Type 3 deiodinase activation mediated by the Shh/Gli1 axis promotes sepsis-induced metabolic dysregulation in skeletal muscles

Non-thyroidal illness syndrome is commonly observed in critically ill patients, characterized by the inactivation of systemic thyroid hormones (TH), which aggravates metabolic dysfunction. Recent evidence indicates that enhanced TH inactivation is mediated by the reactivation of type 3 deiodinase (Dio3) at the tissue level, culminating in a perturbed local metabolic equilibrium. This study assessed whether targeted inhibition of Dio3 can maintain tissue metabolic homeostasis under septic conditions and explored the mechanism behind Dio3 reactivation.

A retrospective clinical study was conducted to investigate the attributes of rT3. The expression of Dio3 was detected by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical staining in tissues extracted from CLP-induced septic rats and human biopsy samples. In addition, the effect of Dio3 inhibition on skeletal muscle metabolism was observed in rats with targeted Dio3 knockdown using an adeno-associated virus. The effectiveness of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling inhibition on systemic TH levels was observed in CLP-induced septic rats receiving cyclopamine. The mechanisms underlying such inhibition were explored using immunoblotting, RNA-seq, and chromatin immunoprecipitation–qPCR assays.

The main product of Dio3, rT3, is strongly associated with organ function. Early sepsis leads to significant upregulation of Dio3 in the skeletal muscles and lung tissues of septic rats. The targeted inhibition of Dio3 in skeletal muscle restores TH responsiveness, prevents fast-to-slow fiber conversion, preserves glucose transporter type 4 functionality, and maintains metabolic balance between protein synthesis and proteolysis, which leads to preserved muscle mass. The reactivation of Dio3 is transcriptionally regulated by the Shh pathway induced by the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3.

The suppression of Dio3 restores tissue TH actions, attenuates proteolysis, and ameliorates anabolic resistance in the skeletal muscles of septic rats, thereby improving local metabolic homeostasis. Our results provide insights into the mechanisms of Dio3 reactivation and its critical role in local metabolic alterations induced by sepsis, while also suggesting novel targets aimed at ameliorating tissue-specific metabolic disorders.