Molecular approaches to the discovery of new treatments for obesity.
The treatment of obesity requires modulation of both energy intake and energy expenditure, and pharmaceutical treatments are being developed to complement the traditional means of dietary restriction and exercise. The recent discovery of the protein leptin, which modulates both food intake and energy expenditure, has provided a new tool with which to define and analyze potential pathways for pharmacological intervention. Neurotransmitters, such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) and norepinephrine, act downstream of leptin to modulate energy homeostasis. Specific subtypes of the receptors for these neurotransmitters represent promising molecular targets for the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of obesity.
Strader
C D
CD
Department of CNS and Cardiovascular Research, Schering Plough Research Institute, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
MacIntyre
D E
DE
Candelore
M R
MR
Parker
E M
EM
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001066:Appetite; D001835:Body Weight; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins