title: Metabolic Effects of FGF-21: Thermoregulation and Beyond.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21, a member of the FGF family, is a novel hormone involved in the control of metabolism by modulating glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, ketogenesis, and promoting adipose tissue "browning." Recent studies demonstrated that brown adipose tissue is not only a target for FGF-21, but is also a potentially important source of systemic FGF-21. These findings support the hypothesis that FGF-21 plays a physiologic role in thermogenesis and thermogenic recruitment of white adipose tissue by an autocrine-paracrine axis. This review examines the role of FGF-21 in thermogenesis from the perspective of cell-based, animal model, and human studies. We also present recent advances in the characterization of FGF-21's regulation of metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine , Richmond, VA , USA.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine , Richmond, VA , USA.
authors.forename: Jared S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Farrar
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine , Richmond, VA , USA.
authors.forename: Janina A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vaitkus
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine , Richmond, VA , USA.
authors.forename: Francesco S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Celi
keywords: FGF-21; brown adipose tissue; fibroblast growth factor receptor; metabolism; thermogenesis