2. Academic Validation
  3. Circulating follistatin in relation to energy metabolism

Circulating follistatin in relation to energy metabolism

  • Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2016 Sep 15;433:87-93. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.06.002.
Jakob Schiøler Hansen 1,  Peter Plomgaard 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • 2 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: plomgaard@dadlnet.dk.
PMID: 27264073 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.06.002
Abstract

Recently, substantial evidence has emerged that the liver contributes significantly to the circulating levels of Follistatin and that circulating Follistatin is tightly regulated by the glucagon-to-insulin ratio. Both observations are based on investigations of healthy subjects. These novel findings challenge the present view of circulating Follistatin in human physiology, being that circulating Follistatin is a result of spill-over from para/autocrine actions in various tissues and cells. Follistatin as a liver-derived protein under the regulation of glucagon-to-insulin ratio suggests a relation to energy metabolism. In this narrative review, we attempt to reconcile the existing findings on circulating Follistatin with the novel concept that circulating Follistatin is a liver-derived molecule regulated by the glucagon-to-insulin ratio. The picture emerging is that conditions associated with elevated levels of circulating Follistatin have a metabolic denominator with decreased Insulin sensitivity and/or hyperglucagoneimia.

Keywords

Cancer; Exercise; Fasting; Glucagon; Hepatokines; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Liver; Sepsis; TGF-β.

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