Open AccessAAV ‐mediated gene therapy as a strategy to fight obesity and metabolic diseases
Author(s) -
Sponton Carlos Henrique,
Kajimura Shingo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
embo molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.923
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1757-4684
pISSN - 1757-4676
DOI - 10.15252/emmm.201809431
Subject(s) - genetic enhancement , obesity , medicine , bioinformatics , gene , computational biology , biology , genetics
The fibroblast growth factor 21 ( FGF 21) is a member of the FGF superfamily that now comprises 22 members identified in humans. Unlike the canonical role of most FGF family members, FGF 21 is released into the circulation and acts as an endocrine hormone by binding with low affinity to FGF receptors ( FGFR s) as well as to the co‐receptor β‐klotho in the target cells to trigger the ERK 1/2 and MAPK s signaling pathways. Described initially as a hepatokine, subsequent studies identified significant amounts of FGF 21 transcript in the pancreas, the adipose tissue, and the skeletal muscle. FGF 21 expression is highly regulated by environmental stimuli such as starvation, ketogenic diet, cold exposure, and exercise.