Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2013; 19(45): 8238-8246
Published online Dec 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i45.8238
Cross-talk between the thyroid and liver: A new target for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease treatment
Yue-Ye Huang, Aaron M Gusdon, Shen Qu
Yue-Ye Huang, Shen Qu, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai 10th People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
Shen Qu, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Aaron M Gusdon, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, United States
Author contributions: Qu S wrote the manuscript; Huang YY provided all the reference and edited the manuscript; Gusdon AM was also involved in editing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Shen Qu, Professor, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai 10th People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No301 Middle Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China. qushencn@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-021-66302531 Fax: +86-021-66302531
Received: September 10, 2013
Revised: October 4, 2013
Accepted: October 17, 2013
Published online: December 7, 2013
Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been recognized as the most common liver metabolic disease, and it is also a burgeoning health problem that affects one-third of adults and is associated with obesity and insulin resistance now. Thyroid hormone (TH) and its receptors play a fundamental role in lipid metabolism and lipid accumulation in the liver. It is found that thyroid receptor and its isoforms exhibit tissue-specific expression with a variety of functions. TRβ1 is predominantly expressed in the brain and adipose tissue and TRβ2 is the major isoform in the liver, kidney and fat. They have different functions and play important roles in lipid metabolism. Recently, there are many studies on the treatment of NAFLD with TH and its analogues. We review here that thyroid hormone and TR are a potential target for pharmacologic treatments. Lipid metabolism and lipid accumulation can be regulated and reversed by TH and its analogues.

Keywords: Thyroid hormone, Thyroid hormone receptor, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Obesity

Core tip: The clinical findings that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients have more prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and patients with hypothyroidism may develop fatty liver give the evidence that dyslipidemia and fatty liver have some relationship with thyroid dysfunction, and thyroid hormone and its receptor may be a therapeutic target for NAFLD. We review here that thyroid hormone and TR are a potential target for pharmacologic treatments that can benefit NAFLD patients a lot.