Cited by 523Fibroblast Growth Factor ResearchRegulation of Appetite and ObesityAdipose Tissue and Metabolism

FGF21 acts centrally to induce sympathetic nerve activity, energy expenditure, and weight loss

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Owen, Bryn M., Ding, Xunshan, Morgan, Donald A., Coate, Katie Colbert, Bookout, Angie L., Rahmouni, Kamal, Kliewer, Steven A., Mangelsdorf, David J.·2014·Cell Metabolism

Abstract

The mechanism by which pharmacologic administration of the hormone FGF21 increases energy expenditure to cause weight loss in obese animals is unknown. Here we report that FGF21 acts centrally to exert its effects on energy expenditure and body weight in obese mice. Using tissue-specific knockout mice, we show that βKlotho, the obligate coreceptor for FGF21, is required in the nervous system for these effects. FGF21 stimulates sympathetic nerve activity to brown adipose tissue through a mechanism that depends on the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor. Our findings provide an unexpected mechanistic explanation for the strong pharmacologic effects of FGF21 on energy expenditure and weight loss in obese animals.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cmet.2014.07.012

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  • Weight loss likely occurs at the expense of VAT, as evidenced by a 15% mean decrease in abdominal fat content, measured by DEXA, in obese monkeys.

    “Weight loss likely occurs [163,165] at the expense of VAT, as evidenced by a 15% mean decrease in abdominal fat content, measured by DEXA, in obese monkeys [165].”

    From The Role of Exercise in the Interplay between Myokines, Hepatokines, Osteokines, Adipokines, and Modulation of Inflammation for Energy Substrate Redistribution and Fat Mass Loss: A Review (2020) · cites this paper as [163]

    The Results and Discussion section (“FGF21 acts on the hypothalamus”; page not provided) reports reduced body weight and percent body fat after FGF21 treatment in obese mice. It does not report a 15% decrease in abdominal fat, a VAT measurement, or DEXA results in obese monkeys; the Mouse studies section says body composition was measured by EchoMRI. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • FGF21 augments BAT function indirectly by increasing SNS output.

    “FGF21 further augments BAT function indirectly, by increasing SNS output [163,165] (7)”
  • Effects of extended FGF21 signalling in promoting weight loss through increased energy expenditure are mediated through direct actions on the CNS, not adipose tissues.

    “These effects of extended FGF21 signalling in promoting weight loss through increased energy expenditure are mediated through direct actions on the central nervous system67,80–84, not adipose tissues65,67,85”

    From Metabolic messengers: FGF21 (2021) · cites this paper as [80]

  • FGF21 signals directly to the CNS, at least in rodents, and consequently regulates energy expenditure and improves glucose and lipid homeostasis.

    “Instead, FGF21 signals directly to the CNS (Fig. 3a), at least in rodents, and consequently regulates energy expenditure and improves glucose and lipid homeostasis80,82.”

    From Metabolic messengers: FGF21 (2021) · cites this paper as [80]

  • FGF21 signals the CNS to increase energy expenditure and decrease body weight.

    “while it signals the CNS to increase energy expenditure and decrease body weight [169,171,172] (Figure 2).”

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Authors
Owen, B. M., Ding, X., Morgan, D. A., Coate, K. C., Bookout, A. L., Rahmouni, K., Kliewer, S. A., & Mangelsdorf, D. J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
  • University of Iowa (US)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
  • Kliewer, Steven A.
  • Mangelsdorf, David J.
Venue
Cell Metabolism
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-10
Volume
20
Issue
4
Pages
670-677
ISSN
1550-4131 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2158477352
Cited by
523
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 3
FWCI
18.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1F32DK098908, GM007062, HL084207, R01DK067158)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Welch Foundation (I-1275, I-1558)
  • American Heart Association (14EIA18860041)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fibroblast Growth Factor Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
Keywords
FGF21, β-Klotho, central nervous system, sympathetic activity, brown adipose tissue, energy expenditure, weight loss, corticotropin-releasing factor, obesity, tissue-specific knockout mice
MeSH terms
Klotho Proteins, Animals, Adipose Tissue, Brown, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Energy Metabolism, Fibroblast Growth Factors, Hypothalamus, Membrane Proteins, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Obese, Mice, Transgenic, RNA, Messenger, Sympathetic Nervous System, Weight Loss, Mice, Knockout, Thermogenesis, Mice

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