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Results for “Fibroblast Growth Factors”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2025

CAUSAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SEPSIS AND FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTORS AS WELL AS THEIR RECEPTORS LEVELS: A TWO-SAMPLE MENDELIAN RANDOMIZATION STUDY.

Objective: The potential association between sepsis risk and circulating levels of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) has been a focus of research; however, the causal relationship between them remains to be elucidated. We hypothesize a causal association between genetically predicted FGFs, FGFRs, and sepsis risk, and we conduct a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to validate this hypothesis. Methods: We utilized a two-sample MR design to assess the effect of genetic variants associated with various FGFs (FGF1, FGF2, FGF7, FGF16, FGF19, FGF21, FGF23, FGF5) and FGFRs (FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, α-Klotho) on sepsis risk, using genome-wide association study summary statistics. Our MR analyses employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, along with weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-Egger regression, supplemented by sensitivity analyses to ensure robustness. Results: The MR analysis identified an unequal number of instrumental variables ranging from 2 to 17 for FGFs and FGFRs when sepsis was the outcome. No significant correlation was found between genetically determined FGF levels and sepsis risk by IVW analysis (all P > 0.05). Correspondingly, similar nonsignificant associations were observed for FGFRs (all P > 0.05). Other MR methods corroborated the IVW findings. Sensitivity analyses, including Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier, indicated no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy in the relationships, with the exception of a nonsignificant correlation between FGFR1 and sepsis that persisted after the exclusion of an outlier (odds ratio, 0.84; P = 0.34). Conclusion: The analysis found no significant causal associations between FGFs, their receptors, and sepsis risk, indicating a need for further research on their complex interactions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Diagnostic and prognostic value of fibroblast growth factor 23 in acute kidney injury: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high mortality and adverse outcomes. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) has emerged as a potential biomarker for AKI; however, its diagnostic and prognostic utility remains inconsistent.Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating circulating intact FGF23 (iFGF23) or C-terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) (PROSPERO: CRD42022302659). PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched through June 9, 2026. QUADAS-2 was used for quality assessment. A random-effects bivariate model pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative likelihood ratio (PLR/NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC AUC).Results: Twenty-three studies were included: 17 diagnostic, 6 prognostic (one addressing both). For AKI diagnosis, the pooled sensitivity was 0.79 (95% CI 0.73-0.86), specificity 0.82 (95% CI 0.75-0.89), PLR 4.40 (95% CI 2.59-6.21), NLR 0.25 (95% CI 0.16-0.34), DOR 17.49 (95% CI 8.67-35.16), and SROC AUC 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.92). Substantial heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 67%), with iFGF23 demonstrating higher accuracy than cFGF23 (AUC 0.91 vs 0.81). For AKI mortality, pooled sensitivity was 0.77 (95% CI 0.69-0.84), specificity 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.82), DOR 10.89 (95% CI 6.86-17.30), and SROC AUC 0.77 (95% CI 0.70-0.83). Significant heterogeneity was noted (I2 = 86.2% for sensitivity, 80.4% for specificity). No significant publication bias was detected.Conclusions: Circulating FGF23 exhibits moderate-to-high diagnostic and moderate prognostic performance in AKI, though interpretation is limited by substantial heterogeneity. It may serve as a complementary biomarker for risk stratification, pending further validation with standardized protocols.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 as a Prognostic Biomarker in Post-Myocardial Infarction Outcomes: Influence of Renal Function and Its Modulation by Klotho.

BACKGROUND: Elevation of FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor 23) and decreased Klotho levels have been associated with various cardiovascular and renal diseases. However, the combined study of the FGF23-Klotho axis in ischemic heart disease remains elusive. METHODS: We analyzed the associations between circulating FGF23 and Klotho levels with cardiac and renal parameters, as well as mortality outcomes following myocardial infarction (MI). Cardiac tissue from patients with ischemic heart disease and a post-MI mouse model were analyzed to assess myocardial FGF23 expression. Proteomic analysis was performed to examine myocardial pathways activated by FGF23 and regulated by Klotho. RESULTS: We observed an inverse correlation between circulating levels of FGF23 and Klotho in patients after MI. Elevated plasma FGF23 levels were particularly associated with ST-segment-elevation MI and cardiac dysfunction, including reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, prolonged corrected interval, and higher Killip-Kimball classification of cardiac risk, identifying FGF23 as a potential prognostic marker of overall and cardiac-related mortality. In contrast, systemic Klotho levels were reduced in patients with ST-segment-elevation MI but did not correlate with mortality. In cardiac tissue, ischemic injury significantly upregulated FGF23 expression. Although Klotho prevented FGF23-induced proteomic alterations, it did not inhibit cardiac FGF23 overexpression in the post-MI model. CONCLUSIONS: FGF23 represents a promising biomarker for mortality and cardiac dysfunction in patients with MI. Although Klotho does not appear to be a reliable predictor of mortality after MI, its cardioprotective properties suggest a role in modulating FGF23-driven metabolic, structural, and proliferative processes in the myocardium.

Fibroblast Growth Factor-23↗

PubMed2025

Spinocerebellar Ataxia 27 A with Episodic Ataxia: Case Series of Fibroblast Growth Factor 14 (FGF14) Microdeletions.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 27 A (SCA27A) is a form of progressive cerebellar ataxia due to pathogenic variants in the Fibroblast Growth Factor 14 (FGF14) gene. The objective of this paper is to characterise the clinical spectrum of SCA27A microdeletions (> 50 bp, <2Mbp), and report two novel cases. Literature searches of PubMed, OMIM and ClinVar were carried out. We identified SCA27A microdeletions in 32 cases across 11 families. The phenotypic presentation is: 75% (24/32) nystagmus, 46% (15/32) ataxia, 21% (7/32) episodic ataxia, 21% (7/32) tremor, 15% (5/32) dysarthria, 34% (11/32) learning disability, 28% (8/32) neuropsychiatric disease. The presentation is variable within and between families. Episodic symptoms, nystagmus, learning disability and neuropsychiatric symptoms occur at an earlier age. Patient 1 represents the first case with a 58 kb FGF14 deletion who presented with a paroxysmal movement disorder. Patient 2 carries a 545 kb deletion and developed episodic ataxia and trigeminal neuralgia, a novel feature not previously described in this cohort. We report two cases of heterozygous FGF14 microdeletions: Patient 1 (58 kb) and Patient 2 (545 kb), expanding the phenotypic spectrum of FGF14 structural variants to 32 cases across 11 families. We review potential mechanism from pre-clinical studies relating FGF14 haploinsufficiency to cerebellar, cognitive, neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as trigeminal neuralgia. We propose the hypothesis that the episodic symptoms in SCA27A align with the molecular pathology of a channelopathy and propose management strategies based on this insight.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23)-Induced Hypophosphatemia.

Hypophosphatemia is a frequent complication of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. In this setting, hypophosphatemia has been previously associated with cytokine release syndrome. The mechanisms underlying this electrolyte derangement are not fully understood. Extracellular phosphate consumption by chimeric antigen receptor T cells was demonstrated in vitro, but inflammation is also thought to play a contributing role. We present a case of severe, refractory hypophosphatemia with renal phosphate wasting triggered by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The diagnosis of phosphate wasting was made at the onset of leukemia and a clinical exacerbation occurred after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. Diagnostic workup revealed very high fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels in the absence of recognized acquired or genetic causes of impaired FGF23 cleavage. This case suggests that inflammation associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis may induce FGF23 as a potential mechanism for hypophosphatemia. In this context, we recommend evaluation of renal phosphate wasting and subsequently FGF23 in patients with persistent hypophosphatemia despite standard supplementation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Fibroblast growth factor 21 prevents catecholaminergic arrhythmias in a mouse model of PKP2 arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic variants in plakophilin-2 (PKP2) cause arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) with intracellular calcium dysregulation as a major component of its arrhythmia phenotype. Recent adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based PKP2 gene therapy has shown promising results in a few different PKP2-associated ACM models. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has multiple cardioprotective effects and has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and impact on calcium regulation of a novel AAV serotype 8 (AAV8)-based FGF21 gene therapy on adult cardiac-specific, tamoxifen-activated PKP2 knockout (PKP2-cKO) mice. METHODS: Experiments were performed using a PKP2-cKO murine model. AAV8-FGF21 was delivered to adult mice by a single tail vein injection 7 days before tamoxifen-activated PKP2-cKO. Cardiac functions were monitored using echocardiography and electrocardiography. Intracellular calcium transients were investigated in acute isolated adult mouse cardiomyocytes, and calcium fluorescent signals were acquired using the IonOptix system. RESULTS: Loss of PKP2 expression caused cardiac mechanical dysfunction and proarrhythmic phenotype in adult mouse models. AAV-mediated delivery of FGF21 mitigated the progression of biventricular structural changes, decreased the occurrence of adrenergic arrhythmias, and rescued intracellular calcium imbalance in the setting of PKP2 haploinsufficiency. In contrast, acute in vitro FGF21 treatment for 1 hour had no effect on intracellular calcium transients. CONCLUSION: These beneficial effects of AAV8-FGF21 on the PKP2-ACM phenotype suggest a therapeutic landscape for various targeted cardiomyopathies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Sequencing of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors in Cholangiocarcinoma: A Review of Published Cases.

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are aggressive biliary tumors that can develop within the intrahepatic (iCCA) or perihilar and distal bile ducts. The prognosis of patients with iCCA is poor due to its relative resistance to chemotherapy. Comprehensive genomic profiling of CCA biopsies by next-generation sequencing has revealed a rich landscape of genomic alterations, including fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) gene fusions and rearrangements that are constitutively active and oncogenic. Several FGFR inhibitors (FGFRis) targeting these FGFR genomic alterations have been developed as potential treatments for iCCA, each of which are highly potent but differ in structure, mechanism of inhibition (ie, adenosine triphosphate-competitive reversible v covalent/irreversible v allosteric), pharmacologic/pharmacodynamic profiles, and selectivity for the four FGFR isoforms. Because of these differences, and due to resistance mutations acquired during FGFRi treatment, determining the optimal sequencing of FGFRis for the treatment of CCA remains contentious and is the subject of ongoing debate. To address this question, this review conducted an analysis of the literature on the FGFRi currently approved or in development, focusing on their distinct mechanisms of action and FGFR selectivity. Publicly available data from case reports on FGFRi sequencing in second and later lines of treatment were compiled from a PubMed search of published congress abstracts and articles. The results support a hypothesis that strategic sequencing of reversible followed by irreversible FGFRi may potentially prolong the duration of treatment benefit from FGFR inhibition compared with nonsequenced treatments. A hypothetical treatment-sequencing algorithm for reversible and irreversible FGFRi is discussed.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genetic Evidence Linking Circulating Epidermal Growth Factor to Sjögren's Syndrome Risk.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the potential causal correlations between circulating expression levels of six growth factors - epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) - and the risk of developing Sjögren's syndrome (SS), from the perspective of genetic variation, using a Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach. METHODS: Genetic data related to SS and the six growth factors were obtained from the IEU OpenGWAS project [GWAS IDs: "finn-b-M13_SJOGREN" (SS), "ebi-a-GCST90010212" (EGF), "ebi-a-GCST90011995" (VEGF), "ebi-a-GCST004459" (FGF), "ebi-a-GCST90000481" (TGF-β), "ebi-a-GCST004432" (PDGF), and "prot-b-40" (NGF)]. A two-sample MR analysis was conducted to estimate the causal effect of each growth factor on SS risk. Five complementary MR methods were employed to ensure robustness: Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, Weighted Median, Simple Mode, and MR-PRESSO. We further assessed heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy using Cochran's Q test and MR-Egger intercept, and performed leave-one-out analyses to test the sensitivity and reliability of the results. RESULTS: The MR analysis provided evidence supporting a causal association between elevated EGF levels and increased SS risk. Both IVW (p = 0.0485, OR [95%] = 1.0696 [1.0004 - 1.1436]) and MR-PRESSO (p = 0.0406, OR [95% CI] = 1.0684 [1.0080 - 1.1325]) yielded statistically significant results. No significant causal associations were observed between SS and the other five growth factors across all MR methods. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the observed association between EGF and SS. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that elevated circulating EGF levels may play a causal role in the development of Sjögren's syndrome, supporting EGF as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and risk prediction. These results provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of SS and highlight EGF as a potential target for future diag-nostic and therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to explore the clinical utility of growth factor-targeted approaches for SS prevention and treatment.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

FGF13 is not secreted from mouse neurons.

FGF13, a noncanonical fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and member of the fibroblast growth factor homologous factor (FHF) subset, lacks a signal sequence and was previously reported to remain intracellular, where it regulates voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) at least in part through direct interaction with the cytoplasmic C-terminus of VGSCs. Recent reports suggest FGF13 is secreted and regulates neuronal VGSCs through interactions with extracellular domains of integral plasma membrane proteins, yet supportive data are limited. Using rigorous positive and negative controls, we show that transfected FGF13 is not secreted from cultured cells in a heterologous expression system, nor is endogenous FGF13 secreted from cultured neurons. Furthermore, using multiple unbiased screens including proximity labeling proteomics, our results suggest FGF13 remains within membranes and is unavailable to interact directly with extracellular protein domains.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Combined With 3-Dimensional Hyaluronan-Based Scaffold Promote Tendon-to-Bone Tunnel Healing.

PURPOSE: Tendon-to-bone healing remains a major clinical challenge due to poor regenerative capacity at the enthesis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes combined with a 3-dimensional hyaluronan-based scaffold on graft healing within bone tunnels. This study was conducted in accordance with the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines. METHODS: A total of 128 tendon-bone models were created in 64 Sprague-Dawley rats, randomized into four groups: control, exosome-only, scaffold-only, and exosome-loaded scaffold. At weeks 4 and 8 postoperatively, samples were analyzed histologically (hematoxylin-eosin, Masson Trichrome), immunohistochemically (fibroblast growth factor 2, bone morphogenetic protein 2), and biomechanically (maximum failure load). RESULTS: At both time points, the exosome-loaded scaffold group demonstrated significantly enhanced vascularization, cellular activity, and collagen fiber continuity and parallelism compared to all other groups (P < .05). Fibroblast growth factor 2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 expression levels were highest in the exosome-loaded scaffold group, indicating early activation of proregenerative pathways. Biomechanically, this group also exhibited the greatest maximum failure load (15.64 ± 0.86 N at week 4; 22.97 ± 2.86 N at week 8), suggesting superior tendon-to-bone integration. The exosome-only group showed delayed but comparable improvements by week 8. CONCLUSIONS: Combining mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes with a 3-dimensional hyaluronan-based polycaprolactone/tricalcium phosphate scaffold enhances early and sustained healing at the tendon-bone interface. This cell-free, biocompatible strategy significantly improves vascularization, growth factor expression, collagen organization, and mechanical strength. These findings support its potential as a clinically translatable approach for improving tendon-to-bone healing outcomes. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic V.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Interrogating functional connectivity of in vitro neural glia tissue model modulated through integrative control of matrix stiffness and a neurotrophic factor.

Brain function emerges from intricate cellular communication within neural networks. Both In silico neuronal models and primary neuron cells have revealed that the branching architecture of individual neurons determines the bioelectrical signal propagation pattern and dynamics. However, whether stem cell-differentiated neurons can build functional connectivity regulated by neuronal morphology has yet to be determined. Here, we hypothesized that neurite length, branching, or both factors would regulate the functional connectivity of the stem cell-differentiated neural network. We examined this hypothesis by differentiating mouse cortical neural stem cells (NSCs) on Matrigel substrates with varying storage moduli, both with and without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Interestingly, with bFGF, Matrigel with a storage modulus (G') of 100 Pa drives NSCs to differentiate into neurons with more dendritic branches, while the gel with G' of 50 Pa led to the development of longer neurites with fewer branches. Notably, branch-rich neural networks exhibited an increased frequency of calcium transients. Using a MATLAB-based analysis pipeline incorporating graph theory, we constructed spatial and temporal calcium activity maps, revealing that branching complexity, more than neurite length, correlates with the density and strength of functional neural circuits. Overall, this study demonstrates that the dendritic branching of neurons, modulated with matrix stiffness and neurotrophic factors, is a key element in enhancing the electrophysiological functionality of the stem cell-differentiated neural network. This finding will have a significant impact on efforts to reconstruct functional neural tissue models, advancing both regenerative therapies and unexplored applications, including biological computing.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Network Interactions of Circulating FGF23, HRG-HMGB1, and Cardiac Disease in CKD.

KEY POINTS: Multitrait analysis of genome-wide association study boosts the statistical power to identify novel genetic traits for fibroblast growth factor 23. A functional genomics approach aided network discovery to identify histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and high-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) as key regulators of cardiac disease in CKD. Integration of clinical and genetic data enhances the discovery power and is crucial for understanding the genetic underpinnings of mineral bone disorder related to CKD. BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous genetic loci associated with mineral metabolism markers but have exclusively focused on single-trait analysis. In this study, we performed a multitrait analysis of GWAS (MTAG) of mineral metabolism, exploring overlapping genetic architecture between traits to identify novel genetic associations for fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). METHODS: We applied MTAG to variants common to GWAS of five genetically correlated mineral metabolism markers in participants of European ancestry. We integrated UK Biobank GWAS for blood levels for phosphate, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and calcium (n=366,484) and Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genetic Epidemiology GWAS for parathyroid hormone (n=29,155) and FGF23 (n=13,716). We then used supervised and unsupervised deep machine learning to identify novel associations between genetic traits and FGF23. RESULTS: MTAG increased the effective sample size for mineral metabolism markers to n=50,325 for FGF23. After clumping, MTAG identified independent genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms for all traits, including 62 loci for FGF23. Many of these loci have not been previously reported in single-trait analyses. Through a functional genomics approach, we identified histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as master regulators of downstream canonical pathways associated with circulating FGF23, and both genes were highly enriched in hypertrophied cardiac tissue of deceased hemodialysis patients. In addition, we found that DNMT3A was associated with uremic toxin, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, a biomarker of DNA damage. In silico gene perturbation analysis revealed that DNMT3A is protective in patients with heart failure caused by hypertrophied or dilated cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of MTAG analysis of mineral metabolism markers to boost the number of genome-wide significant loci for FGF23 to identify novel genetic traits. Functional genomics revealed novel networks that inform unique cellular functions and identified HRG and HMGB1 as key master regulators of FGF23 and cardiovascular disease in CKD.

bones, stones, and mineral metabolism↗

PubMed2026

Structural and tissue-specific organisation of endocrine Fgf19 and Fgf21 signalling in rainbow trout.

Endocrine fibroblast growth factors (FGF19 subfamily) play a key role in regulating metabolic homeostasis in vertebrates. However, their functional diversification in salmonids remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted an integrative characterisation of Fgf19 and Fgf21 signalling in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by combining phylogenetic, structural and expression analyses. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the conservation of single fgf19 and fgf21 genes, despite the extensive expansion of receptors post-Ss4R (salmonid-specific fourth-round whole genome duplication). Structural modelling and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the stable interactions of both ligands to multiple Fgfr isoforms, with receptor-specific energetic profiles and conserved core interaction residues. Tissue expression profiling revealed clear differences from mammalian models, such as predominant hepatic fgf19 expression and the absence of hepatic fgf21 under basal conditions. In addition, there were complex and tissue-dependent distributions of fgfr and klotho transcripts. These findings support a receptor-driven diversification model of endocrine Fgf signalling in salmonids, suggesting enhanced endocrine plasticity associated with the retention of receptors following post-genomic duplication. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the structural and regulatory organisation of endocrine Fgf signalling, as well as its potential role in metabolic regulation in rainbow trout.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

C-Terminal Truncation and Fusion Partner Determine Oncogenicity of FGFR3.

UNLABELLED: Genomic alterations affecting components of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling axis can trigger aberrant pathway activation and tumor development. Genomic truncation of the FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2) exon 18 (E18) disrupts the FGFR2 carboxy (C)-terminal tail, acting as a potent driver alteration across multiple tumor types. In this study, we analyzed human oncogenomic datasets to reveal that E18 truncations are similarly prevalent in FGFR3, an FGFR2 paralog. FGFR3 E18 truncations primarily occur due to rearrangements (RE) that involve transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 3 (TACC3), resulting in FGFR3ΔE18-TACC3 gene fusions. In contrast to E18-truncated FGFR2, functional in vitro and in vivo examination of Fgfr3 variants demonstrated that the truncation of Fgfr3 E18 is insufficient to promote oncogenic activity in cell lines or in the lungs and mammary glands of mice. Only the combination of an Fgfr3 E18 truncation with a RE partner gene that encodes a receptor-dimerizing domain resulted in the development of tumors, which were sensitive to FGFR inhibition. Overall, these findings suggest that patients with cancers that are positive for rearranged FGFR3, resulting in E18 truncation and a fusion to dimerizing partners, should be considered for FGFR-targeted therapies. SIGNIFICANCE: FGFR3, unlike its paralog FGFR2, requires both a C-terminal truncation and fusion to a partner gene that retains the expression of a dimerizing domain to effectively drive oncogenic signaling and tumorigenesis.

Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3↗

PubMed2021

ERBB3 overexpression due to miR-205 inactivation confers sensitivity to FGF, metabolic activation, and liability to ERBB3 targeting in glioblastoma.

In glioblastoma (GBM), the most frequent and lethal brain tumor, therapies suppressing recurrently altered signaling pathways failed to extend survival. However, in patient subsets, specific genetic lesions can confer sensitivity to targeted agents. By exploiting an integrated model based on patient-derived stem-like cells, faithfully recapitulating the original GBMs in vitro and in vivo, here, we identify a human GBM subset (∼9% of all GBMs) characterized by ERBB3 overexpression and nuclear accumulation. ERBB3 overexpression is driven by inheritable promoter methylation or post-transcriptional silencing of the oncosuppressor miR-205 and sustains the malignant phenotype. Overexpressed ERBB3 behaves as a specific signaling platform for fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), driving PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway hyperactivation, and overall metabolic upregulation. As a result, ERBB3 inhibition by specific antibodies is lethal for GBM stem-like cells and xenotransplants. These findings highlight a subset of patients eligible for ERBB3-targeted therapy.

Antibodies↗

PubMed2026

Robust human genetic evidence supporting causal effects of FGF21 on reducing alcohol consuming behaviours.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a tremendous societal burden, yet few efficacious therapies are available and widely used. Pre-clinical and human observational data support fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of AUD. The objective of this study is to identify a robust genetic instrument for FGF21 agonism and leverage it to explore the effects of FGF21 agonism on AUD and related traits, as well as metabolic outcomes more widely. METHODS: We first compared associations with the positive control outcomes of liver fat and liver cirrhosis risk for the FGF21 cis-protein quantitative trait locus (cis-pQTL) (rs838131) to those for the common allele FGF21 L174P missense variant (rs739320). Having identified the L174P missense variant as a plausible genetic instrument, we subsequently performed association analyses investigating effects on AUD, related traits, and metabolic outcomes more widely. Finally, we performed colocalisation analyses to test whether observed association results reflect a causal mechanism that overlaps with the clinical effects of FGF21 on liver fat and liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: Consistent association and colocalisation evidence support a protective association between genetically predicted FGF21 agonism and alcohol consumption (association p = 1 × 10-18, colocalisation posterior probability = 0.90), problematic alcohol use (association p = 0.02, posterior probability = 0.64), and AUD (association p = 9 × 10-8, posterior probability = 0.97). Similar evidence was also observed for favourable effects of FGF21 on improving kidney function, lowering triglyceride levels, lowering proportional energy intake from carbohydrates, increasing proportional energy intake from protein and fat, increasing body weight and lowering waist-to-hip ratio. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies a genetic instrument for FGF21 effects to provide causal human evidence supporting favourable effects of FGF21 analogues for the treatment of AUD and related traits, as well as on metabolic outcomes more broadly. Further clinical study is duly warranted.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Nebivolol treatment improves hypertension-induced endothelial cell dysfunction by reducing TGF-β1-dependent senescence and normalizing mitochondrial indices.

OBJECTIVES: Serum from patients with hypertension (HT) causes endothelial cell (EC) damage, leading to senescence and dysfunctional phenotype. This study investigated whether serum from patients treated with the antihypertensive drugs could normalize EC activity. METHODS: This study involved 71 patients with newly diagnosed HT, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups based on the antihypertensive treatment: amlodipine, nebivolol, or perindopril. Serum samples collected before and 6 weeks after treatment were applied to ECs in vitro to assess their angiogenic activity, cellular senescence, mitochondrial metabolism, and oxidative stress. RESULTS: Results showed that exposure of ECs to serum from patients treated for 6 weeks significantly altered EC function, with varying effects among the drugs. Serum from nebivolol-treated patients produced the most consistent benefits, reducing EC proliferation and HIF-1α expression, likely due to lower levels of angiogenic factors such as angiopoietin-1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Additionally, this serum contained reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (E-selectin, P-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)) and lower TGF-β1, which are linked to HT-related EC senescence. Nebivolol treatment decreased senescence biomarkers such as SA-β-Gal, 53BP1, and p16, with SA-β-Gal reduction comparable to that of TGF-β1 neutralizing antibodies. Oxidative stress was reduced, indicated by lower oxidized DNA product levels. CONCLUSIONS: Nebivolol was the most effective at reducing the factors, associated with HT induced cellular senescence of endothelium, through reducing TGF-β1.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Deep immune profiling of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with CODEX multiplexed imaging.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) may be genomically subclassified by the presence of potentially actionable molecular aberrations, of which pathogenic alterations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1 and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)2 are the most frequently observed. The impact of these molecular alterations on the tumor immune microenvironment remains incompletely understood. METHODS: We performed a high-parameter spatial immune phenotyping of iCCA samples with pathogenic FGFR2 or IDH1 alterations and FGFR2/IDH1 wild-type controls at the single-cell level using CO-Detection by indEXing. RESULTS: A total of 24 tumors were examined. Tumors with FGFR2 alterations were characterized by fewer CD8+ T cells and "M2-like" macrophages but higher levels of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells as compared to FGFR2 wild-type tumors. Spatial relationships between polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells and multiple other cell types in the tumor microenvironment (including tumor cells, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells) were enriched in tumors with FGFR2 alterations. Tumors with IDH1 mutations had a trend toward more fibroblasts and were characterized by a closer proximity of tumor cells to CD4+ T cells, and between macrophages and multiple structural tumor microenvironment components as compared to other subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: iCCAs with pathogenic FGFR2 fusions/rearrangements and IDH1 mutations have distinct immunophenotypes. Tailoring immunotherapeutic approaches to specific molecular subsets could improve treatment outcomes across the divergent molecularly defined iCCA subtypes.

Humans↗