Affinage

FSTL1

Follistatin-related protein 1 · UniProt Q12841

Length
308 aa
Mass
35.0 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-09
100 papers in source corpus 40 papers cited in narrative 40 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 9/9 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

FSTL1 is a secreted, glycosylated signaling protein that operates as a context-dependent extracellular regulator of BMP, TGF-β, Wnt, and innate-immune signaling, governing tissue morphogenesis, cardiovascular protection, fibrosis, and tumor biology (PMID:21482757, PMID:20054002, PMID:35525270). In its morphogenetic role, FSTL1 directly binds BMP4 and the BMP receptor ALK6 to antagonize BMP/Smad1/5/8 signaling, a function required for alveolar epithelial differentiation and surfactant production in the lung and for ureter patterning, since Noggin rescues the atelectasis of Fstl1-deficient lungs (PMID:21482757, PMID:22485132). Its dimerization-competent FK domain is structurally indispensable for engagement of TGF-β-family signaling (PMID:31351024). On the protective cardiovascular axis, FSTL1 acts through the receptor DIP2A to drive endothelial survival, migration, and tube formation and to protect cardiomyocytes via Akt and a TGFβR1-independent Smad2/3 pathway, while epicardial FSTL1 stimulates cardiomyocyte cell-cycle entry and improves function after myocardial infarction (PMID:20054002, PMID:33246164, PMID:26375005). FSTL1 also normalizes myocardial energy metabolism through AMPK activation and opens endothelial junctions to initiate angiogenesis via Src/VEGFR2 (PMID:29317401, PMID:37694287). Paradoxically, FSTL1 is strongly pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory in other settings: it potentiates TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling in hepatic stellate cells and alveolar epithelium, bridges Wnt3a to FZD4 through its EC and VWC domains to amplify Wnt/β-catenin-driven renal fibrosis, and engages TLR4/CD14/NF-κB and NLRP3/IL-1β programs that drive macrophage activation, asthmatic airway remodeling, and tissue senescence (PMID:28901425, PMID:35525270, PMID:40050288, PMID:34076707). Within macrophages it binds PKM2 via its FK domain to reprogram glycolysis and M1 polarization in liver fibrosis (PMID:35140065). In cancer, FSTL1 promotes glioma proliferation through BMP4 sequestration and temozolomide resistance by blocking DIP2A nuclear translocation and derepressing MGMT, and drives tumor growth and metastasis via TLR4/AKT/mTOR, TLR2/PI3K-AKT, and integrin-β3/Wnt routes (PMID:29212066, PMID:30542120, PMID:34551961, PMID:39722404). FSTL1 expression is induced by TGF-β1 through Smad3-c-Jun and constrained by miR-206 downstream of MyoD and by KLF15 (PMID:28495857, PMID:17030984, PMID:20043993).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 26 steps
  1. 2006 High

    Established the first direct transcriptional brake on Fstl1, explaining how its expression is extinguished during a differentiation program.

    Evidence MyoD-driven myoblast conversion with luciferase 3'UTR reporters showing miR-206 targets Fstl1

    PMID:17030984

    Open questions at the time
    • Does not address FSTL1 protein function in muscle
    • Limited to skeletal muscle context
  2. 2010 High

    Identified DIP2A as a cell-surface receptor for FSTL1, providing the first molecular handle on its protective signaling and a downstream effector (Akt).

    Evidence Reciprocal Co-IP plus DIP2A siRNA knockdown with survival, migration, tube-formation and Akt readouts in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes

    PMID:20054002

    Open questions at the time
    • DIP2A signaling mechanism downstream of receptor binding not resolved
    • How one receptor reconciles protective vs pro-fibrotic FSTL1 outputs unclear
  3. 2010 Medium

    Characterized FSTL1 as a secreted preadipokine under negative transcriptional control, broadening its regulatory inputs beyond miRNA.

    Evidence Conditioned-media Western blots and KLF15 luciferase reporter assays across adipogenesis models

    PMID:20043993

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional role of FSTL1 in adipocyte biology not defined
    • Direct KLF15 promoter occupancy not shown
  4. 2011 High

    Defined FSTL1 as a direct BMP4 antagonist required for lung morphogenesis, establishing its core developmental mechanism via genetic epistasis.

    Evidence Fstl1 knockout mice, in vitro Fstl1-BMP4 binding, pSmad1/5/8 readouts, and Noggin rescue of atelectasis

    PMID:21482757

    Open questions at the time
    • Stoichiometry of FSTL1-BMP4 complex not determined
    • Whether antagonism is by ligand sequestration or receptor competition not distinguished here
  5. 2012 Medium

    Extended BMP antagonism to direct receptor binding, showing FSTL1 can engage a BMP receptor (ALK6) rather than only the ligand.

    Evidence Fstl1-null ureter phenotype with elevated pSmad1/5/8 and in vitro Fstl1-ALK6 binding

    PMID:22485132

    Open questions at the time
    • Relative contribution of ligand vs receptor binding to antagonism unresolved
    • Single-lab finding
  6. 2013 High

    Revealed a post-transcriptional switch coupling FSTL1 protein production to miR-198, linking TGF-β/KSRP control of a shared transcript to keratinocyte migration.

    Evidence Human ex vivo wound organ culture, KSRP knockdown, luciferase reporters, and migration assays

    PMID:23395958

    Open questions at the time
    • Receptor through which FSTL1 protein drives keratinocyte migration not identified
    • Generality of the switch beyond skin uncertain
  7. 2015 High

    Demonstrated that the tissue source of FSTL1 determines its regenerative competence, showing epicardial protein drives cardiomyocyte division.

    Evidence Epicardial patch delivery of recombinant human FSTL1 with cell-cycle and functional readouts in mouse and swine MI

    PMID:26375005

    Open questions at the time
    • Why myocardial FSTL1 lacks regenerative activity (glycosylation? receptor?) not resolved
    • Receptor mediating cardiomyocyte proliferation not defined here
  8. 2017 Medium

    Defined the transcriptional induction arm of FSTL1, placing it downstream of TGF-β1 via Smad3 and c-Jun in fibroblasts.

    Evidence Pathway inhibitor panel and Fstl1 promoter luciferase reporters in lung fibroblasts

    PMID:28495857

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct c-Jun promoter occupancy not shown by ChIP here
    • Single lab
  9. 2017 Medium

    Established FSTL1 as a positive amplifier of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling in fibrosis, contrasting with its BMP-antagonist role.

    Evidence siRNA knockdown in hepatic stellate cells with pSmad3, α-SMA and collagen I readouts

    PMID:28901425

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism by which FSTL1 enhances Smad3 phosphorylation unknown
    • No receptor identified in this context
  10. 2017 Medium

    Mapped tissue-protective FSTL1 functions in development, including smooth muscle differentiation, valve homeostasis, and cortical radial glia organization, frequently by restraining BMP/TGFβ.

    Evidence Multiple conditional and lineage-specific Fstl1 knockouts with histology and signaling-marker analysis

    PMID:26382033 PMID:28574994 PMID:28705792

    Open questions at the time
    • The BMP/TGFβ-independent cortical mechanism (idx 26) remains undefined
    • Cell-autonomous vs paracrine contributions not fully separated
  11. 2017 Medium

    Identified TLR2 and downstream EGFR/PI3K-AKT as a tumor-promoting FSTL1 axis and linked FSTL1 to macrophage polarization.

    Evidence FSTL1 KO in glioma stem cells, TLR2 receptor identification, EGFR endocytosis and PI3K-AKT assays, in vivo GBM models

    PMID:39722404

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct FSTL1-TLR2 binding not biochemically confirmed here
    • Single lab
  12. 2017 High

    Demonstrated FSTL1 promotes pro-inflammatory and remodeling programs, including a macrophage Fstl1→OSM axis in airway disease.

    Evidence Macrophage-specific conditional Fstl1 knockout, recombinant protein rescue, and anti-OSM antibody blockade in allergen challenge

    PMID:26355153

    Open questions at the time
    • Receptor on macrophages driving OSM induction not identified here
    • Link to systemic inflammation untested
  13. 2018 High

    Uncovered an intracellular/chromatin mechanism in cancer: FSTL1 blocks DIP2A nuclear translocation to derepress MGMT and confer chemoresistance.

    Evidence Co-IP, DIP2A depletion epistasis, H3K9Ac ChIP, and xenograft models in glioblastoma

    PMID:30542120

    Open questions at the time
    • How secreted FSTL1 accesses cytoplasmic DIP2A trafficking not resolved
    • Generalizability to other DIP2A-dependent tumors unknown
  14. 2018 Medium

    Linked FSTL1 to cytoskeletal and metastatic machinery via a vimentin interaction, with Smad3-driven transcriptional control upstream.

    Evidence Co-IP of FSTL1-VIM, focal adhesion pathway analysis, and liver metastasis model in colorectal cancer

    PMID:29844309

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether FSTL1-VIM interaction is intracellular or extracellular not clarified
    • Reciprocal validation limited
  15. 2019 High

    Provided the structural basis for FSTL1 function, showing the FK domain dimerizes and is required for TGF-β signaling transduction.

    Evidence X-ray crystallography of the murine FK domain plus functional FK mutant assays

    PMID:31351024

    Open questions at the time
    • No co-structure with any ligand or receptor
    • Functional consequence of dimerization for ligand engagement inferred, not directly shown
  16. 2019 Medium

    Established direct pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic FSTL1 signaling in chondrocytes via NF-κB and SAPK/JNK/Caspase3.

    Evidence Recombinant FSTL1 dose-response, p65 phosphorylation, and caspase inhibitor rescue in chondrocytes

    PMID:30644158 PMID:31927008

    Open questions at the time
    • Receptor mediating chondrocyte responses not identified
    • No NF-κB inhibitor rescue in idx 22
  17. 2020 Medium

    Resolved a TGFβR1-independent DIP2A-Smad2/3 angiogenic axis and linked it to exercise-induced muscle FSTL1 secretion.

    Evidence Rat MI exercise model, AAV-FSTL1, HUVEC assays, and TGFβR1 inhibitor pharmacological epistasis

    PMID:33246164

    Open questions at the time
    • How DIP2A activates Smad2/3 without TGFβR1 mechanistically unclear
    • Single lab
  18. 2020 Medium

    Showed endothelial FSTL1 normally suppresses TGFβ/SMAD3 in vascular mural cells, and its loss causes emphysema via a macrophage Nr4a1-NF-κB tolerance axis.

    Evidence Endothelial-specific knockout with TGFβ inhibitor rescue, and hypomorphic mice with RNA-seq-guided Nr4a1 dependence testing

    PMID:31834999 PMID:32078339

    Open questions at the time
    • Reconciling FSTL1 suppression vs amplification of TGFβ/Smad3 across tissues unresolved
    • Receptor mediating Nr4a1 induction not defined
  19. 2022 High

    Defined an intracellular macrophage mechanism in which FSTL1 binds PKM2 via its FK domain to reprogram glycolysis and M1 polarization driving liver fibrosis.

    Evidence Myeloid-specific FSTL1 knockout, Co-IP with FK-domain mapping, ubiquitination/glycolysis assays, and DASA-58 pharmacological rescue

    PMID:35140065

    Open questions at the time
    • How extracellular/secreted FSTL1 reaches cytoplasmic PKM2 not resolved
    • Whether FK-PKM2 binding occurs intracellularly before secretion unknown
  20. 2022 High

    Identified FSTL1 as a Wnt co-factor that bridges Wnt3a to FZD4 through defined domains, amplifying Wnt/β-catenin-driven fibrosis.

    Evidence Reciprocal Co-IP with domain-deletion mapping, in vivo obstructed kidney models, and Wnt reporter assays

    PMID:35525270

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural basis of the FSTL1-Wnt3a-FZD4 ternary complex not solved
    • Whether this mechanism operates in non-renal fibrosis untested here
  21. 2021 Medium

    Established TLR4-driven oncogenic and fibrotic FSTL1 signaling through AKT/mTOR and NLRP3/IL-1β programs.

    Evidence Recombinant FSTL1 and TLR4 receptor identification with AKT/mTOR readouts in HCC, plus MCC950 NLRP3 inhibitor epistasis in asthma

    PMID:34076707 PMID:34551961

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct FSTL1-TLR4 binding affinity/structure not characterized
    • Cofactor requirements (CD14) for TLR4 engagement not dissected here
  22. 2021 Medium

    Connected FSTL1 to a deubiquitinase-dependent Notch axis, showing FSTL1-USP10 stabilization of NICD1 modulates myocardial fibrosis.

    Evidence AAV9-FSTL1 in diabetic MI mice with spautin-1 and LY3039478 pharmacological epistasis

    PMID:34957094

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism linking FSTL1 to USP10 activation unknown
    • Single lab
  23. 2023 Medium

    Mapped FSTL1-mediated inter-organ crosstalk in metabolic disease, with IRF4-driven muscle expression signaling to liver through distinct receptors.

    Evidence Muscle-specific IRF4 KO, dual luciferase IRF4-FSTL1 promoter assay, co-culture receptor identification (DIP2A, CD14), and AAV rescue

    PMID:37770480

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct FSTL1-CD14 binding not biochemically confirmed
    • How receptor choice is determined across liver cell types unclear
  24. 2023 Medium

    Showed FSTL1 initiates angiogenesis by opening endothelial junctions through Src rather than VEGFR2, with HuR-mediated transcript stabilization upstream.

    Evidence Recombinant FSTL1 in HUVECs, Src vs VEGFR2 inhibitor epistasis, junction protein readouts, HuR knockdown, and hindlimb ischemia model

    PMID:37694287

    Open questions at the time
    • Receptor upstream of Src activation not identified
    • Relationship to DIP2A-Akt axis unresolved
  25. 2024 Medium

    Extended TLR4/NF-κB FSTL1 signaling to cellular senescence in intervertebral disc degeneration.

    Evidence Recombinant FSTL1, TLR4 inhibitor rescue, and FSTL1 siRNA in rabbit IVDD model with senescence markers

    PMID:38316670

    Open questions at the time
    • Partial rescue indicates additional receptors/pathways
    • Single lab
  26. 2025 Medium

    Defined a CD14/TLR4/NF-κB/ATP6V1G2 axis by which host FSTL1 controls CCR2 recycling and early monocyte recruitment required for antifibrotic responses.

    Evidence Fstl1-deficient mice with recombinant protein rescue, CCR2 recycling assays, and macrophage tracking in MSC infusion models

    PMID:40050288

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct receptor-ligand binding step not biochemically isolated
    • Single lab

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • It remains unresolved how a single secreted protein switches between BMP/TGFβ antagonism, TGFβ/Wnt amplification, and innate-immune activation across tissues — whether determined by receptor repertoire (DIP2A, ALK6, FZD4, TLR2, TLR4, CD14), glycosylation state, FK-domain dimerization, or intracellular vs extracellular localization.
  • No unifying structural model of receptor selectivity
  • Post-translational determinants of context-specific function uncharacterized
  • How secreted FSTL1 engages intracellular partners (PKM2, DIP2A nuclear pool) is unexplained

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0060089 molecular transducer activity 3 GO:0098772 molecular function regulator activity 3 GO:0048018 receptor ligand activity 2 GO:0005198 structural molecule activity 1
Localization
GO:0005576 extracellular region 3 GO:0031012 extracellular matrix 2
Pathway
R-HSA-1266738 Developmental Biology 4 R-HSA-1643685 Disease 4 R-HSA-168256 Immune System 4 R-HSA-162582 Signal Transduction 3 R-HSA-5357801 Programmed Cell Death 3

Evidence

Reading pass · 40 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2010 DIP2A was identified as a receptor for FSTL1 on endothelial cells. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated direct physical interaction between FSTL1 and DIP2A. Knockdown of DIP2A by siRNA reduced FSTL1 binding to cells, diminished FSTL1-stimulated endothelial cell survival, migration, and tube formation, and inhibited FSTL1-induced Akt phosphorylation. In cardiac myocytes, DIP2A ablation reduced FSTL1-mediated protection against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis and suppressed FSTL1-induced Akt phosphorylation. Co-immunoprecipitation, siRNA knockdown, cell survival/migration/differentiation assays, Western blot for Akt phosphorylation The Journal of biological chemistry High 20054002
2011 Fstl1 directly interacts with BMP4 and negatively regulates BMP4/Smad1/5/8 signaling during lung development. Fstl1-deficient mice showed elevated pSmad1/5/8 activity, impaired alveolar epithelial differentiation, and insufficient surfactant production. Reducing BMP signaling with Noggin rescued pulmonary atelectasis in Fstl1-deficient mice, placing Fstl1 as a BMP4 antagonist in lung morphogenesis. Genetic knockout mouse model, direct binding assay (Fstl1-BMP4 interaction), Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation assays, Noggin rescue epistasis experiment, in vitro BMP4-induced surfactant gene expression assay Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America High 21482757
2012 Fstl1 antagonizes BMP signaling in the developing ureter. Fstl1-null mice showed elevated pSmad1/5/8 in ureters. In vitro, Fstl1 was shown to directly bind to ALK6, a BMP receptor specifically expressed in ureteric epithelial cells, providing a mechanism for Fstl1-mediated BMP pathway suppression during ureter development. Genetic knockout mouse model, in vitro binding assay (Fstl1-ALK6 interaction), pSmad1/5/8 immunostaining PloS one Medium 22485132
2013 The miR-198/FSTL1 switch is controlled post-transcriptionally: TGF-β signaling downregulates KSRP (KHSRP), which is required for miR-198 processing from the FSTL1 primary transcript. When KSRP is inhibited, the transcript is redirected toward FSTL1 protein translation. FSTL1 protein expression promotes keratinocyte migration, while miR-198 inhibits migration by targeting DIAPH1, PLAU, and LAMC2. Human ex vivo organ culture wound model, TGF-β signaling manipulation, KSRP binding/knockdown experiments, luciferase reporter assays, keratinocyte migration assays Nature High 23395958
2015 Epicardial FSTL1 protein promotes cardiomyocyte cell cycle entry and division. Epicardial FSTL1 declines after myocardial infarction and is replaced by myocardial expression. Myocardial FSTL1 does not promote regeneration. Application of human FSTL1 protein via an epicardial patch stimulates cardiomyocyte proliferation and improves cardiac function in mouse and swine MI models. Epicardial patch delivery of recombinant human FSTL1 protein, cardiomyocyte cell cycle entry and division assays, mouse and swine MI models, transgenic FSTL1 overexpression Nature High 26375005
2006 MyoD directly activates expression of miR-206, which targets sequences in the Fstl1 3'UTR and is sufficient to suppress Fstl1 expression during skeletal muscle differentiation. Fibroblast-to-myoblast conversion by MyoD overexpression, luciferase reporter assays with Fstl1 3'UTR, miR-206 gain-of-function experiments The Journal of cell biology High 17030984
2017 TGF-β1 upregulates Fstl1 expression in lung fibroblasts via the Smad3-c-Jun pathway. While TGF-β1 activates Smad, MAPK, and Akt pathways, only Smad2/3 inhibition eliminated TGF-β1-induced Fstl1 expression. A functional c-Jun transcription site in the Fstl1 promoter was identified by luciferase reporter analysis. Mouse pulmonary fibroblast cultures, pharmacological pathway inhibitors, luciferase reporter assays with Fstl1 promoter constructs, qRT-PCR and Western blot American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology Medium 28495857
2018 Fstl1 promotes temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma by competitively binding DIP2A and blocking DIP2A nuclear translocation. DIP2A normally cooperates with the HDAC2-DMAP1 complex to enhance H3K9Ac deacetylation and prevent MGMT transcription, increasing temozolomide sensitivity. FSTL1 binding to DIP2A prevents this, leading to increased promoter H3K9Ac and MGMT expression. DIP2A depletion abolished the effects of Fstl1 on MGMT expression and temozolomide resistance. Co-immunoprecipitation (Fstl1-DIP2A interaction), siRNA knockdown, chromatin immunoprecipitation (H3K9Ac), gene expression assays, in vivo xenograft models Oncogene High 30542120
2019 Crystal structure of the FK domain of murine Fstl1 was solved at high resolution, revealing that the FK domain forms a stable dimer in both solution and crystal. The FK domain was found to be indispensable for proper Fstl1 function during TGF-β signaling transduction. The potential for Fstl1 to function as a dimer during interaction with TGF-β (which itself forms dimers) was proposed based on structural data. X-ray crystallography of FK domain, solution studies (dimerization), functional assays of FK domain mutants in TGF-β signaling Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society High 31351024
2022 Macrophage FSTL1 promotes liver fibrosis by binding directly to PKM2 via its FK domain, promoting PKM2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, reducing PKM2 ubiquitination, enhancing PKM2-dependent glycolysis, and increasing M1 macrophage polarization via NF-κB pathway activation. Myeloid-specific FSTL1 knockout attenuated liver fibrosis and reduced M1 polarization. Myeloid-specific FSTL1 knockout mice, Co-IP (FSTL1-PKM2 direct binding via FK domain), Western blot for PKM2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, ubiquitination assays, glycolysis measurements, in vitro macrophage polarization assays, pharmacological PKM2 activator (DASA-58) Gut High 35140065
2022 FSTL1 interacts with Wnt ligands (specifically Wnt3a) and Frizzled receptors (specifically FZD4) but not with the co-receptor LRP6. FSTL1 interacts with Wnt3a through its extracellular calcium-binding (EC) domain and VWC domain, and with FZD4 through its EC domain. FSTL1 increased the association of Wnt3a with FZD4 and thereby enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling and fibrogenesis in obstructed kidneys. Co-immunoprecipitation (FSTL1-Wnt3a, FSTL1-FZD4 interactions), domain deletion analysis, FSTL1 overexpression/inhibition in obstructed mouse kidneys, Wnt/β-catenin reporter assays, single-cell RNA-Seq for expression localization The Journal of biological chemistry High 35525270
2021 FSTL1 secreted by activated fibroblasts binds to TLR4 on hepatocellular carcinoma cells, resulting in activation of AKT/mTOR/4EBP1 signaling, promoting HCC growth, metastasis, and maintenance of tumor-initiating cells. Recombinant FSTL1 treatment of HCC cells and 3D organoids, receptor binding assay (TLR4 identified as receptor), Western blot for AKT/mTOR/4EBP1 signaling, conditioned medium experiments, preclinical mouse models with FSTL1 blockade Cancer research Medium 34551961
2020 Dynamic resistance exercise stimulates skeletal muscle FSTL1 secretion. FSTL1 binds receptor DIP2A on endothelial cells and activates Smad2/3 signaling to promote cardiac angiogenesis. TGFβR1 inhibitor reduced pSmad2/3 and VEGF-A expression but did not affect FSTL1-DIP2A direct Smad2/3 activation, demonstrating that the FSTL1-DIP2A-Smad2/3 axis is independent of TGFβR1. Rat MI model with resistance exercise, AAV-FSTL1 injection, recombinant FSTL1 treatment of HUVECs, TGFβR1 inhibitor pharmacological epistasis, Western blot for DIP2A and pSmad2/3, immunofluorescence, tubule assay Journal of sport and health science Medium 33246164
2018 FSTL1 promotes cardiac angiogenesis and myocardial energy substrate metabolism normalization in heart failure via AMPK activation. FSTL1 stimulated oxygen consumption through AMPK activation in primary cardiac and skeletal muscle myocytes in vitro. Conscious dog HF model with acute and chronic FSTL1 infusion, radiolabeled substrate tracking (3H-oleate, 14C-glucose), in vitro primary myocyte assays with AMPK pathway analysis Circulation. Heart failure Medium 29317401
2017 In glioblastoma, Fstl1 interacts with BMP4 but not with BMPR2, competitively inhibiting BMP4-BMPR2 association. Fstl1 overexpression suppressed BMP4/Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway activation, promoting glioma cell proliferation, while BMP4 overexpression reversed this effect. Co-immunoprecipitation (Fstl1-BMP4 and Fstl1-BMPR2 interactions), Western blot for pSmad1/5/8, cell proliferation and colony formation assays, orthotopic xenograft, BMP4 rescue experiment Cellular physiology and biochemistry Medium 29212066
2017 FSTL1 blocks Wnt7a-mediated repression of ERK phosphorylation, enabling MMP9 production that degrades the extracellular matrix and facilitates metastasis. Separately, EGF hijacks the miR-198/FSTL1 switch to sustain FSTL1 translation, driving metastasis through parallel DIAPH1 and FSTL1 pathways. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, Wnt7a pathway manipulation, ERK phosphorylation assays, MMP9 expression and activity assays, FSTL1 gain/loss-of-function, migration/invasion assays The Journal of experimental medicine Medium 28827448
2017 Macrophage-derived Fstl1 induces oncostatin M (OSM) expression, promoting asthmatic airway remodeling. Macrophage-specific Fstl1 knockout (Lys-Cre/Fstl1Δ/Δ) reduced airway remodeling and OSM levels. Exogenous Fstl1 induced airway remodeling and increased OSM, while anti-OSM antibody blocked Fstl1-induced remodeling, eosinophilic inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Macrophage-specific conditional Fstl1 knockout mice, allergen challenge model, recombinant Fstl1 administration, anti-OSM antibody blockade, airway remodeling and inflammation readouts Journal of immunology High 26355153
2017 Knockdown of Fstl1 in hepatic stellate cells suppressed proliferation and reduced α-SMA and collagen I expression in TGF-β1-treated HSCs. Mechanistically, Fstl1 knockdown decreased Smad3 phosphorylation in TGF-β1-induced HSCs, placing Fstl1 as a positive regulator of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling in liver fibrosis. siRNA knockdown of Fstl1 in hepatic stellate cells, Western blot for pSmad3, α-SMA, collagen I, cell proliferation assay Molecular medicine reports Medium 28901425
2017 Fstl1 is essential for lung airway and vascular smooth muscle formation. Fstl1 was localized to lung smooth muscle cells. Fstl1 knockout impaired airway smooth muscle differentiation, associated with decreased myocardin/SRF transcription factors. Fstl1 knockout also caused hyperplasia of pulmonary artery vascular smooth muscle. Fstl1-lacZ reporter mouse, Fstl1 knockout allele, histological analysis of trachea/bronchi/pulmonary artery, immunostaining for myocardin/SRF PloS one Medium 28574994
2017 Fstl1 deletion from the endocardial/endothelial lineage (Tie2-Cre) causes sustained BMP and TGFβ signaling after birth, resulting in ongoing endocardial-to-mesenchymal transition, deformed mitral valves, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure. This shows that endocardial FSTL1 normally restrains BMP/TGFβ signaling to maintain valve homeostasis. Conditional knockout (Tie2-Cre; Fstl1 flox), echocardiography, electrocardiography, histology, BMP/TGFβ signaling markers Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Medium 28705792
2020 Endothelial cell-specific FSTL1 knockout led to increased pSMAD3 in vascular mural cells colocalizing with αSMA in vein walls, increased collagen deposition, and cardiac/vascular fibrosis. TGFβ pathway inhibitor treatment reduced the αSMA abnormalities, demonstrating that endothelial FSTL1 normally suppresses TGFβ/SMAD3 signaling in vascular mural cells. Conditional endothelial FSTL1 knockout mouse (vs. smooth muscle and hematopoietic cell KOs as controls), pSMAD3 immunostaining, TGFβ inhibitor rescue, collagen deposition assay Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Medium 32078339
2023 Skeletal muscle IRF4 transcriptionally regulates FSTL1 (dual luciferase assay confirmed IRF4 binding to FSTL1 promoter). FSTL1 mediates inter-organ crosstalk between skeletal muscle and the liver in NASH via different receptors (DIP2A and CD14) on different liver cell types. Restoring FSTL1 in muscle of F4MKO mice was sufficient to restore liver pathology. Muscle-specific IRF4 knockout mice, proteomics, dual luciferase reporter assay (IRF4-FSTL1 promoter), co-culture experiments with liver cells, AAV-mediated FSTL1 rescue Nature communications Medium 37770480
2019 FSTL1 directly increases expression of MMP-1, MMP-13, iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in chondrocytes in a dose-dependent manner, and activates NF-κB and promotes p65 phosphorylation, establishing NF-κB as the signaling pathway mediating FSTL1 pro-inflammatory effects in chondrocytes. Recombinant FSTL1 treatment of rat chondrocytes, PCR, ELISA, Western blot for NF-κB pathway components (p65 phosphorylation) Journal of cellular and molecular medicine Medium 30644158
2020 FSTL1 promotes nitric oxide-induced chondrocyte apoptosis by activating the SAPK/JNK/Caspase3 signaling pathway. FSTL1 overexpression increased apoptosis in SNP-treated chondrocytes, upregulated MMP1/3/9 and Bax, and reduced Bcl-2 and collagen. The caspase inhibitor Ac-DEVD-FMK impaired FSTL1-induced chondrocyte apoptosis. FSTL1 overexpression plasmid transfection in chondrocytes, flow cytometry for apoptosis, Western blot for SAPK/JNK/Caspase3 pathway, caspase inhibitor rescue Gene Medium 31927008
2017 FSTL1 knockdown in airway smooth muscle cells inhibited PDGF-BB-induced proliferation, arrested cell cycle at G2/M, and reduced migration. Mechanistically, FSTL1 knockdown downregulated PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of ERK and AKT in ASM cells. siRNA knockdown of FSTL1 in human ASM cells, cell proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, migration assay, Western blot for p-ERK and p-AKT Molecular medicine reports Medium 28393245
2017 FSTL1 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling through integrin β3 in breast cancer cells, promoting stemness and chemoresistance. Luciferase assays demonstrated that miR-137 reduces FSTL1 mRNA and protein levels, identifying FSTL1 as a direct miR-137 target. TOP/FOP flash Wnt reporter assay, colony and tumor sphere formation, luciferase assay for miR-137 targeting of FSTL1, Western blot for pathway components Cancer biology & therapy Medium 30336071
2015 Fstl1 is expressed in brain by pia mater but not in the ventricular zone; FSTL1 from pia mater is required for radial glial cell morphology. Conditional Fstl1 ablation in both expression domains disrupted RGC basal process organization and caused mislocalization of upper-layer projection neurons. VZ-only Fstl1 deletion did not affect RGC morphology. BMP, AKT/PKB, Cdc42, GSK3β, integrin and reelin signaling were unchanged, indicating a unique mechanism. Conditional Fstl1 knockout mice (EIIa-Cre and Emx1-IREScre lines), cortical histology, immunostaining for RGC markers and signaling pathway components Molecular brain Medium 26382033
2025 Host FSTL1 enhances rapid recycling of CCR2 to the plasma membrane via activation of the CD14/TLR4/NF-κB/ATP6V1G2 axis, leading to early recruitment of Ly6C+ monocytes/macrophages. This early inflammatory macrophage recruitment is required for MSC-mediated antifibrotic effects in liver cirrhosis. Fstl1-deficient mice, recombinant FSTL1 rescue, mechanistic dissection of CD14/TLR4/NF-κB/ATP6V1G2 pathway, CCR2 membrane recycling assays, macrophage depletion/tracking experiments, MSC infusion models Signal transduction and targeted therapy Medium 40050288
2019 FSTL1 promotes alveolar epithelial cell senescence by enhancing TGF-β1 signaling, and this enhancement is dependent on SENP1-mediated deSUMOylation. TGF-β1-induced FSTL1 upregulates SENP1 expression in senescent AECs, and interfering with SENP1 inhibited FSTL1-dependent promotion of AEC senescence and improved pulmonary fibrosis. TGF-β1 treatment of AECs, SENP1 siRNA knockdown, senescence assays, Western blot for FSTL1 and SENP1, in vivo bleomycin mouse model Cell biology international Medium 37369969
2021 FSTL1 activates the NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway in macrophages, contributing to asthmatic airway inflammation. Pretreatment with MCC950 (NLRP3 inhibitor) significantly reduced NLRP3 and IL-1β production induced by FSTL1 in mice and in alveolar macrophage MH-S cells. Fstl1 heterozygous knockout mice, OVA asthma model, recombinant FSTL1 injection, MCC950 pharmacological inhibitor, siFSTL1, Western blot and ELISA for NLRP3/IL-1β Inflammation research Medium 34076707
2020 FSTL-1 attenuation in hypomorphic mice causes spontaneous emphysema independent of smoke. Recombinant FSTL-1 treatment of macrophages attenuated NF-κB p65 phosphorylation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner, identifying a FSTL-1→Nr4a1→NF-κB signaling axis in lung macrophage immune tolerance. FSTL-1 hypomorphic mice, lung morphometry and pulmonary function, RNA-seq identifying Nr4a1, in vitro macrophage recombinant FSTL-1 treatment with NF-κB p65 phosphorylation assay, Nr4a1 dependence testing American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine Medium 31834999
2013 FSTL1 secreted by Snail-positive tumor cells promotes bone metastasis through two mechanisms: direct mediation of tumor cell invasion and bone tropism, and expansion of CD45−ALCAM+ pluripotent mesenchymal stem-like cells from bone marrow, which both directly induce bone metastasis and generate CD8low T cells with weak CTL activity. RNAi-mediated FSTL1 attenuation prevented bone metastasis and reversed these immune dysfunctions. RNAi knockdown of FSTL1 in tumor cells, flow cytometry for ALCAM+ cell expansion and CD8 T cell characterization, in vivo bone metastasis models, in vitro CTL assays Cancer research Medium 23966294
2018 FSTL1 interacts with VIM (vimentin) in colorectal cancer cells. This interaction was identified by co-immunoprecipitation and mediates FSTL1's role in activating focal adhesion signaling and cytoskeleton rearrangement to promote CRC metastasis. TGFβ1-Smad2/3 signaling (via Smad3 transcription factor) was identified as an upstream regulator of FSTL1 protein expression. Co-immunoprecipitation (FSTL1-VIM), focal adhesion signaling pathway analysis, Smad3 ChIP/reporter for FSTL1 transcriptional regulation, in vitro migration/invasion assays, in vivo liver metastasis model Cell death & disease Medium 29844309
2017 Fstl1 promotes glioma stem cell self-renewal through autocrine FSTL1 interacting with TLR2, which inhibits EGFR endocytosis-lysosomal degradation, resulting in activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. FSTL1 also promotes M2 macrophage polarization via TLR2 signaling. FSTL1 knockout in GSC cell lines, TLR2 receptor identification, EGFR endocytosis assays, PI3K-AKT pathway Western blot, mouse GBM models, macrophage polarization assays Cancer letters Medium 39722404
2021 FSTL1 promotes myocardial fibrosis via a USP10/Notch1 signaling axis. FSTL1 activation of USP10 (a Notch1 deubiquitinase) stabilizes NICD1 (Notch1 intracellular domain), which suppresses myocardial fibrosis. Pharmacological inhibition of USP10 (spautin-1) or Notch signaling (LY3039478) abolished the protective effects of FSTL1 in diabetic MI mice. AAV9-FSTL1 intracardiac delivery in T2DM-MI mice, USP10 inhibitor (spautin-1) and Notch inhibitor (LY3039478) epistasis experiments, cardiac fibrosis markers, Western blot for USP10/Notch1/NICD1 Frontiers in cell and developmental biology Medium 34957094
2023 FSTL1 initiates angiogenesis in endothelial cells by opening intercellular junctions via activation of the Src kinase pathway. FSTL1 increased Src phosphorylation and VEGFR2 phosphorylation, decreased VE-Cadherin, Occludin, Connexin-43, and Claudin-5 expression, and increased endothelial permeability. Src inhibitor (but not VEGFR2 inhibitor) blocked FSTL1-induced effects. H2S upregulated FSTL1 in skeletal muscle by increasing HuR levels, which stabilized FSTL1 transcript. Recombinant FSTL1 treatment of HUVECs, Src and VEGFR2 pharmacological inhibitors, immunostaining for junction proteins, wound-healing migration assay, permeability assay, HuR siRNA knockdown, mouse hindlimb ischemia model American journal of physiology. Cell physiology Medium 37694287
2019 miR-29a in mesenchymal stem cells suppresses FSTL1 expression and secretion (validated by dual luciferase reporter assay). This reduces FSTL1 in conditioned medium, which in turn inhibits the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in cardiac myocytes and promotes myocyte apoptosis after hypoxia-reoxygenation injury. Dual luciferase reporter assay (miR-29a targeting FSTL1), miR-29a overexpression in MSCs, FSTL1 measurement by ELISA in conditioned medium, JAK2/STAT3 Western blot in H9c2 cells, flow cytometry for apoptosis Cardiovascular pathology Medium 31945680
2024 FSTL1 promotes nucleus pulposus cell senescence via TLR4/NF-κB signaling. Recombinant FSTL1 upregulated p16 and p21, increased SA-β-gal-positive cells, induced SASP, and disrupted ECM balance. TLR4 inhibition partly reversed these effects. FSTL1 siRNA in a rabbit puncture IVDD model reduced disc degeneration. Recombinant FSTL1 treatment of NPCs, TLR4 inhibitor rescue, FSTL1 siRNA in vitro and in vivo (rabbit IVDD model), senescence assays (SA-β-gal, p16/p21), Western blot for TLR4/NF-κB Inflammation Medium 38316670
2017 BBS4 regulates FSTL1 mRNA levels and also independently modulates FSTL1 secretion. FSTL1 functions as a novel regulator of ciliogenesis, creating a regulatory loop between FSTL1 and cilia. BBS4, cilia, and FSTL1 are coordinated during 3T3-L1 differentiation, with FSTL1 influencing this process at least partly by modulating ciliogenesis. BBS4 knockdown/knockout in cells, FSTL1 mRNA quantification, FSTL1 secretion assay, ciliogenesis assays (cilia length/frequency), 3T3-L1 differentiation with FSTL1 manipulation Scientific reports Medium 28852127
2010 Fstl1 is a 'preadipokine' that is highly expressed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and dramatically downregulated early in differentiation to adipocytes. The Fstl1 protein is secreted by preadipocytes. Negative transcriptional regulation of Fstl1 is mediated by Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15), as identified by luciferase reporter assays with Fstl1 5' flanking region constructs. Northern blot, Western blot of conditioned media, luciferase reporter assays with Fstl1 5' flanking region constructs, KLF15 expression, multiple adipogenesis model time courses Mechanisms of development Medium 20043993

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 100 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
2015 Epicardial FSTL1 reconstitution regenerates the adult mammalian heart. Nature 393 26375005
2006 MyoD inhibits Fstl1 and Utrn expression by inducing transcription of miR-206. The Journal of cell biology 270 17030984
2022 FSTL1 promotes liver fibrosis by reprogramming macrophage function through modulating the intracellular function of PKM2. Gut 197 35140065
2011 Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 signaling antagonist in controlling mouse lung development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 192 21482757
2013 'See-saw' expression of microRNA-198 and FSTL1 from a single transcript in wound healing. Nature 182 23395958
2010 DIP2A functions as a FSTL1 receptor. The Journal of biological chemistry 110 20054002
2017 Autophagy plays a role in FSTL1-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition and airway remodeling in asthma. American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology 93 28473327
2018 FSTL1 enhances chemoresistance and maintains stemness in breast cancer cells via integrin β3/Wnt signaling under miR-137 regulation. Cancer biology & therapy 88 30336071
2021 FSTL1 Secreted by Activated Fibroblasts Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis and Stemness. Cancer research 81 34551961
2004 Ameliorative effects of follistatin-related protein/TSC-36/FSTL1 on joint inflammation in a mouse model of arthritis. Arthritis and rheumatism 74 14872511
2006 Developmental expression of mouse Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1): Dynamic regulation during organogenesis of the kidney and lung. Gene expression patterns : GEP 70 17129766
2013 Targeting FSTL1 prevents tumor bone metastasis and consequent immune dysfunction. Cancer research 69 23966294
2018 FSTL1 interacts with VIM and promotes colorectal cancer metastasis via activating the focal adhesion signalling pathway. Cell death & disease 68 29844309
2020 Dynamic resistance exercise increases skeletal muscle-derived FSTL1 inducing cardiac angiogenesis via DIP2A-Smad2/3 in rats following myocardial infarction. Journal of sport and health science 67 33246164
2011 FSTL1 promotes arthritis in mice by enhancing inflammatory cytokine/chemokine expression. Arthritis and rheumatism 67 22006268
2007 The diacylated lipopeptide FSL-1 enhances phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages through a Toll-like receptor 2-mediated signalling pathway. FEMS immunology and medical microbiology 63 17316370
2000 Regulation of a multigenic invasion programme by the transcription factor, AP-1: re-expression of a down-regulated gene, TSC-36, inhibits invasion. Oncogene 63 11103936
2000 Expression of a TGF-beta1 inducible gene, TSC-36, causes growth inhibition in human lung cancer cell lines. Cancer letters 62 10814877
2014 The TLR2 ligand FSL-1 and the TLR5 ligand Flagellin mediate pro-inflammatory and pro-labour response via MyD88/TRAF6/NF-κB-dependent signalling. American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) 61 24635133
2017 FSTL1 Promotes Metastasis and Chemoresistance in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma through NFκB-BMP Signaling Cross-talk. Cancer research 60 28883005
2016 FSTL1 as a Potential Mediator of Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection in Post-Myocardial Infarction Rats. Scientific reports 58 27561749
2017 EGF hijacks miR-198/FSTL1 wound-healing switch and steers a two-pronged pathway toward metastasis. The Journal of experimental medicine 57 28827448
2017 TLR-4/miRNA-32-5p/FSTL1 signaling regulates mycobacterial survival and inflammatory responses in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages. Experimental cell research 55 28215633
2018 Acute and Chronic Increases of Circulating FSTL1 Normalize Energy Substrate Metabolism in Pacing-Induced Heart Failure. Circulation. Heart failure 54 29317401
2010 Downregulated expression of the secreted glycoprotein follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is a robust hallmark of preadipocyte to adipocyte conversion. Mechanisms of development 54 20043993
2016 Knockdown of FSTL1 inhibits oxLDL-induced inflammation responses through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and MAPK pathway. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 52 27569284
2014 FSL-1 induces MMP-9 production through TLR-2 and NF-κB /AP-1 signaling pathways in monocytic THP-1 cells. Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology 51 25200491
2020 Targeting FSTL1 for Multiple Fibrotic and Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy 47 33007201
2018 Fstl1/DIP2A/MGMT signaling pathway plays important roles in temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma. Oncogene 47 30542120
2015 Fstl1 Promotes Asthmatic Airway Remodeling by Inducing Oncostatin M. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 46 26355153
2006 The diacylated lipopeptide FSL-1 induces TLR2-mediated Th2 responses. FEMS immunology and medical microbiology 46 16965351
2021 Downregulation of lncRNA SNHG14 attenuates osteoarthritis by inhibiting FSTL-1 mediated NLRP3 and TLR4/NF-κB pathway through miR-124-3p. Life sciences 44 33539913
1997 Decrease in the expression of a novel TGF beta1-inducible and ras-recision gene, TSC-36, in human cancer cells. Cancer letters 44 9065824
2017 TGF-β1 induces Fstl1 via the Smad3-c-Jun pathway in lung fibroblasts. American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology 42 28495857
2020 Circular RNA hsa_circ_0004812 impairs IFN-induced immune response by sponging miR-1287-5p to regulate FSTL1 in chronic hepatitis B. Virology journal 41 32188476
2012 Fstl1 antagonizes BMP signaling and regulates ureter development. PloS one 39 22485132
2023 Metabolic crosstalk between skeletal muscle cells and liver through IRF4-FSTL1 in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Nature communications 37 37770480
2018 Blocking the FSTL1-DIP2A Axis Improves Anti-tumor Immunity. Cell reports 37 30110636
2021 FSTL1-USP10-Notch1 Signaling Axis Protects Against Cardiac Dysfunction Through Inhibition of Myocardial Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology 36 34957094
2021 Inhibition of long non-coding RNA HOXA11-AS against neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease model via targeting miR-124-3p mediated FSTL1/NF-κB axis. Aging 34 33839699
2020 Molecular functions of FSTL1 in the osteoarthritis. International immunopharmacology 33 32259701
2017 FSTL1 contributes to tumor progression via attenuating apoptosis in a AKT/GSK-3β - dependent manner in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer biomarkers : section A of Disease markers 33 28655132
2017 Fstl1 Promotes Glioma Growth Through the BMP4/Smad1/5/8 Signaling Pathway. Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology 30 29212066
2010 The Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) ligand FSL-1 is internalized via the clathrin-dependent endocytic pathway triggered by CD14 and CD36 but not by TLR2. Immunology 30 20113368
2021 Circular RNA circ_HECTD1 regulates cell injury after cerebral infarction by miR-27a-3p/FSTL1 axis. Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) 29 33843447
2002 Signaling pathways induced by lipoproteins derived from Mycoplasma salivarium and a synthetic lipopeptide (FSL-1) in normal human gingival fibroblasts. Microbiology and immunology 29 12008923
2022 Blocking FSTL1 boosts NK immunity in treatment of osteosarcoma. Cancer letters 28 35439537
2017 The Toll-Like Receptor 2/6 Agonist, FSL-1 Lipopeptide, Therapeutically Mitigates Acute Radiation Syndrome. Scientific reports 28 29230065
2022 Knockdown of FSTL1 inhibits microglia activation and alleviates depressive-like symptoms through modulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in CUMS mice. Experimental neurology 27 35367454
2019 4-methylumbelliferone Prevents Liver Fibrosis by Affecting Hyaluronan Deposition, FSTL1 Expression and Cell Localization. International journal of molecular sciences 27 31847129
2019 Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) promotes chondrocyte expression of matrix metalloproteinase and inflammatory factors via the NF-κB pathway. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine 26 30644158
2017 Deletion of Fstl1 (Follistatin-Like 1) From the Endocardial/Endothelial Lineage Causes Mitral Valve Disease. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 26 28705792
2017 FSTL1 suppresses tumor cell proliferation, invasion and survival in non-small cell lung cancer. Oncology reports 26 29115636
2022 Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) interacts with Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors to enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling in obstructed kidneys in vivo. The Journal of biological chemistry 24 35525270
2021 FSTL1 aggravates OVA-induced inflammatory responses by activating the NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway in mice and macrophages. Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.] 24 34076707
2019 Semisynthetic, self-adjuvanting vaccine development: Efficient, site-specific sortase A-mediated conjugation of Toll-like receptor 2 ligand FSL-1 to recombinant protein antigens under native conditions and application to a model group A streptococcal vaccine. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 23 31758971
2009 FSL-1, a bacterial-derived toll-like receptor 2/6 agonist, enhances resistance to experimental HSV-2 infection. Virology journal 23 19903337
2006 The synthetic analogue of mycoplasmal lipoprotein FSL-1 induces dendritic cell maturation through Toll-like receptor 2. FEMS immunology and medical microbiology 23 16420600
2017 Knockdown of Fstl1 attenuates hepatic stellate cell activation through the TGF‑β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. Molecular medicine reports 22 28901425
2015 Effect of the synthetic Toll-like receptor ligands LPS, Pam3CSK4, HKLM and FSL-1 in the function of bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Developmental and comparative immunology 22 26026246
2020 MiR-524-5p Suppresses Migration, Invasion, and EMT Progression in Breast Cancer Cells Through Targeting FSTL1. Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals 21 32298609
2017 BBS4 regulates the expression and secretion of FSTL1, a protein that participates in ciliogenesis and the differentiation of 3T3-L1. Scientific reports 21 28852127
2017 Effects of FSTL1 on the proliferation and motility of breast cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells. Thoracic cancer 21 28857515
2021 FSTL1 aggravates cigarette smoke-induced airway inflammation and airway remodeling by regulating autophagy. BMC pulmonary medicine 20 33509151
2020 Hsa_circ_0011290 regulates proliferation, apoptosis and glycolytic phenotype in papillary thyroid cancer via miR-1252/ FSTL1 signal pathway. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 20 32234499
2019 FSTL1 Promotes Inflammatory Reaction and Cartilage Catabolism through Interplay with NFκB Signaling Pathways in an In Vitro ONFH Model. Inflammation 20 31011927
2019 Downregulation of FSTL‑1 attenuates the inflammation injury during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection by inhibiting the NLRP3 and TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway. Molecular medicine reports 20 31638229
2013 FSTL1 promotes bone metastasis by causing immune dysfunction. Oncoimmunology 20 24482748
2021 FSTL1 increases cisplatin sensitivity in epithelial ovarian cancer cells by inhibition of NF-κB pathway. Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology 19 33392640
2020 FSTL-1 Attenuation Causes Spontaneous Smoke-Resistant Pulmonary Emphysema. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 19 31834999
2019 Structural and functional study of FK domain of Fstl1. Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society 19 31351024
2017 Follistatin like-1 (Fstl1) is required for the normal formation of lung airway and vascular smooth muscle at birth. PloS one 19 28574994
2017 Effects of FSTL1 on cell proliferation in breast cancer cell line MDA‑MB‑231 and its brain metastatic variant MDA‑MB‑231‑BR. Oncology reports 19 29048681
2024 FSTL1 Accelerates Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Through TLR4/NF-κB Pathway. Inflammation 18 38316670
2021 Follistatin-Like-1 (FSTL1) Is a Fibroblast-Derived Growth Factor That Contributes to Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease. International journal of molecular sciences 18 34502419
2020 Sulforaphene inhibits the progression of osteosarcoma via regulating FSTL1/NF-κB pathway. Life sciences 18 33017573
2022 FSTL1-knockdown improves neural oscillation via decreasing neuronal-inflammation regulating apoptosis in Aβ1-42 induced AD model mice. Experimental neurology 17 36162512
2014 FSL-1, a Toll-like Receptor 2/6 Agonist, Induces Expression of Interleukin-1α in the Presence of 27-hydroxycholesterol. The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology : official journal of the Korean Physiological Society and the Korean Society of Pharmacology 17 25598661
2023 The TLR2/TLR6 ligand FSL-1 mitigates radiation-induced hematopoietic injury in mice and nonhuman primates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 16 38051771
2021 Baicalin attenuates LPS-induced alveolar type II epithelial cell A549 injury by attenuation of the FSTL1 signaling pathway via increasing miR-200b-3p expression. Innate immunity 16 34000873
2020 Angiocrine FSTL1 (Follistatin-Like Protein 1) Insufficiency Leads to Atrial and Venous Wall Fibrosis via SMAD3 Activation. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 16 32078339
2016 A holistic approach to dissecting SPARC family protein complexity reveals FSTL-1 as an inhibitor of pancreatic cancer cell growth. Scientific reports 16 27886258
2021 The lncRNA PVT1/miR-590-5p/FSTL1 axis modulates the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells in asthma. Autoimmunity 15 33825599
2021 Circ_0001490/miR-579-3p/FSTL1 axis modulates the survival of mycobacteria and the viability, apoptosis and inflammatory response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages. Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) 15 34555658
2020 FSTL1 promotes nitric oxide-induced chondrocyte apoptosis via activating the SAPK/JNK/caspase3 signaling pathway. Gene 15 31927008
2017 The Correlation between FSTL1 Expression and Airway Remodeling in Asthmatics. Mediators of inflammation 15 28845090
2024 FSTL1: A double-edged sword in cancer development. Gene 14 38346455
2023 FSTL1 promotes alveolar epithelial cell aging and worsens pulmonary fibrosis by affecting SENP1-mediated DeSUMOylation. Cell biology international 14 37369969
2022 COL5A1 Promotes the Progression of Gastric Cancer by Acting as a ceRNA of miR-137-3p to Upregulate FSTL1 Expression. Cancers 14 35805015
2024 Plasma FSTL-1 as a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for patients with advanced liver fibrosis. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) 13 40833998
2023 Skeletal muscle-derived FSTL1 starting up angiogenesis by regulating endothelial junction via activating Src pathway can be upregulated by hydrogen sulfide. American journal of physiology. Cell physiology 13 37694287
2021 Inhibition of microRNA-143-3p Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Targeting FSTL1. Neuromolecular medicine 13 33709299
2021 ZFAS1 knockdown inhibits fibroblast-like synoviocyte proliferation, migration, invasion and inflammation, and promotes apoptosis via miR-3926/FSTL1 in rheumatoid arthritis. Experimental and therapeutic medicine 13 34306188
2017 Knockdown of FSTL1 inhibits PDGF‑BB‑induced human airway smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. Molecular medicine reports 13 28393245
2024 FSTL1 sustains glioma stem cell stemness and promotes immunosuppressive macrophage polarization in glioblastoma. Cancer letters 12 39722404
2022 CircPTTG1IP knockdown suppresses rheumatoid arthritis progression by targeting miR-431-5p/FSTL1 axis. Transplant immunology 12 35933079
2019 MiR-29a in mesenchymal stem cells inhibits FSTL1 secretion and promotes cardiac myocyte apoptosis in hypoxia-reoxygenation injury. Cardiovascular pathology : the official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology 12 31945680
2015 The role of oxidation in FSL-1 induced signaling pathways of an atopic dermatitis model in HaCaT keratinocytes. Advances in experimental medicine and biology 12 25510360
2015 Fstl1 is involved in the regulation of radial glial scaffold development. Molecular brain 12 26382033
2025 Host FSTL1 defines the impact of stem cell therapy on liver fibrosis by potentiating the early recruitment of inflammatory macrophages. Signal transduction and targeted therapy 11 40050288

Missed literature

Know a paper Affinage missed for FSTL1? Flag it for the maintainers and the community.

No submissions yet.