Fatty liver or
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (
NAFLD), a problem of increasing clinical significance and prevalence worldwide, is associated with increased risk for the development of
cirrhosis and
hepatocellular carcinoma. Although several therapeutic approaches can be used in the context of
NAFLD, dietary and physical activities are still the most frequently used strategies. Some pharmacological agents show promising results although no conclusions can be drawn from recent clinical trials.
Thyroid hormones [THs;
thyroxine (T4) and 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)] coordinate a diverse array of physiological events during development and
lipid/energy homeostasis and have some potentially therapeutic actions which include inducing
weight loss, and lowering plasma
cholesterol levels and tissue adiposity. The
thyroid hormones exert their physiological effects by binding to specific
nuclear receptors [
thyroid hormone receptors (TR)] of which the TRβ
isoform is liver specific and has been considered a putative target for the treatment of
dyslipidemia and
fatty liver. In view of this, the aim of the review is (1) to provide an overview of the action of T3 on lipid metabolism with implications for
liver steatosis and (2) to provide an update on the current knowledge concerning the administration of TRβ selective thyromimetics (GC-1 and
MB07811), as well as of
3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine and its novel functional analogue
TRC150094 in animal models of
overweight and related disorders including primarily
fatty liver.