Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Resistin is an adipocyte-secreted hormone proposed to link obesity with insulin resistance and diabetes, but no previous study has performed a joint quantitative evaluation of white adipose tissue (WAT) resistin mRNA expression and serum levels in relation to insulinemia and glycemia in mice. We have thus comparatively assessed WAT resistin mRNA expression and serum resistin levels in lean C57BL/6J mice and various mouse models of obesity, including diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6J mice, high fat-fed TNF-alpha-/- mice, and brown adipose tissue (BAT)-deficient uncoupling protein-diphtheria toxin A chain (UCP1-DTA) mice. We also studied whether treatment with the weight-reducing and insulin-sensitizing compounds, MTII, an alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analog, or CNTF(Ax15), a ciliary neurotrophic factor analog, alters resistin mRNA expression and/or circulating levels in lean and DIO C57BL/6J mice. We find that resistin mRNA expression is similar in DIO and lean C57BL/6J mice, as well as in TNF-alpha-/- and wild-type (WT) mice. Circulating resistin levels, however, are higher in DIO C57BL/6J, high fat-fed TNF-alpha-/-, and UCP1-DTA mice compared with lean controls. Moreover, although resistin mRNA expression is upregulated by MTII treatment for 24 h and downregulated by CNTF(Ax15) treatment for 3 or 7 days, circulating resistin levels are not altered by MTII or CNTF(Ax15) treatment. In addition, serum resistin levels, but not resistin mRNA expression levels, are correlated with body weight, and neither resistin mRNA expression nor serum resistin levels are correlated with serum insulin or glucose levels. We conclude that transcriptional regulation of resistin in WAT does not correlate with circulating resistin levels and that circulating resistin is unlikely to play a major endocrine role in insulin resistance or glycemia in mice.
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PMID:Circulating resistin in lean, obese, and insulin-resistant mouse models: lack of association with insulinemia and glycemia. 1552 96

Human ciliary neurotrophic factor (hCNTF) and its derivatives are promising therapeutics for obesity associated with diabetes. To reduce its side effects and increase its efficacy, superagonist mutein of human CNTF was constructed by the introduction of S165D/Q166H mutation into AX15(R13K), which is a mutein of naturally occurring hCNTF, with improved biological activity, stability, solubility and KEX2 resistance. In vitro TF-1 cell survival assay and in vivo antiobesity tests showed DH-AX(R13K) was about 5 fold more potent than AX15(R13K). It was further demonstrated that the antiobesity effect of DH-AX15(R13K) was more durable than that of AX15(R13K). The more durable effects of DH-AX15(R13K) is ascribed to its higher specific activity, but not to its prolonged half-life. The superagonist mutein of human CNTF would have an improved side effect profile and thus have superior therapeutic potential.
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PMID:[Construction of superagonist mutein of human CNTF and its expression in Pichia pastoris]. 1598 33

Obesity and osteoporosis have grave consequences for human health, quality of life, and even the efficiency of the labor force and economy. However, these pathologies share a common cell progenitor, revealing a surprising target for drug research and development. Recent findings show that high adipocyte count in bone marrow is directly related to bone loss, as fat cells replace osteoblasts (or bone-forming cells). The objective of this review is to examine the importance of adipocyte apoptosis in the treatment of obesity and/or osteoporosis, with special emphasis on natural products as promising leads for drug development. We have induced in vivo adipocyte apoptosis, using leptin, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), beta adrenergic agonists and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in rodents. The results of leptin treatments on rats are suppressed food intake, reduced body weight, reduced body fat, adipocyte apoptosis, and elevated energy expenditure. Further, leptin treatment of leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice increases endosteal bone formation and bone mineral density. Adipocyte apoptosis has also been induced in vitro using tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from Camellia sinensis and ajoene, from Allium sativum. Natural products have potential for inducing apoptosis of adipose tissue, inhibiting bone marrow adipogenesis and increasing the expression of osteogenic factors in bone, thereby yielding effective treatments for obesity and osteoporosis.
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PMID:Novel treatments for obesity and osteoporosis: targeting apoptotic pathways in adipocytes. 1617 81

We examined the actions of a second-generation ciliary neurotrophic factor analog (CNTF(Ax15)) on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a known regulator of food intake. Unlike leptin CNTF(Ax15) has been shown to reduce food intake in obese rodents and humans. Intraperitoneal injection of CNTF(Ax15) acutely (45 min) reduced hypothalamic AMPKalpha2 activity, AMPKalpha2Thr172 phosphorylation, and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase phosphorylation, effects not observed 2 or 6 h after injection. Intracerebroventricular CNTF(Ax15) reduced food intake, increased arcuate nucleus (ARC) signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation, and reduced AMPK signaling but not in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), posterior hypothalamus, or cortex. To compare the effects of leptin and CNTF(Ax15) in a diet-induced model of obesity, mice were fed a control carbohydrate or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 wk. Leptin treatment ip reduced food intake in control mice but not in mice fed a HFD. In contrast, ip CNTF markedly reduced food intake in both control and HFD animals. Both leptin and CNTF reduced AMPK activity and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase phosphorylation in the ARC and PVN of control-fed mice. A HFD blunted leptin but not CNTF effects on AMPK signaling in the ARC and PVN. In summary, these data demonstrate that CNTF(Ax15) bypasses diet-induced leptin resistance to reduce hypothalamic AMPK activity.
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PMID:Ciliary neurotrophic factor suppresses hypothalamic AMP-kinase signaling in leptin-resistant obese mice. 1667 25

Obesity is a major public health concern and environmental factors are involved in its development. The hypothalamus is a primary site for the integration of signals for the regulation of energy homeostasis. Dysregulation of these pathways can lead to weight loss or gain. Some drugs in development can have favourable effects on body weight, acting on some of these pathways and leading to responses resulting in weight loss. Strategies for the management of weight reduction include exercise, diet, behavioural therapy, drug therapy and surgery. Investigational antiobesity medications can modulate energy homeostasis by stimulating catabolic or inhibiting anabolic pathways. Investigational drugs stimulating catabolic pathways consist of leptin, agonists of melanocortin receptor-4, 5-HT and dopamine; bupropion, growth hormone fragments, cholecystokinin subtype 1 receptor agonist, peptide YY3-36, oxyntomodulin, ciliary neurotrophic factor analogue, beta3-adrenergic receptor agonists, adiponectin derivatives and glucagon-like peptide-1. On the other hand, investigational drugs inhibiting anabolic pathways consist of the ghrelin receptor, neuropeptide Y receptor and melanin-concentrating hormone-1 antagonists; somatostatin analogues, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and -beta/delta antagonists, gastric emptying retardation agents, pancreatic lipase inhibitors, topiramate and cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonists. These differing approaches are reviewed and commented on in this article.
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PMID:Investigational therapies in the treatment of obesity. 1685 93

Over the past several years, the pharmacologic treatment of obesity has undergone changes in safety, efficacy, and therapeutic targeting. The prevalence of cardiac valvulopathy associated with treatment with phentermine, fenfluramine, and dexfenfluramine is now becoming clarified with the publication of longer-term studies. Phenylpropanolamine, a well-known over-the-counter appetite suppressant, was recently removed from the market in the United States because of an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke in women. In contrast, two currently approved medications, sibutramine and orlistat, have been shown to be safe and moderately effective for weight loss with documented beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. Three other drugs, bupropion, topiramate, and ciliary neurotrophic factor, are undergoing clinical trials for obesity based on empirical observations. Most promising are the advances in genetics and molecular biology that are beginning to elucidate new targets for controlling appetite and energy utilization. These therapeutic agents will likely herald a second generation of anti-obesity medications over the next decade.
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PMID:Obesity pharmacology: past, present, and future. 1703 90

The rising tide of obesity is one of the most pressing health issues of our time, yet existing medicines to combat the problem are disappointingly limited in number and effectiveness. Fortunately, a recent burgeoning of mechanistic insights into the neuroendocrine regulation of body weight provides an expanding list of molecular targets for novel, rationally designed antiobesity pharmaceuticals. In this review, we articulate a set of conceptual principles that we feel could help prioritize among these molecules in the development of obesity therapeutics, based on an understanding of energy homeostasis. We focus primarily on central targets, highlighting selected strategies to stimulate endogenous catabolic signals or inhibit anabolic signals. Examples of the former approach include methods to enhance central leptin signaling through intranasal leptin delivery, use of superpotent leptin-receptor agonists, and mechanisms to increase leptin sensitivity by manipulating SOCS-3, PTP-1B, ciliary neurotrophic factor, or simply by first losing weight with traditional interventions. Techniques to augment signaling by neurochemical mediators of leptin action that lie downstream of at least some levels of obesity-associated leptin resistance include activation of melanocortin receptors or 5-HT2C and 5-HT1B receptors. We also describe strategies to inhibit anabolic molecules, such as neuropeptide Y, melanin-concentrating hormone, ghrelin, and endocannabinoids. Modulation of gastrointestinal satiation and hunger signals is discussed as well. As scientists continue to provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms governing body weight, the future looks bright for development of new and better antiobesity medications to be used with diet and exercise to facilitate substantial weight loss.
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PMID:Emerging therapeutic strategies for obesity. 1712 57

Obesity and its related cluster of pathophysiologic conditions including insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are recognized as growing threats to world health. It is now estimated that 10% of the world's population is overweight or obese. As a result, new therapeutic options for the treatment of obesity are clearly warranted. Recent research has focused on the role that gp130 receptor ligands may play as potential therapeutic targets in obesity. One cytokine in particular, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), acts both centrally and peripherally and mimics the biologic actions of the appetite control hormone leptin, but unlike leptin, CNTF appears to be effective in obesity and as such may have therapeutic potential. In addition, CNTF suppresses inflammatory signaling cascades associated with lipid accumulation in liver and skeletal muscle. This review examines the potential role of gp130 receptor ligands as part of a therapeutic strategy to treat obesity.
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PMID:gp130 receptor ligands as potential therapeutic targets for obesity. 1740 9

Over the past decade, an epidemic of obesity has developed throughout the Western World. In recent years, significant interest has focused on the role of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes and is such the focus of this review. Specifically, the potential role of AMPK in skeletal muscle metabolism as it relates to the insulin sensitizing effects of exercise and the hormones, leptin, adiponectin, ciliary neurotrophic factor and interleukin-6 are discussed. We caution that despite the convincing associations between the activation of AMPK signalling and the restoration of insulin sensitivity, future studies in genetic models of AMPK deficiency or constitutive activation within skeletal muscle are needed to evaluate the quantitative role of AMPK and to validate whether strategies designed to activate skeletal muscle AMPK may be important for regulating whole-body insulin sensitivity.
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PMID:The AMP-activated protein kinase: role in regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism and insulin sensitivity. 1750 87

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are the most prevalent metabolic diseases in the western world. Alarmingly, the cluster of pathologies characteristic of obesity-induced disease have started to emerge in children, a phenomenon that up until a decade ago was inconceivable. Hence, the development of new strategies to treat 'metabolic disease' is most warranted. Growing evidence suggests that during type 2 diabetes, a state of chronic low-grade inflammation exists in metabolically active tissues such as the liver, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. This inflammation is often secondary to lipid accumulation in insulin-responsive tissues. Recent studies have focused on the therapeutic potential of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). CNTF is a pluripotent neurocytokine and, has shown promise as a potential anti-obesogenic therapy. CNTF acts both centrally and peripherally, mimics the biological actions of leptin while overcoming "leptin resistance", remains effective even after termination of therapy if administered centrally, and appears to reduce inflammatory signaling cascades associated with lipid accumulation in liver and skeletal muscle. The advantages and disadvantages of CNTF as a therapeutic strategy to alleviate obesity-associated diseases will be highlighted in this review.
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PMID:CNTF: a target therapeutic for obesity-related metabolic disease? 1821 31


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