Abstract
The importance of the melanocortin system in obesity has been confirmed by the recent discovery of mutations in the melanocortin MC4 receptor in morbidly obese patients and the finding that intranasal administration of a fragment of melanocortin decreases body fat in humans. Transgenic mice overexpressing melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are obese and a second MCH receptor has been identified. In addition, ghrelin, endocannabinoids and glucagon-like peptide 2 have been identified as potentially important central regulators of food intake.
MeSH terms
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Agouti-Related Protein
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Animals
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Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
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Cannabinoids / metabolism
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Eating / physiology
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Energy Metabolism / physiology
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Ghrelin
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Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
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Glucagon-Like Peptides
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Humans
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Hypothalamic Hormones / metabolism
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Hypothalamus / metabolism*
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Melanins / metabolism
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
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Neuropeptide Y / metabolism
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Obesity / drug therapy*
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Obesity / metabolism
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Peptide Hormones*
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Peptides / metabolism*
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Pituitary Hormones / metabolism
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Pro-Opiomelanocortin / genetics
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Pro-Opiomelanocortin / metabolism
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Proteins / metabolism
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Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3
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Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4
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Receptors, Corticotropin / agonists
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Receptors, Corticotropin / genetics
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Receptors, Corticotropin / metabolism
Substances
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Agouti-Related Protein
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Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
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Cannabinoids
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Ghrelin
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Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
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Hypothalamic Hormones
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Melanins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Neuropeptide Y
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Peptide Hormones
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Peptides
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Pituitary Hormones
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Proteins
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Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3
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Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4
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Receptors, Corticotropin
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cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript protein
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Glucagon-Like Peptides
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Pro-Opiomelanocortin
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melanin-concentrating hormone