title: Serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 21 are elevated in patients with congenital or acquired lipodystrophy.
abstract: Patients with lipodystrophy (LD) suffer from loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue accompanied by dysregulation of several adipocyte-secreted factors. However, regulation of adipocyte-expressed fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 which acts in an insulin-mimetic, lipid-lowering, and anti-atherogenic manner has not been investigated in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) LD.
  
  
  
  Circulating serum FGF21 levels were quantified in 37 patients with non-HIV LD and 37 controls matched for age, gender, and body mass index. Moreover, FGF21 plasma levels and mRNA expression were measured in LD mice and control animals. Additionally, serum FGF21 levels were assessed in 10 LD patients before and during metreleptin therapy.
  
  
  
  Median FGF21 serum concentrations were significantly higher in LD patients (381.2ng/l) as compared to the control group (231.2ng/l; p=0.023). There was an independent and positive association between circulating FGF21 and serum triglycerides (TG), as well as fibrate treatment, in multiple linear regression analysis. LD mice showed significantly upregulated FGF21 plasma levels (4.5-fold), as well as mRNA expression in various adipose tissue depots and liver as compared to controls (p<0.05). Metreleptin treatment did not significantly alter circulating FGF21 levels in human subjects.
  
  
  
  Serum concentrations of FGF21 are elevated in patients with non-HIV LD with adipose tissue and liver being potential sources of increased production. TG and fibrate treatment are independent positive predictors of circulating FGF21.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Nephrology), University of Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: konstanze.miehle@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Konstanze
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miehle
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Nephrology), University of Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB AdiposityDiseases, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Nephrology), University of Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB AdiposityDiseases, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kralisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Nephrology), University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kratzsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Nephrology), University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Haiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schlögl
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Nephrology), University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Nephrology), University of Leipzig, Germany; Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB AdiposityDiseases, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasshauer
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D058607:Fibric Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008060:Lipodystrophy / Q000097:blood* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D058607:Fibric Acids; D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014280:Triglycerides; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C415771:metreleptin
keywords: Adipokine; FGF21; Insulin resistance; Lipodystrophy; Obesity; Triglycerides