HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
ⓘGeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
FFAR4
free fatty acid receptor 4
Chromosome 10 · 10q23.33
NCBI Gene: 338557Ensembl: ENSG00000186188.12HGNC: HGNC:19061UniProt: B4DWG6
93PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Receptor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
white fat cell differentiationnegative regulation of interleukin-1 beta productionplasma membraneciliumprogressive retinal dystrophy due to retinol transport defectmicrophthalmia, isolated, with coloboma 10Retinal dystrophyBilateral microphthalmos
✦AI Summary

FFAR4 (GPR120) is a G protein-coupled receptor that functions as a sensor for long-chain fatty acids, particularly omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids 1. Upon ligand binding, FFAR4 associates with β-arrestin-2, which serves as an adapter protein coupling the receptor to downstream signaling pathways and mediating receptor endocytosis 2. FFAR4 activation triggers multiple physiological responses including anti-inflammatory effects through NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition and enhancement of systemic insulin sensitivity 3. In intestinal immunity, FFAR4 regulates CD4+ T cell IL-10 production to suppress colitis development 4. Additionally, FFAR4 on islet macrophages promotes IL-6 release, which enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in lean mice, though this signaling is impaired in obesity and type 2 diabetes 5. In kidney disease, podocyte FFAR4 expression is abnormally reduced, and FFAR4 agonism protects against glomerular damage through CaMKKβ-AMPK pathway activation, mitigating cellular senescence and lipotoxicity 6. Clinical significance is emerging as FFAR4 agonists show promise for metabolic and inflammatory disorders; however, enhanced FFAR4 signaling may paradoxically promote certain cancers 7.

Sources cited
1
FFAR4 is activated by long-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and mediates metabolic and immune regulation
PMID: 31487233
2
FFAR4 and β-arrestin-2 involvement in omega-3 FA-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition and IL-1β suppression
PMID: 23809162
3
FFAR4/GPR120 functions as omega-3 FA receptor mediating anti-inflammatory effects and insulin sensitization
PMID: 20813258
4
FFAR4 regulates CD4+ T cell IL-10 production to inhibit colitis development
PMID: 34536451
5
FFAR4 on islet macrophages promotes IL-6 release enhancing insulin secretion, impaired in type 2 diabetes
PMID: 40210633
6
Podocyte FFAR4 deficiency aggravates glomerular disease; FFAR4 agonism protects via CaMKKβ-AMPK pathway
PMID: 40450519
7
Enhanced FFAR4 signaling reduces diabetes but may enhance cancer progression
PMID: 27582526
Disease Associationsⓘ20
progressive retinal dystrophy due to retinol transport defectOpen Targets
0.48Moderate
microphthalmia, isolated, with coloboma 10Open Targets
0.46Moderate
Retinal dystrophyOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
Bilateral microphthalmosOpen Targets
0.41Moderate
colobomaOpen Targets
0.40Weak
microphthalmiaOpen Targets
0.40Weak
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.34Weak
AnophthalmiaOpen Targets
0.27Weak
anterior segment dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.27Weak
Ocular anterior segment dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.27Weak
Unilateral microphthalmosOpen Targets
0.27Weak
Abnormality of the eyeOpen Targets
0.26Weak
open-angle glaucomaOpen Targets
0.26Weak
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.17Weak
obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiencyOpen Targets
0.13Weak
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.11Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
colitisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
acute kidney injuryOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
GNAQProtein interaction99%GCGProtein interaction96%FFAR3Protein interaction96%FFAR2Protein interaction96%GPR84Protein interaction96%GPR119Protein interaction96%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
100%
Brain
66%
Heart
30%
Liver
28%
Ovary
11%
Bone Marrow
1%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
FFAR4GNAQGCGFFAR3FFAR2GPR84GPR119
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8G59 · 2.64 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.03LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.71 [0.49–1.03]
RankingsWhere FFAR4 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #5,138of 20,598
    Most Researched93 · top quartile
  • #10,276of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.03
Genes detectedFFAR4
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Free Fatty Acid Receptors in Health and Disease.
PMID: 31487233
Physiol Rev · 2020
1.00
2
Fatty Acid Transport and Signaling: Mechanisms and Physiological Implications.
PMID: 36347219
Annu Rev Physiol · 2023
0.90
3
Podocyte FFAR4 deficiency aggravated glomerular diseases and aging.
PMID: 40450519
Mol Ther · 2025
0.80
4
GPR120 is an omega-3 fatty acid receptor mediating potent anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects.
PMID: 20813258
Cell · 2010
0.70
5
Omega-3 fatty acids prevent inflammation and metabolic disorder through inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
PMID: 23809162
Immunity · 2013
0.60