Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have made a significant breakthrough in treating lipid disorders. They have developed a new compound, ZTA-261, which selectively binds to the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ). THRβ plays an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism, which affects lipid levels in the blood.
Mice administered the drug showed decreased lipid levels in the liver and blood, with fewer side effects in the liver, heart, and bones compared to existing compounds. These findings, published in Communications Medicine , suggest that ZTA-261 is an effective treatment for lipid disorders such as dyslipidemia. Approximately one in ten people is classified as obese or overweight, often due to abnormalities in lipid metabolism.
Abnormal levels of lipids in the blood, known as dyslipidemia, lead to an increased risk of chest pain, heart attack, and stroke. There is growing interest in developing treatments for dyslipidemia that leverage the properties of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones increase overall metabolism through binding to two types of receptors: alpha (THRα) and beta (THRβ).
The brain, heart, and muscle contain the α-subtype, whereas the liver and pituitary gland primarily express the β-subtype. Treatments that rely on THR activation face challenges due to the side effects of thyroid hormones. Although THRα regulates cardiovascular functions, excess levels of thyroid hormone lead to adverse effects in nearby organs such as heart enlarg.