FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) belongs to the large family of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Even though FGF signaling has been mainly implicated in developmental processes, recent studies have demonstrated that FGF21 is an important regulator of whole body energy expenditure and...

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Main Authors: Leon Straub, Christian Wolfrum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2015-09-01
Series:Molecular Metabolism
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877815001210
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author Leon Straub
Christian Wolfrum
author_facet Leon Straub
Christian Wolfrum
author_sort Leon Straub
collection DOAJ
description Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) belongs to the large family of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Even though FGF signaling has been mainly implicated in developmental processes, recent studies have demonstrated that FGF21 is an important regulator of whole body energy expenditure and metabolism, in obesity. Scope of review: Given the fact that obesity has developed epidemic proportions, not just in industrialized countries, FGF21 has emerged as a novel therapeutic avenue to treat obesity as well as associated metabolic disorders. While the metabolic effects of FGF21 are undisputed, the mechanisms by which FGF21 regulate weight loss have not yet been fully resolved. Until recently it was believed that FGF21 induces brown fat activity, thereby enhancing energy expenditure, which concomitantly leads to weight loss. Novel studies have challenged this concept as they could demonstrate that a part of the FGF21 mediated effects are retained in a mouse model of impaired brown adipose tissue function. Major conclusions: The review illustrates the recent advances in FGF21 research and discusses the role of FGF21 in the regulation of energy expenditure linked to brown fat activity.
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spelling doaj.art-1d192fdd6add4c4989ff5b98867bf9312022-12-21T20:44:25ZengElsevierMolecular Metabolism2212-87782015-09-014960560910.1016/j.molmet.2015.06.008FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?Leon StraubChristian WolfrumBackground: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) belongs to the large family of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Even though FGF signaling has been mainly implicated in developmental processes, recent studies have demonstrated that FGF21 is an important regulator of whole body energy expenditure and metabolism, in obesity. Scope of review: Given the fact that obesity has developed epidemic proportions, not just in industrialized countries, FGF21 has emerged as a novel therapeutic avenue to treat obesity as well as associated metabolic disorders. While the metabolic effects of FGF21 are undisputed, the mechanisms by which FGF21 regulate weight loss have not yet been fully resolved. Until recently it was believed that FGF21 induces brown fat activity, thereby enhancing energy expenditure, which concomitantly leads to weight loss. Novel studies have challenged this concept as they could demonstrate that a part of the FGF21 mediated effects are retained in a mouse model of impaired brown adipose tissue function. Major conclusions: The review illustrates the recent advances in FGF21 research and discusses the role of FGF21 in the regulation of energy expenditure linked to brown fat activity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877815001210FGF21UCP1Brown fatEnergy expenditure
spellingShingle Leon Straub
Christian Wolfrum
FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?
Molecular Metabolism
FGF21
UCP1
Brown fat
Energy expenditure
title FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?
title_full FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?
title_fullStr FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?
title_full_unstemmed FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?
title_short FGF21, energy expenditure and weight loss – How much brown fat do you need?
title_sort fgf21 energy expenditure and weight loss how much brown fat do you need
topic FGF21
UCP1
Brown fat
Energy expenditure
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877815001210
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AT christianwolfrum fgf21energyexpenditureandweightlosshowmuchbrownfatdoyouneed