title: Role of central melanocortin pathways in energy homeostasis.
abstract: The rise in the global prevalence of human obesity has emphasized the need for a greater understanding of the physiological mechanisms that underlie energy homeostasis. Numerous circulating nutritional cues and central neuromodulatory signals are integrated within the brain to regulate both short- and long-term nutritional state. The central melanocortin system represents a crucial point of convergence for these signals and, thus, has a fundamental role in regulating body weight. The melanocortin ligands, synthesized in discrete neuronal populations within the hypothalamus and brainstem, modulate downstream homeostatic signalling via their action at central melanocortin-3 and -4 receptors. Intimately involved in both ingestive behaviour and energy expenditure, the melanocortin system has garnered much interest as a potential therapeutic target for human obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK.
authors.forename: Alastair S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Garfield
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Oliver J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Marston
authors.forename: Magdalena J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Przydzial
authors.forename: Lora K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Heisler
mesh_terms: D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053486:Melanocortins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D053486:Melanocortins