Voltage‐gated potassium channels mediate thyroid hormone control of skeletal muscle excitability
Annarita Nappi, Caterina Miro, Annunziata Gaetana Cicatiello, Ilaria Piccialli, Serena Sagliocchi, Lucia Acampora, Federica Restolfer, Rosa Sirica, Melania Murolo, Emery Di Cicco, Daniela Terracciano, Anna Pannaccione, Monica DenticeAbstract
Thyroid hormone (TH) is a critical regulator of skeletal muscle (SkM) physiology, influencing muscle development, metabolism and contractile function. However, the molecular mechanisms by which TH modulates muscle excitability and contraction remain incompletely defined. Here, we investigated the role of TH signalling in regulating SkM electrical activity through transcriptional control of ion channels. Using RNA sequencing of gastrocnemius muscles from wild‐type (CTR), muscle‐specific deiodinase type 2‐deficient (mD2KO), and thyroid hormone receptor α/β‐deficient (TRαKO/TRβKO) mice, we identified a shared transcriptional signature of TH deficiency characterized by the dysregulation of multiple ion channel genes. Notably, two potassium (K
+
) channel‐related genes
Kcnh2
and
Kcnk1
, which encode for mERG1 and TWIK‐1, respectively, were downregulated, while
Kcnab1
was consistently upregulated in both mD2KO and TRαKO/TRβKO muscles compared with CTR, suggesting a common TH‐dependent regulatory mechanism. To investigate whether such transcriptional remodelling of K
+
channels translates into functional changes, we assessed the direct effects of TH on K
+
currents using patch‐clamp recordings in differentiated C2C12 cells exposed to TH as a model of physiological TH signalling. Interestingly, we found that TH treatment significantly increased mERG current density in differentiated C2C12 cells, supporting a role for TH signalling in the modulation of SkM electrical activity. Collectively, these results provide a mechanistic framework through which TH contributes to the regulation of muscle electrical stability, with potential implications for thyroid‐related myopathies.
Key points
Thyroid hormone (TH) regulates skeletal muscle excitability through transcriptional modulation of potassium (K
+
) channel‐related genes.
RNA‐seq analyses identified a TH‐dependent signature with downregulation of
Kcnh2
(mERG1) and
Kcnk1
(TWIK‐1), and upregulation of
Kcnab1
under TH‐deficient conditions.
Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrates direct binding of TH receptors to regulatory regions of these channel genes. Electrophysiological recordings in differentiated C2C12 cells show that TH treatment increases mERG current density.
This coordinated remodelling of K
+
channel expression provides a mechanistic basis for TH‐driven optimization of muscle electrical stability and contractile performance. These findings support a role for TH signalling in the regulation of skeletal muscle electrical stability, with potential implications for thyroid‐related myopathies.