The family of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulates a plethora of developmental processes, including brain patterning, branching morphogenesis and limb development. Several mitogenic, cytoprotective and angiogenic therapeutic applications of FGFs are already being explored, and the recent discovery of the crucial roles of the endocrine-acting FGF19 subfamily in bile acid, glucose and phosphate homeostasis has sparked renewed interest in the pharmacological potential of this family. This Review discusses traditional applications of recombinant FGFs and small-molecule FGF receptor kinase inhibitors in the treatment of cancer and cardiovascular disease and their emerging potential in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and hypophosphataemic diseases.

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The FGF family: biology, pathophysiology and therapy.

OBJECTIVE—Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has emerged as an important metabolic regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism. The aims of the current study are to evaluate the role of FGF21 in energy metabolism and to provide mechanistic insights into its glucose and lipid-lowering effects in a high-fat diet–induced obesity (DIO) model. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—DIO or normal lean mice were treated with vehicle or recombinant murine FGF21. Metabolic parameters including body weight, glucose, and lipid levels were monitored, and hepatic gene expression was analyzed. Energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity were assessed using indirect calorimetry and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp techniques. RESULTS—FGF21 dose dependently reduced body weight and whole-body fat mass in DIO mice due to marked increases in total energy expenditure and physical activity levels. FGF21 also reduced blood glucose, insulin, and lipid levels and reversed hepatic steatosis. The profound reduction of hepatic triglyceride levels was associated with FGF21 inhibition of nuclear sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 and the expression of a wide array of genes involved in fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. FGF21 also dramatically improved hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in both lean and DIO mice independently of reduction in body weight and adiposity.

https://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/diabetes/58/1/250.full.pdf

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Reverses Hepatic Steatosis, Increases Energy Expenditure, and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a metabolic regulator that provides efficient and durable glycemic and lipid control in various animal models. However, its potential to treat obesity, a major health concern affecting over 30% of the population, has not been fully explored. Here we report that systemic administration of FGF21 for 2 wk in diet-induced obese and ob/ob mice lowered their mean body weight by 20% predominantlyviaareductioninadiposity.Althoughnodecrease in total caloric intake or effect on physical activity was observed,FGF21-treatedanimalsexhibitedincreasedenergyexpenditure, fat utilization, and lipid excretion, reduced hepatosteatosis, and ameliorated glycemia. Transcriptional and blood cytokine profiling studies revealed effects consistent with the ability of FGF21 to ameliorate insulin and leptin resistance, enhance fat oxidation and suppress de novo lipogenesis in liver aswellastoactivatefutilecyclinginadipose.Overall,thesedata suggestthatFGF21exhibitsthetherapeuticcharacteristicsnecessary for an effective treatment of obesity and fatty liver disease and provides novel insights into the metabolic determinants of these activities. (Endocrinology 149: 6018–6027, 2008)

Fibroblast growth factor 21 corrects obesity in mice.

OBJECTIVE Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a key mediator of fatty acid oxidation and lipid metabolism. Pharmacological doses of FGF21 improve glucose tolerance, lower serum free fatty acids, and lead to weight loss in obese mice. Surprisingly, however, FGF21 levels are elevated in obese ob/ob and db/db mice and correlate positively with BMI in humans. However, the expected beneficial effects of endogenous FGF21 to increase glucose tolerance and reduce circulating triglycerides are absent in obesity.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS To test the hypothesis that obesity is a state of FGF21 resistance, we evaluated the response of obese mice to exogenous FGF21 administration. In doing this, we assessed the impact of diet-induced obesity on FGF21 signaling and resultant transcriptional events in the liver and white adipose tissue. We also analyzed the physiologic impact of FGF21 resistance by assessing serum parameters that are acutely regulated by FGF21.

RESULTS When obese mice are treated with FGF21, they display both a significantly attenuated signaling response as assessed by extracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation as well as an impaired induction of FGF21 target genes, including cFos and EGR1. These effects were seen in both liver and fat. Similarly, changes in serum parameters such as the decline in glucose and free fatty acids are attenuated in FGF21-treated DIO mice.

CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that DIO mice have increased endogenous levels of FGF21 and respond poorly to exogenous FGF21. We therefore propose that obesity is an FGF21-resistant state.

https://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/diabetes/59/11/2781.full.pdf

Obesity Is a Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21)-Resistant State

The liver plays a crucial role in mobilizing energy during nutritional deprivation. During the early stages of fasting, hepatic glycogenolysis is a primary energy source. As fasting progresses and glycogen stores are depleted, hepatic gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis become major energy sources. Here, we show that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a hormone that is induced in liver by fasting, induces hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator protein-1α (PGC-1α), a key transcriptional regulator of energy homeostasis, and causes corresponding increases in fatty acid oxidation, tricarboxylic acid cycle flux, and gluconeogenesis without increasing glycogenolysis. Mice lacking FGF21 fail to fully induce PGC-1α expression in response to a prolonged fast and have impaired gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis. These results reveal an unexpected relationship between FGF21 and PGC-1α and demonstrate an important role for FGF21 in coordinately regulating carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism during the progression from fasting to starvation.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/106/26/10853.full.pdf

FGF21 induces PGC-1α and regulates carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism during the adaptive starvation response

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is a metabolic regulator that can influence glucose and lipid control in diabetic rodents and primates. We demonstrate that βKlotho is an integral part of an activated FGF-21-βKlotho-FGF receptor (FGFR) complex thus a critical subunit of the FGF-21 receptor. Cells lacking βKlotho did not respond to FGF-21; the introduction of βKlotho to these cells conferred FGF-21-responsiveness and recapitulated the entire scope of FGF-21 signaling observed in naturally responsive cells. Interestingly, FGF-21-mediated effects are heparin independent suggesting that βKlotho plays a role in FGF-21 activity similar to the one played by heparin in the signaling of conventional FGFs. Moreover, in addition to conferring specificity for FGF-21, βKlotho appears to support FGF-19 activity and mediates the receptor selectivity profile of FGF-19. All together, these results indicate that βKlotho and FGFRs form the cognate FGF-21 receptor complex, mediating FGF-21 cellular specificity and physiological effects. J. Cell. Physiol. 215: 1–7, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Sean F. Mehrbod

Papers

FGF-21/FGF-21 receptor interaction and activation is determined by betaKlotho.