Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41920739›Full record

ArticleCell reports2026

Pharmacological administration of FGF21 reverses obesity through a parabrachial-projecting neuron population in the hindbrain.

Yunfan Lin, Kristin E Claflin, Iltan Aklan, Donald A Morgan, Andrew I Sullivan, Michael C Rudolph, Kamal Rahmouni, Matthew J Potthoff

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cell reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yunfan LinDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Kristin E ClaflinDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Iltan AklanHarold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Donald A MorganDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Andrew I SullivanDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Michael C RudolphHarold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Kamal RahmouniDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Matthew J PotthoffDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. Electronic address: matthew-potthoff@ou.edu.

Funding

Regulation of Metabolism by FGF21R01DK106104 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$603k
Therapeutic Potential of FGF21 for Alzheimer's DiseaseR01AG083950 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$532k
BLRD VA I01 BX004634NIA NIH HHS R01 AG083950NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK106104
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The obesity epidemic is associated with significant healthcare and economic burdens. Pharmacological administration of the endocrine hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) increases energy expenditure and reverses obesity. However, the central targets and neural pathways for these metabolic benefits remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that β-klotho (KLB)-expressing neurons in the hindbrain, specifically the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and area postrema (AP), are both necessary and sufficient for FGF21's effect on energy expenditure and weight loss. These pharmacological benefits are mediated largely by NTS/AP KLB-expressing neurons that project to the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and not the hypothalamus. Our results provide insights into the central mechanisms of pharmacological FGF21 action to modulate energy homeostasis.

Indexed as

area postremabetaKlothobody weightbrown adipose tissueCP: metabolismCP: neuroscienceFGF21nucleus of the solitary tract

Identifiers

PMID41920739
PMCPMC13196181

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.