title: Can neuropeptides treat obesity? A review of neuropeptides and their potential role in the treatment of obesity.
abstract: Obesity is a major worldwide public health issue. The physiological systems that regulate body weight are thus of great interest as targets for anti-obesity agents. Peptidergic systems are critical to the regulation of energy homeostasis by key regions in the hypothalamus and brainstem. A number of neuropeptide systems have therefore been investigated as potential treatments for obesity. Blocking orexigenic peptide signals such as neuropeptide Y, melanin-concentrating hormone, orexins, relaxin-3 and galanin-like peptide or stimulating anorectic signalling pathways used by peptides such as the melanocortins, ciliary neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, are approaches that have shown some promise, but which have also highlighted possible concerns. Manipulation of central peptidergic systems poses a number of therapeutic problems, including brain access and side effects. Given that the homeostatic defence of body weight may limit the effectiveness of any single-target therapy developed, a combination therapy approach may offer the best hope for the effective prevention and treatment of obesity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This article is part of a themed section on Neuropeptides. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.170.issue-7.
authors.affiliation: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Boughton
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D009479:Neuropeptides
keywords: anorectic; hypothalamus; neuropeptides; obesity; orexigenic