and thyroid are intimately linked, with TH playing important roles in de novo lipogenesis, beta-oxidation (fatty acid oxidation), cholesterol metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Indeed, patients with hypothyroidism have abnormal lipid panels with higher levels of low-density lipoprotein levels, triglycerides (triacylglycerol; TAG), and apolipoprotein B levels. Even in euthyroid patients, lower serum-free thyroxine levels are associated with higher total cholesterol levels, LDL, and TAG levels. In addition to abnormal serum lipids, the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases with lower free thyroxine levels. As free thyroxine rises, the risk of NAFLD is reduced. This has led to numerous animal studies and clinical trials investigating TH analogs and TH receptor agonists as potential therapies for NAFLD and hyperlipidemia. Thus, TH plays an important role in maintaining hepatic homeostasis, and this continues to be an important area of study. A review of TH action and TH actions on the liver will be presented here.

DOI10.1002/hep.31296
Alternate JournalHepatology
PubMed ID32343421
Grant ListDK056123 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
DK117940 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States