Abstract
Energy balance is a highly regulated, complex process which is modulated by central and peripheral systems. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis can result in metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type II diabetes. Obesity and type II diabetes are two of the most prevalent and challenging clinical conditions in society today. A growing body of evidence has implicated the melanocortin system as an important component in the maintenance of energy balance. α- MSH, a 13 amino acid peptide secreted as a product of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in the pituitary is a potent agonist of 4 of the 5 cloned melanocortin receptors (MCR). MC receptors are members of a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, which signal through cAMP. Agouti and agoutirelated protein (AGRP) are natural antagonists of melanocortin receptors and participate in regulation of skin / fur pigmentation, body weight, and adiposity. Stimulation of MC receptors has pleiotropic effects, which impact the nervous system as well as endocrine and immune functions. One of the most prominent effects of MC receptor stimulation is a dramatic suppression of food intake and body weight, which has led to the hypothesis that the MC receptor system plays a primary role in the maintenance of energy balance. This idea is supported by a large body of pharmacological, molecular and human genetic evidence. The following review summarizes the role of melanocortin receptors in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis and highlights the opportunities for MC receptors as drug development targets in treating eating disorders and diabetes.
Keywords: melanocortin peptide, energy balance, melanocortin receptor, mc receptor, mcr, agrp, mc related protein
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: The Role of Melanocortin Peptides and Receptors in Regulation of Energy Balance
Volume: 9 Issue: 8
Author(s): Ildiko Antal Zimanyi and Mary Ann Pelleymounter
Affiliation:
Keywords: melanocortin peptide, energy balance, melanocortin receptor, mc receptor, mcr, agrp, mc related protein
Abstract: Energy balance is a highly regulated, complex process which is modulated by central and peripheral systems. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis can result in metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type II diabetes. Obesity and type II diabetes are two of the most prevalent and challenging clinical conditions in society today. A growing body of evidence has implicated the melanocortin system as an important component in the maintenance of energy balance. α- MSH, a 13 amino acid peptide secreted as a product of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in the pituitary is a potent agonist of 4 of the 5 cloned melanocortin receptors (MCR). MC receptors are members of a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, which signal through cAMP. Agouti and agoutirelated protein (AGRP) are natural antagonists of melanocortin receptors and participate in regulation of skin / fur pigmentation, body weight, and adiposity. Stimulation of MC receptors has pleiotropic effects, which impact the nervous system as well as endocrine and immune functions. One of the most prominent effects of MC receptor stimulation is a dramatic suppression of food intake and body weight, which has led to the hypothesis that the MC receptor system plays a primary role in the maintenance of energy balance. This idea is supported by a large body of pharmacological, molecular and human genetic evidence. The following review summarizes the role of melanocortin receptors in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis and highlights the opportunities for MC receptors as drug development targets in treating eating disorders and diabetes.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Zimanyi Antal Ildiko and Pelleymounter Ann Mary, The Role of Melanocortin Peptides and Receptors in Regulation of Energy Balance, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2003; 9 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033391234
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033391234 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Cannabinoids and Neuro-Inflammation: Regulation of Brain Immune Response
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) A Fatal Case of Acute Interstitial Pneumonia (AIP) in a Woman Affected by Glioblastoma
Current Drug Safety Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Oncology Drug Development
Current Clinical Pharmacology Focus on the Multimodal Role of Biomarkers in Breast Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Role of the APP Non-Amyloidogenic Signaling Pathway and Targeting α-Secretase as an Alternative Drug Target for Treatment of Alzheimers Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Erinacerins, Novel Glioma Inhibitors from <i>Hericium erinaceus</i>, Induce Apoptosis of U87 Cells through Bax/Capase-2 Pathway
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Oligonucleotide Aptamers for Glioma Targeting: An Update
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Emerging Roles for Modulation of microRNA Signatures in Cancer Chemoprevention
Current Cancer Drug Targets Organoselenium Compounds in Cancer Chemoprevention
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry The Roles of miR-25 and its Targeted Genes in Development of Human Cancer
MicroRNA An Expanding Appreciation of the Role Chemokine Receptors Play in Cancer Progression
Current Pharmaceutical Design Lipid Based Nanoparticles as Inherent Reversing Agents of Multidrug Resistance in Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Advances in Nano Drugs for Cancer Chemotherapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets T Cell Costimulatory and Inhibitory Receptors as Therapeutic Targets for Inducing Anti-Tumor Immunity
Current Cancer Drug Targets Pharmacology of Sigma (σ) Receptor Ligands from a Behavioral Perspective
Current Pharmaceutical Design Nucleic-Acid Delivery Using Lipid Nanocapsules
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Development of Decision Tree Models for Substrates, Inhibitors, and Inducers of P-Glycoprotein
Current Drug Metabolism NADPH Oxidases NOXs and DUOXs as Putative Targets for Cancer Therapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Alternative Splice Variants of Survivin as Potential Targets in Cancer
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Identification of Imidazoquinoline Derivatives as Potent Antiglioma Agents
Medicinal Chemistry