Blood level of fibroblast growth factor 21 and blood pressure

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a circulating peptide playing a key role in metabolism, obesity, and diabetes. An FGF21 analogue has been shown to reduce body weight and ameliorate lipid profile in man. We previously reported that elevated FGF21 blood level was associated with carotid atherosclerosis. We therefore sought to investigate its relationship with blood pressure (BP). METHODS: We measured FGF21 in the plasma of 1921 participants (891 men, 1030 women; mean age, 52 ± 12 years) of the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study (CRISPS) taken at baseline using an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (Antibody & Immunoassay Services, The University of Hong Kong). The log of FGF21 level was analysed for relationship with systolic and diastolic BP at baseline and at follow-up (median, 5.4 years). RESULTS: Plasma FGF21 level was 224.3 ± 7.4 and 214.1 ± 7.1 pg/mL in men and women, respectively. It correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with age (r=0.30), waist circumference (r=0.31), systolic BP (r=0.32), diastolic BP (r=0.22), triglyceride (r=0.41), high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (r= –0.27), fasting blood glucose (r=0.27), and highsensitivity C reactive protein (r=0.27). In multivariate analysis, FGF21 was independently related to systolic (β=0.076, P < 0.001) and diastolic (β=0.074, P=0.001) BP at baseline and to diastolic BP at follow-up (β=0.06, P=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: FGF21 blood level increases with age and is related to the components of the metabolic syndrome. It is related to systolic and diastolic BP, independent of age, obesity, lipids, and blood glucose. FGF21 may have a role in the pathophysiology of hypertension.