Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 21, 2010; 16(47): 5958-5964
Published online Dec 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i47.5958
Thyroid hormones and thyroid hormone receptors: Effects of thyromimetics on reverse cholesterol transport
Matteo Pedrelli, Camilla Pramfalk, Paolo Parini
Matteo Pedrelli, Camilla Pramfalk, Paolo Parini, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Molecular Nutrition Unit, Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
Author contributions: Pedrelli M, Pramfalk C and Parini P contributed equally to this review article.
Supported by Research Award from KaroBio AB, Sweden (to Parini P)
Correspondence to: Paolo Parini, MD, PhD, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Molecular Nutrition Unit, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Biosciences and Nutrition, C1-74, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. paolo.parini@ki.se
Telephone: +46-8-58589310 Fax: +46-8-58581260
Received: July 2, 2010
Revised: July 26, 2010
Accepted: August 3, 2010
Published online: December 21, 2010
Abstract

Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is a complex process which transfers cholesterol from peripheral cells to the liver for subsequent elimination from the body via feces. Thyroid hormones (THs) affect growth, development, and metabolism in almost all tissues. THs exert their actions by binding to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). There are two major subtypes of TRs, TRα and TRβ, and several isoforms (e.g. TRα1, TRα2, TRβ1, and TRβ2). Activation of TRα1 affects heart rate, whereas activation of TRβ1 has positive effects on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Consequently, particular interest has been focused on the development of thyromimetic compounds targeting TRβ1, not only because of their ability to lower plasma cholesterol but also due their ability to stimulate RCT, at least in pre-clinical models. In this review we focus on THs, TRs, and on the effects of TRβ1-modulating thyromimetics on RCT in various animal models and in humans.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, Cholesterol, Lipoprotein metabolism, Reverse cholesterol transport, Thyroid hormones, Thyroid hormone receptors