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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Nov 26.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Metab. 2021 Mar 18;3(3):309–317. doi: 10.1038/s42255-021-00354-2

Fig. 2. Target tissues and metabolic activities of FGF21.

Fig. 2

The metabolic effects of FGF21 in regulating body weight, hepatic triglycerides and macronutrient preference are conserved. However, species-specific differences in FGF21’s glucose-lowering effects have been observed. Most of FGF21’s metabolic effects are mediated through direct signalling to the brain and adipose tissues. Although FGF21 signalling to other tissues indirectly affects hepatic metabolism, whether FGF21 analogues signal directly to the liver is unclear. Evidence in rodents suggests FGF21’s abilities to regulate macronutrient preference, decrease body weight and hepatic triglycerides, and secondarily increase insulin sensitivity (associated with weight loss) are mediated through direct FGF21 signalling to the central nervous system. FGF21’s acute insulin-sensitizing effects are mediated through direct signalling to adipose tissues. ER, endoplasmic reticulum.