Obestatin: a new metabolic player in the pancreas and white adipose tissue.
Obestatin is a 23 amino acid amidated peptide, member of the preproghrelin gene-derived peptides. Initially, obestatin was reported to exert opposite effects to those of ghrelin on food intake and body weight gain, through interaction with GPR39; however, these findings are still strongly debated and obestatin biological role remains largely unknown. Interestingly, binding of obestatin to the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor has been recently suggested. Despite being a controversial peptide, recent findings have clearly indicated that obestatin is indeed a multifunctional peptide, exerting a variety of effects, such as stimulation of cell proliferation, survival and differentiation, influence on glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective actions. Its positive effects on glucose and lipid metabolism candidate this peptide as a potential therapeutic tool in pathological conditions such as insulin resistance and diabetes.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
Iacopo
I
Gesmundo
Davide
D
Gallo
Enrica
E
Favaro
Ezio
E
Ghigo
Riccarda
R
Granata
D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000502:physiology*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; C505799:obestatin, human; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor; insulin secretion; obestatin; pancreatic β-cells; white adipose tissue