Bioinformatics analysis of functional protein sequences reveals a role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Using bioinformatics techniques and sequence analyses algorithms, a comparative study between human and rodents revealed similarity in the behavior of genes involved in the control of energy homeostasis. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates the secretion and actions of insulin, leptin, ghrelin, various neurotransmitters and peptides, and pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in energy homeostasis suggesting that it (BDNF) has a significant role in the pathobiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Based on these evidences, we propose that obesity and type 2 diabetes could be disorders of the brain and BDNF could serve as a biomarker in predicting their development. Hence, methods developed to selectively deliver BDNF to appropriate hypothalamic neurons may form a novel approach in their treatment.
Rao
Allam Appa
AA
Department of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, India.
Sridhar
Gumpeny R
GR
Srinivas
Bolem
B
Das
Undurti N
UN
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D019295:Computational Biology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D053486:Melanocortins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013045:Species Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D053486:Melanocortins