Thyroid hormone receptor α in skeletal muscle is essential for T3-mediated increase in energy expenditure

Thyroid hormones are important for homeostatic control of energy metabolism and body temperature. Although skeletal muscle is considered a key site for thyroid action, the contribution of thyroid hormone receptor signaling in muscle to whole-body energy metabolism and body temperature has not been resolved. Here, we show that T3-induced increase in energy expenditure requires thyroid hormone receptor alpha 1 (TR alpha(1)) in skeletal muscle, but that T3-mediated elevation in body temperature is achieved in the absence of muscle-TR alpha(1). In slow-twitch soleus muscle, loss-of-function of TR alpha(1)(TR alpha(HSACre)) alters the fiber-type composition toward a more oxidative phenotype. The change in fiber-type composition, however, does not influence the running capacity or motivation to run. RNA-sequencing of soleus muscle from WT mice and TR alpha(HSACre)mice revealed differentiated transcriptional regulation of genes associated with muscle thermogenesis, such as sarcolipin and UCP3, providing molecular clues pertaining to the mechanistic underpinnings of TR alpha(1)-linked control of whole-body metabolic rate. Together, this work establishes a fundamental role for skeletal muscle in T3-stimulated increase in whole-body energy expenditure.