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Elevated serum fibroblast growth factor 21 is associated with hypertension in community-dwelling adults

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 27, pages 397–399 (2013)Cite this article

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Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a recently discovered endocrine factor, has an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism and may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship of FGF21 with hypertension in 744 community-dwelling adults who participated in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).

FGF21 is a recently discovered hormone that has been implicated in abnormal glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in adults.1, 2 FGF21 is a member of the family of FGFs, but is atypical in that it lacks a heparin-binding domain, which allows FGF21 to leave the tissues of origin and circulate freely as an endocrine factor. FGF21 is expressed in the liver, white adipose tissue and the pancreas. FGF21 binds to the cell surface receptor FGFR complex formed with β-klotho to stimulate glucose uptake in adipocytes.1, 2 In animal models, systemic administration of FGF21 increases energy expenditure, reduces body weight and improves lipid profiles by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.1, 2

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    R D Semba, C Crasto & K Sun

  2. Longitudinal Studies Section, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA

    J Strait & L Ferrucci

  3. Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    D A Schaumberg

Authors
  1. R D Semba
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  2. C Crasto
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  3. J Strait
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  4. K Sun
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  5. D A Schaumberg
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  6. L Ferrucci
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Correspondence to R D Semba.

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Semba, R., Crasto, C., Strait, J. et al. Elevated serum fibroblast growth factor 21 is associated with hypertension in community-dwelling adults. J Hum Hypertens 27, 397–399 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2012.52

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