{"title":"Fibroblast growth factor 21: update on genetics and molecular biology.","authors":"Daniel R Barros, Robert A Hegele","doi":"10.1097/MOL.0000000000000960","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Since its discovery, most research on fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has focused on its antihyperglycemia properties. However, attention has recently shifted towards elucidating the ability of FGF21 to lower circulating lipid levels and ameliorate liver inflammation and steatosis. We here discuss the physiology of FGF21 and its role in lipid metabolism, with a focus on genetics, which has up until now not been fully appreciated.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>New developments have uncovered associations of common small-effect variants of the FGF21 gene, such as the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2548957 and rs838133, with numerous physiological, biochemical and behavioural phenotypes linked to energy metabolism and liver function. In addition, rare loss-of-function variants of the cellular receptors for FGF21 have been recently associated with severe endocrine and metabolic phenotypes. These associations corroborate the findings from basic studies and preliminary clinical investigations into the therapeutic potential of FGF21 for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hypertriglyceridemia. Furthermore, recent breakthrough research has begun to dissect mechanisms of a potential FGF21 brain-adipose axis. Such inter-organ communication would be comparable to that seen with other potent metabolic hormones. A deeper understanding of FGF21 could prove to be further beneficial for drug development.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>FGF21 is a potent regulator of lipid and energy homeostasis and its physiology is currently at the centre of investigative efforts to develop agents targeting hypertriglyceridemia and MASLD.</p>","PeriodicalId":11109,"journal":{"name":"Current opinion in lipidology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current opinion in lipidology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MOL.0000000000000960","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose of review: Since its discovery, most research on fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has focused on its antihyperglycemia properties. However, attention has recently shifted towards elucidating the ability of FGF21 to lower circulating lipid levels and ameliorate liver inflammation and steatosis. We here discuss the physiology of FGF21 and its role in lipid metabolism, with a focus on genetics, which has up until now not been fully appreciated.
Recent findings: New developments have uncovered associations of common small-effect variants of the FGF21 gene, such as the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2548957 and rs838133, with numerous physiological, biochemical and behavioural phenotypes linked to energy metabolism and liver function. In addition, rare loss-of-function variants of the cellular receptors for FGF21 have been recently associated with severe endocrine and metabolic phenotypes. These associations corroborate the findings from basic studies and preliminary clinical investigations into the therapeutic potential of FGF21 for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hypertriglyceridemia. Furthermore, recent breakthrough research has begun to dissect mechanisms of a potential FGF21 brain-adipose axis. Such inter-organ communication would be comparable to that seen with other potent metabolic hormones. A deeper understanding of FGF21 could prove to be further beneficial for drug development.
Summary: FGF21 is a potent regulator of lipid and energy homeostasis and its physiology is currently at the centre of investigative efforts to develop agents targeting hypertriglyceridemia and MASLD.
期刊介绍:
With its easy-to-digest reviews on important advances in world literature, Current Opinion in Lipidology offers expert evaluation on a wide range of topics from six key disciplines including nutrition and metabolism, genetics and molecular biology, and hyperlipidaemia and cardiovascular disease. Published bimonthly, each issue covers in detail the most pertinent advances in these fields from the previous year. This is supplemented by a section of Bimonthly Updates, which deliver an insight into new developments at the cutting edge of the disciplines covered in the journal.