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FSH-metabolic circuitry and menopause
Charit Taneja1, Sakshi Gera1, Se-Min Kim1
1The Mount Sinai Bone Program, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Journal of Molecular Endocrinology
|August 28, 2019
Summary
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) regulates more than reproduction; it impacts bone mass, metabolism, and cholesterol. Targeting FSH may offer new therapies for age-related diseases like osteoporosis and obesity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Metabolic Science
Background:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is traditionally known for its role in reproduction, regulating estrogen production in females and spermatogenesis in males.
- Recent research has uncovered non-reproductive functions of FSH, indicating broader physiological roles beyond its primary reproductive actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the newly characterized functions of FSH beyond reproduction.
- To investigate the potential of modulating FSH levels for therapeutic interventions in age-associated diseases.
Main Methods:
- The study reviews recent discoveries on FSH's non-reproductive functions.
- It highlights the role of FSH and its receptors (including variants of FSHR) in regulating various physiological processes.
Main Results:
- FSH influences bone mass, adipose tissue function, energy metabolism, and cholesterol production in both sexes.
- These non-traditional roles of FSH are implicated in the pathogenesis of conditions like osteoporosis, obesity, and dyslipidemia.
Conclusions:
- Newly identified functions of FSH suggest its involvement in age-associated diseases, particularly those affecting bone, energy, and lipid metabolism.
- Modulating circulating FSH levels presents a promising therapeutic avenue for treating osteoporosis, obesity, dyslipidemia, and other age-related conditions.
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