Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share August 1, 2017 - Regulation of body weight and energy homeostasis by neuronal cell adhesion molecule 1
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
August 1, 2017 - Regulation of body weight and energy homeostasis by neuronal cell adhesion molecule 1
Nature Neuroscience, 2017, Vol 20, p1096-1103
Matthew Poy of the Max Delbruk Center for Molecular Medicine in Germany along with a team of 28 other researchers from various institutions around Europe and the US.
Abstract: Susceptibility to obesity is linked to genes regulating neurotransmission, pancreatic beta-cell function and energy homeostasis.Genome wide association studies have identified associations between body mass index and two loci near cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) and cell adhesion molecule 2 (CADM2), which encode membrane proteins that mediate synaptic assembly. We found that these respective risk variants associate with increased CADM1 and CADM2 expression in the hypothalamus of human subjects.Expression of both genes was elevated in obese mice, and induction of Cadm1 in excitatory neurons facilitated weight gain while exacerbating energy expenditure. Loss of Cadm1 protected mice from obesity, and tract-tracing analysis revealed Cadm1-positive innervation of POMC neurons via afferent projections originating from beyond the arcuate nucleus. Reducing Cadm1 expression in the hypothalamus and hippocampus promoted a negative energy balance and weight loss. These data identify essential roles forCadm1-mediated neuronal input in weight regulation and provide insight into the central pathways contributing to human obesity.
My takeaways:
* This team of researchers used the established genome wide associated studies system to identify a possible target protein responsible for regulation of body metabolism, and therefore obesity. This research establishes a pathway forward for a company to build a true weight loss product.
* Additionally, it allows doctors the ability to diagnose obesity as a genetic disorder for some. Obviously, there is a lot of research still to be done here, but the fact that the researchers were able to show that selectively turning off this one protein lead to reduction in weight is promising. They did this in both genetically engineered mice and by injecting an adenosine virus into the hippocampus of the brain and both showed promising results.
View all episodes
By Michael BruckmanNature Neuroscience, 2017, Vol 20, p1096-1103
Matthew Poy of the Max Delbruk Center for Molecular Medicine in Germany along with a team of 28 other researchers from various institutions around Europe and the US.
Abstract: Susceptibility to obesity is linked to genes regulating neurotransmission, pancreatic beta-cell function and energy homeostasis.Genome wide association studies have identified associations between body mass index and two loci near cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) and cell adhesion molecule 2 (CADM2), which encode membrane proteins that mediate synaptic assembly. We found that these respective risk variants associate with increased CADM1 and CADM2 expression in the hypothalamus of human subjects.Expression of both genes was elevated in obese mice, and induction of Cadm1 in excitatory neurons facilitated weight gain while exacerbating energy expenditure. Loss of Cadm1 protected mice from obesity, and tract-tracing analysis revealed Cadm1-positive innervation of POMC neurons via afferent projections originating from beyond the arcuate nucleus. Reducing Cadm1 expression in the hypothalamus and hippocampus promoted a negative energy balance and weight loss. These data identify essential roles forCadm1-mediated neuronal input in weight regulation and provide insight into the central pathways contributing to human obesity.
My takeaways:
* This team of researchers used the established genome wide associated studies system to identify a possible target protein responsible for regulation of body metabolism, and therefore obesity. This research establishes a pathway forward for a company to build a true weight loss product.
* Additionally, it allows doctors the ability to diagnose obesity as a genetic disorder for some. Obviously, there is a lot of research still to be done here, but the fact that the researchers were able to show that selectively turning off this one protein lead to reduction in weight is promising. They did this in both genetically engineered mice and by injecting an adenosine virus into the hippocampus of the brain and both showed promising results.