FGF21 Prospects for Applications in Clinical Practice

History of FGF21: FGF21, firstly identified in 2000, was reported as a novel endocrine metabolic regulator in 2005. FGF21 has attracted great attention for its therapeutic potentials, because it has strong influence on metabolism, without displaying the proliferative activities of other members of the FGF family.

Physiological Roles of FGF21: It has been shown that various kinds of stress can raise the circulated levels of FGF21, including malnutrition, cold exposure and exercise. FGF21 promotes lipid catabolism, ketogenesis, gluconeogenesis and glucose uptake, and also protects tissues from stress-induced cytotoxicity.

Aim of the Article: This mini review is a summary of the potential uses of FGF21 for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. High levels of circulating FGF21 have been associated with various pathologic situations, whereas different forms of the FGF21 molecule have been developed and evaluated on animal models and humans for therapeutic use.