Formyl peptide receptor 2 is an emerging modulator of inflammation in the liver

Abstract

Liver disease: Inflammation-related receptor offers new drug target Drugs directed at a receptor protein implicated in the body’s inflammatory responses could help protect the liver against fibrosis, cancer and other disorders. Youngmi Jung and Chanbin Lee from Pusan National University, South Korea, review how the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) family of proteins plays important roles in mediating immune responses to infection, injury and stress. One such family member, FPR2, is particularly active in certain liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there is laboratory evidence linking FPR2 expression both to the production and suppression of disease-provoking inflammatory molecules, depending on the type of cell and signaling molecules that interact with FPR2. A better understanding of this dual mechanism of action could help drug developers design FPR2-targeted therapies that protect against liver injury and fibrosis.