FGF Peptides and Energy Homeostasis

Over the past 3 decades, the combination of high-calorie “Western” diet consumption and sedentary lifestyle has led to the emergence of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) as two of the most common and costly chronic diseases confronting modern society. Despite intense interest and expenditure of resources, the limited efficacy of available therapies for these conditions has created an urgent need for new, more effective treatment options, and strategies targeting the brain have important potential to meet this need. In recent years, studies in rodent and primate models have identified members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family as attractive candidates for the development of novel therapeutics. Initially, reports focused on the beneficial metabolic effects induced by systemic administration of either of two hormonal members of the FGF family—FGF19 and FGF21—or the canonical FGF, FGF1. However, a role for the brain in mediating these effects has emerged from subsequent studies showing that intracerebroventricular injection of much lower doses of these peptides can elicit similar effects.

In this Research Topic, we will explore the latest research focused on investigating brain mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of FGF peptides on energy and glucose homeostasis. We will highlight key discoveries that have informed current work with the goal of developing brain-targeted FGF-derived compounds as therapeutics for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. We welcome the submission of original research, review, and mini-review articles.