Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ahmed W. Al-Humadi, Khaled Alabduljabbar, Moath S. Alsaqaaby, Hani Talaee, Carel W. le Roux
Summary: The study aimed to identify associations between clinico-demographical characteristics and genetic mutations associated with obesity. The results revealed that gene mutations associated with obesity are common among patients with a BMI > 40 kg/m(2). However, a patient's BMI, age of onset of obesity, or age of onset of hyperphagia did not provide valuable information in predicting the presence of genetic mutations associated with obesity.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sadaf Farooqi
Summary: Genetic disruption of the hypothalamic leptin-melanocortin pathway causes severe obesity, while a lack of leptin leads to increased appetite. Studies on obesity and thinness provide insights into weight regulation mechanisms and molecular targets for weight loss therapy.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sophie Courbage, Christine Poitou, Johanne Le Beyec-Le Bihan, Alexandra Karsenty, Julie Lemale, Veronique Pelloux, Jean-Marc Lacorte, Jean-Claude Carel, Nathalie Lecomte, Caroline Storey, Gianpaolo De Filippo, Muriel Coupaye, Jean-Michel Oppert, Patrick Tounian, Karine Clement, Beatrice Dubern
Summary: This study found that heterozygous variants in LEP, LEPR, POMC, and PCSK1 are common in severe obesity and sometimes exhibit a phenotype similar to homozygotes. These data suggest the importance of systematically searching for variants in severe early-onset obesity and discussing targeted therapy.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Review
Pediatrics
Francesca Mainieri, Saverio La Bella, Marta Rinaldi, Francesco Chiarelli
Summary: Obesity is a major health issue in children worldwide, caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Rare forms of obesity are mainly caused by single gene variations, while polygenic obesity is more common and less severe. Non-syndromic monogenic obesity is associated with single gene variations in the leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway, which regulates hunger and satiety. Advances in genetic diagnostic testing have enabled early identification and intervention for patients with genetic obesity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olivier Lavoie, Natalie Jane Michael, Alexandre Caron
Summary: The discovery of leptin in 1994 provided new opportunities to understand energy balance and glucose metabolism. However, the prevailing model of the leptin-melanocortin system is outdated. Recent advances have shown that leptin directly acts on ARC POMC neurons to regulate glucose metabolism, while non-POMC neurons mediate its effects on energy balance.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Kathryn M. Brewer, Katlyn K. Brewer, Nicholas C. Richardson, Nicolas F. Berbari
Summary: A subset of genetic disorders, known as ciliopathies, are associated with obesity. The mechanisms behind cilia dysfunction and altered energy homeostasis in these syndromes are complex and involve deficits in both development and adult homeostasis. Mutations in cilia-associated genes can also lead to morbid obesity. Cilia play critical roles in energy homeostasis, including food intake regulation, and their dysfunction is linked to obesity.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaitlin H. Wade, Brian Y. H. Lam, Audrey Melvin, Warren Pan, Laura J. Corbin, David A. Hughes, Kara Rainbow, Jian-Hua Chen, Katie Duckett, Xiaoming Liu, Jacek Mokrosinski, Alexander Morseburg, Sam Neaves, Alice Williamson, Chen Zhang, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Giles S. H. Yeo, Nicholas J. Timpson, Stephen O'Rahilly
Summary: Mutations in the MC4R gene are associated with obesity, with the frequency of LoF mutations being higher than previously estimated. Carriers of such mutations may enter adulthood with a significant burden of excess adiposity.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Robert Sket, Primoz Kotnik, Barbara Jenko Bizjan, Valentina Kocen, Matej Mlinaric, Tine Tesovnik, Marusa Debeljak, Tadej Battelino, Jernej Kovac
Summary: Monogenic obesity is a severe genetic disorder that affects up to 1/1000 newborns. Early identification of rare genetic variants in the leptin-melanocortin pathway can lead to prompt clinical intervention and reduce the risk of chronic complications. In this study, DNA sequencing of central genes in the pathway was performed on a cohort of 1508 children and adolescents, revealing potential genetic variants associated with obesity.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ozge Besci, Sevde Nur Firat, Samim Ozen, Semra Cetinkaya, Leyla Akin, Yilmaz Kor, Zafer Pekkolay, Servan Ozalkak, Elif Ozsu, Senay Savas Erdeve, Suekran Poyrazoglu, Merih Berberoglu, Murat Aydin, Tulay Omma, Baris Akinci, Korcan Demir, Elif Arioglu Oral
Summary: This study presents new cases of LEP and LEPR deficiency, provides long-term follow-up of previously described patients, and defines the genotype-phenotype relationships based on reported cases in literature. The study found that patients with LEP deficiency were diagnosed at a younger age, had higher BMI SD scores, and were more likely to have hyperinsulinemia. The genetic variants in LEPR deficiency were different from those in LEP deficiency.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alessandro Micarelli, Alessandra Vezzoli, Sandro Malacrida, Beatrice Micarelli, Ilaria Misici, Valentina Carbini, Ilaria Iennaco, Sara Caputo, Simona Mrakic-Sposta, Marco Alessandrini
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the differences in gustatory sensitivity, nutritional habits, circulating levels of modulators, anthropometric measures, and metabolic assays between overweight and obesity participants and lean subjects. The results showed significant reductions in taste scores and changes in biochemical factors and nutritional habits as obesity progressed.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
A. Tas, M. Atabey, P. Gokcen, M. Ozel, Z. K. Karagoz, K. Ugur, S. Aydin, Y. Silig
Summary: The study reveals that the leptin-melanocortin pathway plays a crucial role in regulating food intake and body weight in obese patients before and after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. This finding is of great significance for the treatment of obesity.
EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Steve Reynaud, Suli-Anne Laurin, Justyna Ciolek, Peggy Barbe, Anne-Cecile Van Baelen, Michael Susset, Florian Blondel, Marine Ghazarian, Julia Boeri, Margot Vanden Driessche, Gregory Upert, Gilles Mourier, Pascal Kessler, Laure Konnert, Remy Beroud, Mathilde Keck, Denis Servent, Michel Bouvier, Nicolas Gilles
Summary: The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) plays a crucial role in energy balance, and a cone snail toxin, N-CTX-Ltg1a, has been identified to have nanomolar affinity for MC4R, providing potential for the development of new MC4R antagonists.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Fabiane Ferreira Martins, Thiago Santos-Reis, Thatiany Souza Marinho, Marcia Barbosa Aguila, Carlos Alberto Mandarim-de-Lacerda
Summary: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of semaglutide on neuropeptide signaling in the hypothalamic energy metabolism of diet-induced obese mice. The results showed that semaglutide improved leptin sensitivity and anorexigenic signaling, while decreasing orexigenic signaling. Furthermore, semaglutide also affected biometric data and hypothalamic gene expressions. Therefore, semaglutide can activate anorexigenic signaling by restoring leptin, amylin, and POMC pathways in diet-induced obese mice.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Soyoung Park, Amine M. Belfoul, Marialetizia Rastelli, Alice Jang, Magali Monnoye, Hosung Bae, Anna Kamitakahara, Patrick Giavalisco, Shan Sun, Pierre-Yves Barelle, Jasmine Plows, Cholsoon Jang, Anthony Fodor, Michael I. Goran, Sebastien G. Bouret
Summary: The consumption of low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs) during pregnancy can have lasting effects on the metabolism and neural development of offspring, particularly in male mice. Adult male mice from dams that consumed aspartame or rebaudioside A displayed increased adiposity and glucose intolerance. Maternal LCS consumption also disrupted hypothalamic melanocortin circuits and parasympathetic innervation of pancreatic islets in male offspring. Furthermore, a specific metabolite called phenylacetylglycine (PAG) was found to be upregulated in the milk of LCS-fed dams and the serum of their pups, and maternal PAG treatment replicated some of the metabolic and neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with maternal LCS consumption.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sandra Navarro, Diego Crespo, Rudiger W. Schulz, Wei Ge, Josep Rotllant, Jose Miguel Cerda-Reverter, Ana Rocha
Summary: Reproduction in both males and females is complex and controlled by various hormonal systems that communicate with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) system. This study provides new insights into the effects of melanocortin system on gonadal physiology, highlighting the modulatory role of ACTH and MSH on steroid secretion and the need for further research to fully understand the impact of melanocortins on reproductive function. Our results suggest that melanocortins play a role in regulating vitellogenesis in females and testosterone production in males, indicating a potential endocrine involvement in the reproductive system.
