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Endocrine FGFs and Klothos: emerging concepts

Makoto Kuro-o1

  • 1Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA. makoto.kuro-o@utsouthwestern.edu

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|August 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Klotho proteins are crucial co-receptors for endocrine fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), regulating metabolism. This review explores how FGF, Klotho, and nuclear receptor interactions form novel endocrine axes controlling key physiological processes.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Regulation
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Endocrine fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulate critical physiological processes, including bile acid synthesis, lipolysis, and phosphate/vitamin D metabolism.
  • The Klotho gene family acts as essential co-receptors for FGFs, mediating their binding to FGF receptors.
  • Nuclear receptors, influenced by FGF-regulated hormones, control the expression of endocrine FGFs, establishing feedback loops.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of Klotho family proteins.
  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of endocrine FGF activity and expression.
  • To highlight the interplay between FGF, Klotho, and nuclear receptor gene families in metabolic regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on FGFs, Klotho proteins, and nuclear receptors.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms governing endocrine FGF signaling.
  • Integration of findings on metabolic feedback loops involving these gene families.

Main Results:

  • Klotho proteins are indispensable for FGF signaling by acting as co-receptors.
  • Endocrine FGF expression is modulated by nuclear receptors, forming intricate feedback systems.
  • These interactions create novel endocrine axes that govern diverse metabolic functions.

Conclusions:

  • Klotho family proteins are central regulators of endocrine FGF function and expression.
  • The FGF-Klotho-nuclear receptor axis represents a significant paradigm in metabolic control.
  • Understanding these axes offers insights into potential therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders.

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