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Abstract Details
Thyroid Hormone Signaling and the Liver
Hepatology. 2020 Apr 28.doi: 10.1002/hep.31296. Online ahead of print.
Megan J Ritter1, Izuki Amano12, Anthony N Hollenberg1
Author information
1Division of Endocrinology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA.
2Department of Integrative Physiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
Abstract
Thyroid hormone (TH) plays a critical role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis throughout life. It is well-known that the liver and the thyroid are intimately linked with TH playing important roles in de novo lipogenesis (DNL), beta-oxidation (FAO), cholesterol metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Indeed, patients with hypothyroidism have abnormal lipid panels with higher levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, triglycerides (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 non-alcoholic 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 TR 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.