Liver Derived FGF21 Maintains Core Body Temperature During Acute Cold Exposure.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) elicits an array of metabolic effects. However, the physiological role of FGF21 during thermal challenges is not clear. In this study, we assessed the tissue source of FGF21 and its site of action to regulate core body temperature in response to cold.

NRG1-Fc improves metabolic health via dual hepatic and central action.

Neuregulins (NRGs) are emerging as an important family of signaling ligands that regulate glucose and lipid homeostasis. NRG1 lowers blood glucose levels in obese mice, whereas the brown fat-enriched secreted factor NRG4 protects mice from high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. However, the therapeutic potential of NRGs remains elusive, given the poor plasma half-life of the native ligands.

Scaffold-free generation of uniform adipose spheroids for metabolism research and drug discovery.

Adipose tissue dysfunction is critical to the development of type II diabetes and other metabolic diseases. While monolayer cell culture has been useful for studying fat biology, 2D culture often does not reflect the complexity of fat tissue. Animal models are also problematic in that they are expensive, time consuming, and may not completely recapitulate human biology because of species variation.

FGF21 Regulates Metabolism Through Adipose-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms.

FGF21 is an endocrine hormone that regulates energy homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. The mechanism of FGF21 action and the tissues responsible for these effects have been controversial, with both adipose tissues and the central nervous system having been identified as the target site mediating FGF21-dependent increases in insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure, and weight loss. Here we show that, while FGF21 signaling to adipose tissue is required for the acute insulin-sensitizing effects of FGF21, FGF21 signaling to adipose tissue is not required for its chronic effects to increase energy expenditure and lower body weight.

Tyrosine nitration in peptides by peroxynitrite generated in situ in a light-controlled platform: effects of pH and thiols.

Peroxynitrite has been shown to play a critical role in inflammation and affords 3-nitrotyrosine as the hallmark product. The reported methods of generating this reactive nitrogen species in situ often fails to provide a high and steady flux of peroxynitrite resulting in poor yields of 3-nitrotyrosine. Herein we report a two-component peroxynitrite-generating platform in which this anion is produced in a biomimetic fashion and under the control of visible light.