FGF21 hormone, key to control obesity, also protects against heart diseases in mice
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A research group has found that FGF21, an endocrine factor which reduces glucose levels, protects against cardiac diseases in mice. The research, published online on the journal Nature Communications, was led by Francesc Villarroya, professor from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the UB and Director of the Institute of Biomedicine of the UB (IBUB), affiliated centre with the campus of international excellence BKC. Anna Planavila, first author of the paper, from that Department of the UB, the experts Luigi Gabrielli and Marta Sitges (IDIBAPS-Hospital Clínic de Barcelona) and other international experts also collaborated in the research.

A research group has found that FGF21, an endocrine factor which reduces glucose levels, protects against cardiac diseases in mice. The research, published online on the journal Nature Communications, was led by Francesc Villarroya, professor from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the UB and Director of the Institute of Biomedicine of the UB (IBUB), affiliated centre with the campus of international excellence BKC. Anna Planavila, first author of the paper, from that Department of the UB, the experts Luigi Gabrielli and Marta Sitges (IDIBAPS-Hospital Clínic de Barcelona) and other international experts also collaborated in the research.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), mainly secreted by the liver, is a protein which acts as a metabolic regulator and plays a key role as an antidiabetic and antiobesity agent. In 2010, the cover of the journal Cell Metabolism echoed a finding made by the UB research group headed by Dr Villarroya: FGF21 activates thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue —which governs energy expenditure and heat production in the body—, what promotes the burning of calories to release heat, dissipating then large amounts of energy.