TG68, a Novel Thyroid Hormone Receptor-β Agonist for the Treatment of NAFLD

Activation of thyroid hormone receptor beta (THR beta) has shown beneficial effects on metabolic alterations, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we investigated the effect of TG68, a novel THR beta agonist, on fatty liver accumulation and liver injury in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6 mice fed HFD for 17 or 18 weeks, a time when all mice developed massive steatohepatitis, were then given TG68 at a dose of 9.35 or 2.8 mg/kg for 2 or 3 weeks, respectively. As a reference compound, the same treatment was adopted using equimolar doses of MGL-3196, a selective THR beta agonist currently in clinical phase III. The results showed that treatment with TG68 led to a reduction in liver weight, hepatic steatosis, serum transaminases, and circulating triglycerides. qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated activation of THR beta, as confirmed by increased mRNA levels of Deiodinase-1 and Malic enzyme-1, and changes in lipid metabolism, as revealed by increased expression of Acyl-CoA Oxidase-1 and Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1. The present results showed that this novel THR beta agonist exerts an anti-steatogenic effect coupled with amelioration of liver injury in the absence of extra-hepatic side effects, suggesting that TG68 may represent a useful tool for the treatment of NAFLD.