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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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FFAR3
free fatty acid receptor 3
Chromosome 19 · 19q13.12
NCBI Gene: 2865Ensembl: ENSG00000185897.8HGNC: HGNC:4499UniProt: A0A0K0PUW7
36PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Receptor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathwayadenylate cyclase-inhibiting G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathwayprotein bindingcellular response to fatty acidMODYhyperinsulinism due to INSR deficiencytype 1 diabetes mellitushyperinsulinism due to glucokinase deficiency
✦AI Summary

FFAR3 (GPR41) is a G protein-coupled receptor activated by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—primarily propionate, butyrate, and pentanoate—produced by gut microbiota fermenting dietary fiber 1. Upon SCFA activation, FFAR3 couples to pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o)-alpha proteins, triggering calcium mobilization, MAPK/ERK phosphorylation, and cAMP inhibition to regulate whole-body energy homeostasis 2. The receptor modulates sympathetic nervous system activity and may regulate blood pressure, gut hormone secretion (PYY, leptin), and intestinal gluconeogenesis 3. FFAR3 signaling also promotes IL-22 production by immune cells through HDAC inhibition and AhR/HIF1α pathways, maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and mucosal immunity 4. Dysbiosis-associated SCFA deficiency impairs FFAR3 signaling in inflammatory bowel diseases, suggesting therapeutic potential through SCFA supplementation or microbiota restoration 5. Additionally, FFAR3 activation by butyrate demonstrates neuroprotective effects in neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease through reduced neuroinflammation and enhanced histone acetylation 6. Human monocytes express FFAR3 and display anti-inflammatory responses to SCFA-mediated activation, distinguishing human from murine immune regulation 7.

Sources cited
1
GPR41/FFAR3 activation by propionate, butyrate, and pentanoate; acetate is a poor activator
PMID: 12496283
2
FFAR3 is activated by SCFAs and regulates metabolism and immune responses through GPCR signaling
PMID: 31487233
3
Butyrate/SCFA effects mediated through GPR41/FFAR3 receptors in microbiota-gut-brain axis regulation
PMID: 27346602
4
SCFAs promote IL-22 production via GPR41/FFAR3 and HDAC inhibition for intestinal immunity
PMID: 32901017
5
Reduced SCFA-producing bacteria and dysbiosis in IBD; SCFAs signal through GPR41 for immune regulation
PMID: 30915065
6
Butyrate activation of FFAR3 provides neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders
PMID: 40284169
7
Human monocytes express FFAR3 and display anti-inflammatory cytokine responses to SCFA stimulation
PMID: 27667443
Disease Associationsⓘ20
MODYOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
hyperinsulinism due to INSR deficiencyOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
type 1 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
hyperinsulinism due to glucokinase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
hyperproinsulinemiaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
exercise-induced hyperinsulinismOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 4Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
diabetes mellitus, transient neonatal, 2Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 6Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 10Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, familial, 4Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
Hyperinsulinism due to short chain 3-hydroxylacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
hepatorenocardiac degenerative fibrosisOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, familial, 1Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardiaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Parkinson diseaseOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
polycystic kidney disease 5Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
FFAR4Protein interaction96%GCGProtein interaction96%CD22Protein interaction84%FFAR1Protein interaction84%GPR84Protein interaction83%PYYProtein interaction83%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Lung
67%
Ovary
27%
Liver
13%
Brain
0%
Heart
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
FFAR3FFAR4GCGCD22FFAR1GPR84PYY
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8J20 · 3.20 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.87LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.31Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.00 [0.00–1.87]
RankingsWhere FFAR3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #10,779of 20,598
    Most Researched36
  • #17,048of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.87
Genes detectedFFAR3
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Free Fatty Acid Receptors in Health and Disease.
PMID: 31487233
Physiol Rev · 2020
1.00
2
Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)-Mediated Gut Epithelial and Immune Regulation and Its Relevance for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
PMID: 30915065
Front Immunol · 2019
0.90
3
The role of short-chain fatty acids in health and disease.
PMID: 24388214
Adv Immunol · 2014
0.80
4
Intestinal microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids regulation of immune cell IL-22 production and gut immunity.
PMID: 32901017
Nat Commun · 2020
0.70
5
The neuropharmacology of butyrate: The bread and butter of the microbiota-gut-brain axis?
PMID: 27346602
Neurochem Int · 2016
0.60