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Endocrine fibroblast growth factors 15/19 and 21: from feast to famine
Matthew J Potthoff1, Steven A Kliewer, David J Mangelsdorf
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 75390, USA.
Abstract:
We review the physiology and pharmacology of two atypical fibroblast growth factors (FGFs)-FGF15/19 and FGF21-that can function as hormones. Both FGF15/19 and FGF21 act on multiple tissues to coordinate carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in response to nutritional status. Whereas FGF15/19 is secreted from the small intestine in response to feeding and has insulin-like actions, FGF21 is secreted from the liver in response to extended fasting and has glucagon-like effects. FGF21 also acts in an autocrine fashion in several tissues, including adipose. The pharmacological actions of FGF15/19 and FGF21 make them attractive drug candidates for treating metabolic disease.
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