title: Fibroblast growth factors in cardiovascular disease: The emerging role of FGF21.
abstract: Early detection of risk factors for enhanced primary prevention and novel therapies for treating the chronic consequences of cardiovascular disease are of the utmost importance for reducing morbidity. Recently, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have been intensively studied as potential new molecules in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease mainly attributable to metabolic effects and angiogenic actions. Members of the endocrine FGF family have been shown to increase metabolic rate, decrease adiposity, and restore glucose homeostasis, suggesting a multiple metabolic role. Serum levels of FGFs have been associated with established cardiovascular risk factors as well as with the severity and extent of coronary artery disease and could be useful for prediction of cardiovascular death. Furthermore, preclinical investigations and clinical trials have tested FGF administration for therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemic vascular disease, demonstrating a potential role in improving angina and limb function. FGF21 has lately emerged as a potent metabolic regulator with multiple effects that ultimately improve the lipoprotein profile. Early studies show that FGF21 is associated with the presence of atherosclerosis and may play a protective role against plaque formation by improving endothelial function. The present review highlights recent investigations suggesting that FGFs, in particular FGF21, may be useful as markers of cardiovascular risk and may also serve as protective/therapeutic agents in cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece;
authors.forename: Eleni M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Domouzoglou
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece;
authors.forename: Katerina K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece;
authors.forename: Antonios P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Vlahos
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece;
authors.forename: Michail I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Papafaklis
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece;
authors.forename: Lampros K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Michalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece;
authors.forename: Agathoklis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsatsoulis
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts emaratos@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Eleftheria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maratos-Flier
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors
keywords: angiogenesis; atherosclerosis; biomarker; coronary artery disease; fibroblast growth factor