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A variant of FGF19 protects the liver from cholestatic injury without inducing cancer

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 11, page 579 (2014)Cite this article

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New research published in Science Translational Medicine has demonstrated that M70, an engineered variant of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19, limits cholestatic liver injury without increasing the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma—a risk that is associated with long-term exposure to FGF19.

The authors engineered mice to overexpress M70, FGF19 (a positive control) or green fluorescent protein (a negative control) for 24 weeks. Liver tumours were found in the FGF19 group but not in the M70 or green fluorescent protein groups. In addition, M70 suppressed the expression of Cyp7a1, a gene that encodes a key enzyme involved in bile acid synthesis. Both results suggest that M70 can regulate bile acids in a similar way to FGF19, without enhancing carcinogenesis.

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References

  1. Luo, J. et al. A nontumorigenic variant of FGF19 treats cholestatic liver disease. Sci. Transl. Med. 6, 247ra100 (2014)

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  1. Gillian Patman
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Patman, G. A variant of FGF19 protects the liver from cholestatic injury without inducing cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 579 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.148

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