FGF21 is an endocrine signal of protein restriction

Enhanced fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) production and circulation has been linked to the metabolic adaptation to starvation. Here, we demonstrated that hepatic FGF21 expression is induced by dietary protein restriction, but not energy restriction. Circulating FGF21 was increased 10-fold in mice and rats fed a low-protein (LP) diet. In these animals, liver Fgf21 expression was increased within 24 hours of reduced protein intake. In humans, circulating FGF21 levels increased dramatically following 28 days on a LP diet. LP-induced increases in FGF21 were associated with increased phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) in the liver, and both baseline and LP-induced serum FGF21 levels were…

• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: LA 3042/2-1
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: P20GM103528, R01DK081563, P30DK072476
• NO
  Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of North Carolina

  Award: P30DK072476