Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue
04:41

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue

Published on: July 28, 2023

2.2K

FGF21 Ameliorates Fibroblasts Activation and Systemic Sclerosis by Inhibiting CK2α/GLI2 Signaling Axis

Yeyi Zheng1, Wenjie Gong2, Zhaohang Wu3

  • 1School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China; Ningbo Key Laboratory of Skin Science, Ningbo College of Health Sciences, Ningbo, People's Republic of China.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|August 25, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) shows potential in treating systemic sclerosis, a fibrotic skin disease. FGF21 therapy reduced skin fibrosis by targeting the CK2α/GLI2 pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Fibrosis research
  • Dermatology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Systemic sclerosis is a fibrotic disease with limited treatment options.
  • Abnormal fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix deposition characterize the condition.
  • The role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) in systemic sclerosis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function and therapeutic potential of FGF21 in systemic sclerosis.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which FGF21 affects skin fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed FGF21 expression in fibrotic skin and TGF-β-stimulated fibroblasts.
  • Administered recombinant FGF21 in bleomycin-induced and TBRI-activated skin fibrosis models.
  • Examined the effects of FGF21 deletion on skin fibrosis.
  • Investigated FGF21's impact on CK2α activity and GLI2 degradation.

Main Results:

  • FGF21 expression was significantly downregulated in fibrotic skin and activated fibroblasts.
  • Recombinant FGF21 treatment alleviated skin fibrosis and inhibited fibroblast activation.
  • FGF21 deletion exacerbated skin fibrosis.
  • FGF21 was found to inhibit CK2α activity and promote GLI2 degradation.

Conclusions:

  • FGF21 plays a protective role in attenuating skin fibrosis.
  • FGF21 acts through the CK2α/GLI2 signaling pathway to inhibit fibroblast activation and matrix deposition.
  • FGF21 represents a potential therapeutic target for treating systemic sclerosis.
Keywords:
CK2αFGF21GLI2Hedgehog signaling pathwaySystemic sclerosis

More Related Videos

Suppression of Pro-fibrotic Signaling Potentiates Factor-mediated Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Induced Cardiomyocytes09:16

Suppression of Pro-fibrotic Signaling Potentiates Factor-mediated Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Induced Cardiomyocytes

Published on: June 3, 2018

7.3K
Ex Vivo Corneal Organ Culture Model for Wound Healing Studies06:46

Ex Vivo Corneal Organ Culture Model for Wound Healing Studies

Published on: February 15, 2019

11.7K

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Fibroblasts01:09

Introduction to Fibroblasts

Rudolph Virchow discovered spindle-shaped cells called fibroblasts in 1858. Inactive fibroblasts, called fibrocytes, become activated by various stimuli, such as growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Activated fibroblasts play a crucial role in wound healing, inflammation, formation of new blood vessels, and cancer progression. Uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts results in fibrosis, the excess deposition of fibrous tissue, which can lead to scarring and affect normal organs. This...
3.1K
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors...
7.3K
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
8.7K
iPS Cell Differentiation01:22

iPS Cell Differentiation

The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
2.7K