REVIEW ARTICLE published: 16 October 2014 doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00402 Update on 3-iodothyronamine and its neurological and metabolic actions Riccardo Zucchi*, Alice Accorroni and Grazia Chiellini Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy Edited by: 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) is an endogenous amine, that has been detected in many Maria Moreno, University of Sannio, rodent tissues, and in human blood. It has been hypothesized to derive from thyroid Italy hormone metabolism, but this hypothesis still requires validation. T1AM is not a Reviewed by: ligand for nuclear thyroid hormone receptors, but stimulates with nanomolar affinity Anna M. D. Watson, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), a G protein-coupled membrane receptor. Carolin Stephanie Hoefig, Karolinska With a lower affinity it interacts with alpha2A adrenergic receptors. Additional targets Institutet, Sweden are represented by apolipoprotein B100, mitochondrial ATP synthase, and membrane *Correspondence: monoamine transporters, but the functional relevance of these interactions is still Riccardo Zucchi, Laboratory of uncertain. Among the effects reported after administration of exogenous T1AM to Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, Via experimental animals, metabolic and neurological responses deserve special attention, Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy because they were obtained at low dosages, which increased endogenous tissue e-mail:
[email protected] concentration by about one order of magnitude. Systemic T1AM administration favored fatty acid over glucose catabolism, increased ketogenesis and increased blood glucose. Similar responses were elicited by intracerebral infusion, which inhibited insulin secretion and stimulated glucagon secretion. However, T1AM administration increased ketogenesis and gluconeogenesis also in hepatic cell lines and in perfused liver preparations, providing evidence for a peripheral action, as well.