FGFs and metabolism

Although the first fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was discovered as a mitogen on 3T3 fibroblasts [Gospodarowicz D: Localization of a fibroblast growth factor and its effect alone and with hydrocortisone on 3T3 cell growth. Nature 1974, 249:123–127], this name is functionally misleading. This group of secreted proteins consisting now of 22 members was composed based on common structural characteristics rather than on functional similarity. Thus, only a few members of the human FGF family promote growth and strictly act on fibroblasts. While the research in the last century firmly established FGFs as key players in development, morphogenesis, angiogenesis, hematopoiesis, and survival, this decade provided clues on FGF roles in metabolism. In particular, ‘hormone-like’ FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23, were shown to be involved in glucose, lipid, bile acid, phosphate, and vitamin D metabolism but the mechanisms underlying their functions as metabolic regulators are still being defined.