FGF21 induced by carbon monoxide mediates metabolic homeostasis via the PERK/ATF4 pathway

What is it about?

Completed and ongoing clinical trials for CO therapy to date in humans have, in general, demonstrated the safety of low dose CO application in humans, though further trials will be needed to confirm efficacy. It is therefore premature to speculate that CO will prove to be an effective therapeutic in humans with regard to metabolic disease applications. FGF21 is an endocrine hormone that is produced predominantly in the liver and controls the glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and ketogenesis. Our findings that an increase of FGF21 by CO improves metabolic dysfunction suggest that low dose application of CO may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the amelioration of metabolic diseases.

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