Chu Yi, Yang Su, Chen Xiaodong
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Pharmacol Ther. 2025 May;269:108844. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2025.108844. Epub 2025 Mar 18.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a significant hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, with its prevalence increasing globally alongside the epidemics of obesity and diabetes. MAFLD represents a continuum of liver damage, spanning from uncomplicated steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). This condition can advance to more severe outcomes, including fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a family of four receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFR1-4) that interact with both paracrine and endocrine fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). This interaction activates the phosphorylation of tyrosine kinase residues, thereby triggering downstream signaling pathways, including RAS-MAPK, JAK-STAT, PI3K-AKT, and PLCγ. In the context of MAFLD, paracrine FGF-FGFR signaling is predominantly biased toward the development of liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis. In contrast, endocrine FGF-FGFR signaling is primarily biased toward regulating the metabolism of bile acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and phosphate, as well as maintaining the overall balance of energy metabolism in the body. The interplay between these biased signaling pathways significantly influences the progression of MAFLD. This review explores the critical functions of FGFR signaling in MAFLD from three perspectives: first, it examines the primary roles of FGFRs relative to their structure; second, it summarizes FGFR signaling in hepatic lipid metabolism, elucidating mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of MAFLD; finally, it highlights recent advancements in drug development aimed at targeting FGFR signaling for the treatment of MAFLD and its associated diseases.
代谢功能障碍相关脂肪性肝病（MAFLD）已成为代谢综合征的一种重要肝脏表现，随着肥胖和糖尿病的流行，其在全球的患病率不断上升。MAFLD代表了肝脏损伤的一个连续过程，从单纯性脂肪变性到代谢功能障碍相关脂肪性肝炎（MASH）。这种情况可进展为更严重的后果，包括纤维化和肝硬化。成纤维细胞生长因子受体（FGFRs）是一个由四种受体酪氨酸激酶（FGFR1 - 4）组成的家族，它们与旁分泌和内分泌成纤维细胞生长因子（FGFs）相互作用。这种相互作用激活酪氨酸激酶残基的磷酸化，从而触发下游信号通路，包括RAS - MAPK、JAK - STAT、PI3K - AKT和PLCγ。在MAFLD的背景下，旁分泌FGF - FGFR信号主要偏向于肝纤维化和致癌作用的发展。相比之下，内分泌FGF - FGFR信号主要偏向于调节胆汁酸、碳水化合物、脂质和磷酸盐的代谢，以及维持体内能量代谢的整体平衡。这些偏向性信号通路之间的相互作用显著影响MAFLD的进展。本综述从三个角度探讨FGFR信号在MAFLD中的关键作用：第一，研究FGFRs相对于其结构的主要作用；第二，总结FGFR信号在肝脏脂质代谢中的作用，阐明MAFLD发生和进展的机制；最后，强调针对FGFR信号治疗MAFLD及其相关疾病的药物开发的最新进展。
