Skip to main content
Journal cover image

A Liver-Specific Thyromimetic, VK2809, Decreases Hepatosteatosis in Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Zhou, J; Waskowicz, LR; Lim, A; Liao, X-H; Lian, B; Masamune, H; Refetoff, S; Tran, B; Koeberl, DD; Yen, PM
Published in: Thyroid
August 2019

Background: Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia), also known as von Gierke disease, is the most common glycogen storage disorder. It is caused by the deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the final step of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. The accumulation of glucose-6-phosphate leads to increased glycogen and triglyceride levels in the liver. Patients with GSD Ia can develop steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and increased risk for hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. We previously showed that animal models of GSD Ia had defective autophagy and dysfunctional mitochondria. In this study, we examined the effect of VK2809, a liver-specific thyroid hormone receptor β agonist, on hepatic steatosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis in a mouse model of GSD Ia. Methods:G6pc-/--deficient (GSD Ia) mice were treated with VK2809 or vehicle control by daily intraperitoneal injection for four days. The hepatic triglyceride and glycogen were determined by biochemical assays. Autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis were measured by Western blotting for key autophagy and mitochondrial markers. Results: VK2809 treatment decreased hepatic mass and triglyceride content in GSD Ia mice. VK2809 stimulated hepatic autophagic flux as evidenced by increased microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3B-II), decreased p62 protein levels, activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, enhancement of protein levels of ATG5-ATG12, and increased lysosomal protein expression. VK2809 also increased the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1α) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), as well as mitochondrial biogenesis to promote mitochondrial β-oxidation. Conclusions: In summary, VK2809 treatment decreased hepatic triglyceride levels in GSD Ia mice through its simultaneous restoration of autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and β-oxidation of fatty acids. Liver-specific thyromimetics represent a potential therapy for hepatosteatosis in GSD Ia as well as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Thyroid

DOI

EISSN

1557-9077

Publication Date

August 2019

Volume

29

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1158 / 1167

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Triglycerides
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Organophosphonates
  • Organelle Biogenesis
  • Mitochondria, Liver
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Liver
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type I
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Zhou, J., Waskowicz, L. R., Lim, A., Liao, X.-H., Lian, B., Masamune, H., … Yen, P. M. (2019). A Liver-Specific Thyromimetic, VK2809, Decreases Hepatosteatosis in Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia. Thyroid, 29(8), 1158–1167. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2019.0007
Zhou, Jin, Lauren R. Waskowicz, Andrea Lim, Xiao-Hui Liao, Brian Lian, Hiroko Masamune, Samuel Refetoff, Brian Tran, Dwight D. Koeberl, and Paul M. Yen. “A Liver-Specific Thyromimetic, VK2809, Decreases Hepatosteatosis in Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia.Thyroid 29, no. 8 (August 2019): 1158–67. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2019.0007.
Zhou J, Waskowicz LR, Lim A, Liao X-H, Lian B, Masamune H, et al. A Liver-Specific Thyromimetic, VK2809, Decreases Hepatosteatosis in Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia. Thyroid. 2019 Aug;29(8):1158–67.
Zhou, Jin, et al. “A Liver-Specific Thyromimetic, VK2809, Decreases Hepatosteatosis in Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia.Thyroid, vol. 29, no. 8, Aug. 2019, pp. 1158–67. Pubmed, doi:10.1089/thy.2019.0007.
Zhou J, Waskowicz LR, Lim A, Liao X-H, Lian B, Masamune H, Refetoff S, Tran B, Koeberl DD, Yen PM. A Liver-Specific Thyromimetic, VK2809, Decreases Hepatosteatosis in Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia. Thyroid. 2019 Aug;29(8):1158–1167.
Journal cover image

Published In

Thyroid

DOI

EISSN

1557-9077

Publication Date

August 2019

Volume

29

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1158 / 1167

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Triglycerides
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Organophosphonates
  • Organelle Biogenesis
  • Mitochondria, Liver
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Liver
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type I