title: Obestatin: is it really doing something?
abstract: Obestatin was identified in 2005 by Zhang and colleagues as a ghrelin-associated peptide, derived from posttranslational processing of the prepro-ghrelin gene. Initially, obestatin was reported to activate the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR39 and to reduce food intake and gastric emptying. However, obestatin remains a controversial peptide, as these findings have been questioned and its receptor is still a matter of debate, as well as its effects on feeding behavior. Recently, interaction with the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor has been suggested, in line with obestatin-positive effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. In addition, obestatin displays a variety of cellular effects, by regulating metabolic cell functions, increasing cell survival and proliferation, and inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation in different cell types. Finally, like ghrelin, obestatin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, including the pancreas and adipose tissue, and exerts both local actions in peripheral tissues, and distant effects at the central level. Therefore, obestatin may indeed be considered a hormone, although additional studies are required to clarify its physiopathological role and to definitely identify its receptor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trovato
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Settanni
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gesmundo
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
authors.forename: Riccarda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Granata
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C000593833:GLP1R protein, human; D054439:Ghrelin; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D005947:Glucose