Multiple Endocrine Defects in Adult-Onset Sprouty1/2/4 Triple Knockout Mice

The study generated adult-onset Spry1/2/4 triple knockout mice to investigate the role of Sprouty genes in adult life. The findings revealed that the absence of Sprouty genes does not lead to an increased tumor incidence up to one year of age, suggesting that Sprouty loss alone is not enough to initiate cancer. However, the triple knockout mice exhibited several endocrine abnormalities, including no weight gain with age, reduced visceral fat, lower plasma glucose levels, alopecia, eyelid inflammation, mild hyperthyroidism, phosphaturia, and hypophosphatemia. These symptoms indicate that the loss of Sprouty genes leads to disrupted endocrine functions, potentially due to increased FGF23 signaling.