Catching Fire: Surviving the Hunger Games through Nuclear Receptor/FGF21 Signaling

DAVID MANGELSDORF, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hepatokine that during fasting plays an important role in the adaptive response to starvation. However, in the setting of obesity and nutrient excess, FGF21 has potent pharmacologic effects that include weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity due in large part to FGF21’s ability to mobilize oxidative substrates (the fuel) and stimulate a robust thermogenic response (the fire). In addition to these beneficial effects, FGF21 also inhibits growth, causes bone loss, and suppresses female reproduction. Attempting to dissociate the beneficial versus detrimental effects has revealed the existence of a complex peripheral and neural endocrine circuit, which coordinates the diverse physiologic and pharmacologic actions of FGF21.

January 15th, 2015 at 12:15 PM in Clark Center Seminar Room S360

Hosted by:

Anthony Oro, Professor of Dermatology, Stanford University

Pre-Seminar January 12th, 2015 at 12:15 PM in Clark S361