A new systematic review unveils the cardiokine Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL-1) as a promising therapeutic agent in promoting cardiac angiogenesis. Drawing from five in vivo animal studies, the team found that FSTL-1 expression sharply increases in response to ischemic heart conditions, acting as a protective signal to stimulate the formation of new capillaries and improve blood flow. Their analysis highlighted multiple molecular targets—including AMPK, TGF-β/Smad2/3, Akt/mTOR, ERK1/2, and DIP2A–PI3K pathways—in which FSTL-1 operates to enhance vessel growth and cardiac repair.

The review sheds light on FSTL-1’s potential to advance several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) — by identifying a novel molecular agent with potential to regenerate blood vessels in damaged heart tissue, paving the way for improved therapies for myocardial ischemia.

SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) — by promoting innovative biomedical research through understanding advanced cardiokine signaling mechanisms.

SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) — through fostering multidisciplinary collaboration across biomedical science, physiology, and cardiovascular research for future therapeutic applications.