Bombesin and its family of peptides: prospects for the treatment of obesity.
Bombesin, its family of bombesin-like peptides, and many other peptides/hormones modulate biological and behavioral functions in animals. Among the wide variety of functions influenced by bombesin/bombesin-like peptides, the most prominent may be their role in feeding-related behavior. Over many years, intensive psychopharmacological studies have addressed the mechanisms by which these peptides induce feeding suppression, and the results suggest the applicability of bombesin/bombesin-like peptides for the treatment of eating disorders and/or obesity in humans. Recent studies using gene-knockout mice also shed new light on the relationship between bombesin/bombesin-like peptides and feeding behavior. In addition, genetic analyses of the possible links between bombesin/bombesin-like peptides/receptors and human obesity have also been undertaken. Here, we briefly review the literature pertaining to the relationship between bombesin/bombesin-like peptides and feeding behavior-with particular attention to human subjects-and discuss the pharmacotherapeutic potential of bombesin/bombesin-like peptides with regard to obesity.
Yamada
Kazuyuki
K
Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira City, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan. Kaz-yamada@brain.riken.go.jp [corrected]
Wada
Etsuko
E
Santo-Yamada
Yuko
Y
Wada
Keiji
K
D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001839:Bombesin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010455:Peptides; D001839:Bombesin