Thyroid hormone signaling and deiodinase actions in muscle stem/progenitor cells

Thyroid hormone (TH) regulates such crucial biological functions as normal growth, development and metabolism of nearly all vertebrate tissues. In skeletal muscle, TH plays a critical role in regulating the function of satellite cells, the bona fide skeletal muscle stem cells. Deiodinases (D2 and D3) have been found to modulate the expression of various TH target genes in satellite cells. Regulation of the expression and activity of the deiodinases constitutes a cell-autonomous, pre-receptor mechanism that controls crucial steps during the various phases of myogenesis. Here, we review the roles of deiodinases in skeletal muscle stem cells, particularly in muscle homeostasis and upon regeneration. We focus on the role of T3 in stem cell functions and in commitment towards lineage progression. We also discuss how deiodinases might be therapeutically exploited to improve satellite-cell-mediated muscle repair in skeletal muscle disorders or injury.