Central pre-proglucagon derived peptides: opportunities for treatment of obesity.
Modern societies have moved from famine to feast and obesity and its co-morbidities now sweep the world as a global epidemic. Numerous scientific laboratories and pharmaceutical companies have taken the challenge and are now exploiting novel molecular targets for treatment of obesity. The pre-proglucagon system constitutes interesting candidates as potential targets for new anti-obesity drugs. In the periphery, pre-proglucagon derived peptides, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 (GLP-2) and oxyntomodulin (OXM) are involved in a wide variety of physiological functions, including glucose homeostasis, gastric emptying, intestinal growth, insulin secretion as well as the regulation of food intake. Peripheral administration of GLP-1 derivatives and analogues to both rodents and man have shown promising effects on food intake and body weight suggesting that such therapies constitute potential anti-obesity treatment. In the central nervous system, pre-proglucagon and hence GLP-1, GLP-2 and OXM are exclusively found in a small population of nerve cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract. These constitute a neural pathway linking the "viscero-sensory" brainstem to hypothalamic nuclei involved in energy homeostasis. Intracerebroventricular administration of all of the three derived peptides robustly decrease food intake. It is evident that central GLP-1 agonism probably in combination with GLP-2 and/or OXM agonism constitute a potential pharmacological tool to reduce food intake and maybe also enhance energy expenditure. This and other aspects of the current state of the role of central pre-proglucagon in energy homeostasis are reviewed.
Larsen
Philip J
PJ
Rheoscience, Glerupvej 2, 2610 Rødovre, Denmark. pjl@rheoscience.com
Vrang
Niels
N
Tang-Christensen
Mads
M
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005934:Glucagon / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053772:Oxyntomodulin; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D052336:Proglucagon; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000502:physiology
C000593833:GLP1R protein, human; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D053772:Oxyntomodulin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D052336:Proglucagon; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D005934:Glucagon