Thyroid hormone: a resurgent treatment for an emergent concern

Abstract

The story of thyroid hormone in human physiology is one of mixed emotions. Studying past literature on its use leads one to believe that it serves only a few functions in a handful of diseases. In reality, the pathophysiological role of thyroid hormone is an uncharted expanse. Over the past few decades, research on thyroid hormone has been understandably monopolized by studies of hypo- and hyperthyroidism and cancers. However, in our focused pursuit, we have neglected to observe its role in systems that are not so easily relatable. Recent evidence in lung disease suggests that the thyroid hormone is capable of preserving mitochondria in an indirect manner. This is an exciting revelation given the profound implications of mitochondrial dysfunction in several lung diseases. When paired with known links between thyroid hormone and fibrotic pathways, thyroid hormone-based therapies become more enticing for research. In this article, we inspect the sudden awareness surrounding thyroid hormone and discuss why it is of paramount importance that further studies scrutinize the potential of thyroid hormone, and/or thyromimetics, as therapies for lung diseases.