FGF21: New hope in the field of hypertension treatment

FGF21: New hope in the field of hypertension treatment

In the face of hypertension, a common and harmful health problem, scientists have never stopped exploring. Recently, a research result of Lin Zhuofeng's research group of Professor Li Xiaokun's team at Wenzhou Medical University has brought us new hope for the treatment of hypertension - FGF21 protein.

FGF21, the full name of fibroblast growth factor 21, is not a "new face". For a long time, it has been considered an endocrine factor that regulates fat metabolism, glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, and plays an important role in maintaining the metabolic balance of the human body. However, the research of this research group revealed its new function beyond metabolic regulation - it has potential value in the treatment of hypertension.

The research team found that FGF21 has unique performance in angiotensin II-induced hypertension model mice. When the level of FGF21 in mouse serum increased significantly, and its mRNA and protein expression levels in liver and fat also increased significantly, a question emerged: Is FGF21 involved in the pathological process of hypertension?

In order to find the answer, the research group used FGF21 gene knockout mice for in-depth verification. The results were surprising. Compared with wild-type mice, FGF21-deficient mice had higher blood pressure, more severe vascular inflammation and vascular fibrosis, changes in vascular function, and vascular oxidative stress after angiotensin II infusion. However, after mice were overexpressed with FGF21 through adeno-associated virus-mediated gene overexpression technology, blood pressure did not rise significantly under angiotensin II stimulation, and related vascular damage and functional changes were also improved. This fully demonstrates that FGF21 plays an active role in resisting hypertension and vascular function damage.

So, how does FGF21 play this magical role? Further mechanistic studies revealed that it is involved in the maintenance of blood pressure and vascular homeostasis by the angiotensin-renin circulation system. Under the stimulation of angiotensin II, FGF21 can upregulate angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2), converting angiotensin II, which has a blood pressure-raising effect, into Ang-(1-7), which has a blood pressure-lowering effect. This is like installing a "smart converter" in the blood pressure regulation system, which can effectively balance blood pressure. Moreover, although the use of Ang-(1-7) specific inhibitor A77 to block the relevant signal axis can partially block the therapeutic effect of FGF21, it will not change its regulation of blood pressure. In addition, in vitro studies have also found that the role of FGF21 in activating the relevant signal axis depends on the mediation of PPARγ.

Once this research result was published, it attracted widespread attention in the academic community. The latest issues of "Nature Review Endocrinology" and "Nature Review Nephrology" respectively reviewed it and pointed out that FGF21 has potential in the development of drugs for the treatment of hypertension.

Although FGF21 is still a long way from being truly applied in clinical treatment, this discovery undoubtedly brings new hope to patients with hypertension. I believe that with the unremitting efforts of scientists, FGF21 is expected to become a bright new star in the field of hypertension treatment and make important contributions to human health.