Gut microbiota-mediated FGF metabolic axis in the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of various diseases

The gut microbiota is pivotal in regulating host metabolic homeostasis and is closely associated with the onset, progression, prevention, and treatment of various diseases. Endocrine fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) serve as key signaling molecules through which the gut microbiota influences host metabolic health. Via microbial metabolites, the gut microbiota regulates signaling axes such as FXR-FGF15/19, PPARα-FGF21, and VDR-FGF23, thereby participating in host glucose and lipid metabolism, mineral homeostasis, and inflammatory responses. Gut microbiota-mediated FGF metabolic axes play critical roles in the development and progression of obesity, diabetes, liver disease, gastrointestinal disorders, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. Targeting the gut microbiota and FGF metabolic axes through probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and microbiota-derived metabolites may therefore offer promising strategies for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. This review summarizes the mechanistic links between the gut microbiota and FGF metabolic axes, discusses their roles in disease development and progression, and highlights the potential of these mechanisms for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies.