Velafermin(CuraGen Corp.)

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are pathologically characterized by disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier, excessive inflammatory responses, and dysregulated intra-pulmonary coagulation. Although inflammatory and thrombotic cascades have been extensively studied, endogenous epithelial-derived signaling mechanisms coordinating barrier stabilization with immunothrombotic restraint remain undefined. Here, we identify fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20) as a constitutive epithelial regulator suppressed in alveolar barrier-associated cells during sepsis-induced ALI. In a CLP rat model, both prophylactic and therapeutic administration of recombinant human FGF20 (rhFGF20) improved 7-day survival, attenuated pulmonary edema and inflammation, restored gas exchange, and preserved alveolar-capillary integrity. rhFGF20 restrained procoagulant and antifibrinolytic mediators tissue factor (TF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) while suppressing NF-κB activation. Mechanistically, FGF20 acted through fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) to engage the FGFR1-PI3K-AKT cascade. AKT activation bifurcated into two axes: (i) inhibition of NF-κB phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, restraining TF/PAI-1 transcription; and (ii) inhibitory phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) at Ser9, stabilizing epithelial and endothelial junctional proteins (E-cadherin, VE-cadherin, ZO-1). Pharmacological inhibition of FGFR1 or AKT abolished both barrier-protective and anticoagulant effects, confirming pathway dependency. Clinically, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid FGF20 levels were reduced in ARDS patients and positively correlated with PaO₂/FiO₂ ratios, linking reduced FGF20 to disease severity. Collectively, these findings position FGF20 as an upstream integrator of structural and immunothrombotic homeostasis within the alveolar-capillary unit. Restoration of the FGF20-FGFR1 axis reconstitutes a proximal checkpoint stabilizing barrier architecture and constraining NF-κB-dependent procoagulant activation, highlighting FGF20 as a mechanistically grounded therapeutic target in sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE.