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Stressed Liver and Muscle Call on Adipocytes with FGF21

Yongde Luo1, Wallace L McKeehan1

  • 1IBT Proteomics and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center , Houston, TX , USA.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
|January 4, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) acts as a stress-induced hormone, improving metabolic homeostasis and alleviating obesity. FGF21 facilitates inter-organ communication, highlighting its therapeutic potential for metabolic diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Homeostasis
  • Cellular Signaling

Background:

  • Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is recognized for its role in metabolic regulation.
  • Pharmacological FGF21 demonstrates efficacy in treating obesity and diabetes.
  • The precise physiological functions and endocrine mechanisms of FGF21 remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the normal physiological roles of FGF21 as an endocrine hormone.
  • To investigate the mechanisms underlying FGF21's action.
  • To unify the understanding of FGF21's stress-induced endocrine functions with its pharmacological benefits in obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of recent studies on FGF21.
  • Analysis of FGF21's role as a stress-induced endocrine factor.
  • Examination of the FGFR1-betaKlotho complex in FGF21 signaling.

Main Results:

  • FGF21 is a stress-induced endocrine factor secreted by various tissues like liver and muscle.
  • FGF21 targets adipose tissue via the FGFR1-betaKlotho complex, influencing systemic and local metabolic functions.
  • FGF21 signaling establishes a beneficial endocrine and paracrine network for inter-organ stress communication.

Conclusions:

  • FGF21 plays a crucial role in inter-organ communication during stress.
  • The endocrine and paracrine actions of FGF21 are vital for maintaining metabolic homeostasis.
  • Understanding FGF21's mechanisms offers insights into novel therapeutic strategies for metabolic disorders.
Keywords:
FGF21adipose FGFR1diabetesobesitystress response

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