Role of hepatic deiodinases in thyroid hormone homeostasis and liver metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis

Thyroid hormones play an essential role in regulating whole-body homeostasis. Deiodinases are known to convert thyroid hormone from the prohormone thyroxine (T4) to the bioactive hormone tri-iodothyronine (T3) and convert both T4 and T3 toward their inactive metabolites 3,3’,5’-tri-iodothyronine (rT3) and 3,3’-di-iodothyronine (3,3’-T2). Deiodinases are thus important for the regulation of intracellular thyroid hormone concentrations. This is known to be crucial both during development and adult life in regulating thyroid hormone-related gene transcription. This review discusses the importance of liver deiodinases in determining serum and liver thyroid hormone concentrations, liver metabolism and liver disease.