The melanocortins and melanin-concentrating hormone in the central regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis.
A number of different neuropeptides exert powerful concerted controls on feeding behavior and energy balance, most of them being produced in hypothalamic neuronal networks under stimulation by anabolic and catabolic peripheral hormones such as ghrelin and leptin, respectively. These peptide-expressing neurons interconnect extensively to integrate the multiple opposing signals that mediate changes in energy expenditure. In the present review I have summarized our current knowledge about two key peptidic systems involved in regulating appetite and energy homeostasis, the melanocortin system (alpha-MSH, agouti and Agouti-related peptides, MC receptors and mahogany protein) and the melanin-concentrating hormone system (proMCH-derived peptides and MCH receptors) that contribute to satiety and feeding-initiation, respectively, with concurrent effects on energy expenditure. I have focused particularly on recent data concerning transgenic mice and the ongoing development of MC/MCH receptor antagonists/agonists that may represent promising drugs to treat human eating disorders on both sides of the energy balance (anorexia, obesity).
Nahon
Jean-Louis
JL
Institut de pharmacologie moléculaire et cellulaire, UMR 6097, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), 660, route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France. nahonjl@ipmc.cnrs.fr
D054366:Agouti Signaling Protein; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008543:Melanins / Q000502:physiology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000502:physiology; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000502:physiology*
D054366:Agouti Signaling Protein; D006728:Hormones; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D000521:alpha-MSH; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone