The DOI matches its Crossref record; 38 of the 38 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
FGF21 regulates PGC-1α and browning of white adipose tissues in adaptive thermogenesis
Open accessAbstract
Certain white adipose tissue (WAT) depots are readily able to convert to a "brown-like" state with prolonged cold exposure or exposure to β-adrenergic compounds. This process is characterized by the appearance of pockets of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-positive, multilocular adipocytes and serves to increase the thermogenic capacity of the organism. We show here that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) plays a physiologic role in this thermogenic recruitment of WATs. In fact, mice deficient in FGF21 display an impaired ability to adapt to chronic cold exposure, with diminished browning of WAT. Adipose-derived FGF21 acts in an autocrine/paracrine manner to increase expression of UCP1 and other thermogenic genes in fat tissues. FGF21 regulates this process, at least in part, by enhancing adipose tissue PGC-1α protein levels independently of mRNA expression. We conclude that FGF21 acts to activate and expand the thermogenic machinery in vivo to provide a robust defense against hypothermia.
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In the citing paper
“and possibly mediates an hepatokine–myokine crosstalk via activation of PGC-1α [43]”
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 [43]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“have also been described to induce WAT browning directly (6).”
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 [43]
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In the citing paper
“In WAT, it induces lipolysis [166] and browning [43], likely via upregulation of PGC-1α [192].”
The check wasn’t confident either way, so it gives no verdict — never disputed.
In the citing paper
“the exercise-induced hepatokines FGF21 [43] and follistatin [185], both upregulated by glucagon (5)”
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 [43]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“The direct effect of Fgf21 on adipocyte browning has also been demonstrated by others [284].”
From Mitochondrial Uncoupling: A Key Controller of Biological Processes in Physiology and Diseases (2019) · cites this paper as [284]
In the citing paper
“Consistent with a functional role for FGF21 during cold, both Fgf21 total knockout mice (36) and adipose-specific Fgf21 knockout mice (52) exhibit reduced body temperature in response to acute cold exposure.”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“However, while an increase in circulating levels of FGF21 has been reported in response to cold in mice (49), this has not been observed in other studies (36, 52).”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“Fgf21 mRNA expression is upregulated in both WAT (36, 52) and BAT (15, 36, 49, 52) in response to cold.”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“Consistent with its role in regulating thermogenesis, FGF21 treatment is sufficient to increase thermogenic gene expression in mouse primary white adipocytes (36).”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“Some teams have reported that FGF21 knockout mice have impaired adaptation to chronic cold exposure and decreased browning of WAT 92.”
From Inter‐organ communication: a gatekeeper for metabolic health (2019) · cites this paper as [92]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Fisher, F. M., Kleiner, S., Douris, N., Fox, E. C., Mepani, R. J., Verdeguer, F., Wu, J., Kharitonenkov, A., Flier, J. S., Maratos-Flier, E., & Spiegelman, B. M.
- Affiliations
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Eli Lilly (United States) (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Genes & Development
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Published
- 2012-02-01
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 271-281
- ISSN
- 0890-9369 (ISSN-L)
- 1549-5477
- PMC
- PMC3278894
- OpenAlex
- W2145142659
- Cited by
- 1,478
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 44 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 100 · 2021: 122 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 121 · 2018: 128 · 2017: 126 · 2016: 131 · 2015: 127 · 2014: 101 · 2013: 94 · 2012: 40
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Genes & Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (DK028082, DK31405)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK028082, R01DK031405, DK-31405, R01DK028082, R37DK028082, R37DK031405)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fibroblast Growth Factor Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Keywords
- FGF21, PGC-1α, white adipose tissue browning, adaptive thermogenesis, UCP1, cold exposure, thermogenic gene expression, autocrine and paracrine signaling
- MeSH terms
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha, Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Adipose Tissue, Brown, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Cold Temperature, Fibroblast Growth Factors, Gene Expression Regulation, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional, Transcription Factors, Trans-Activators, Thermogenesis, Mice, Adipose Tissue, White
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