Eating disorders such as food binging can affect our daily lives along with our physical and mental health. The most complex organ in our body plays a big role in this destructive disorder: the brain. Compulsive eating starts in the brain where a signaling pathway releases certain biomolecules that help stimulate food intake. In order to combat this, scientists have found a way to administer an inhibitor for the enzyme that controls the release of these biomolecules, which, in turn, can help effectively reduce food binging. This novel approach of controlling and limiting certain groups of neurons helps increase the credibility of using drugs to subdue excessive cravings.
Stressed binge-eating woman.
Image Source: bymuratdeniz
The hypothalamus contains a group of nerve cells known as agouti-related peptide neurons (AgRP) that help release endogenous phospholipids known as lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). These phospholipids are then converted into a signaling molecule known as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which helps stimulate feelings of hunger. Scientists have found that the enzyme that converts LPC into LPA —autotaxin (ATX) — can be suppressed by an inhibitor, which significantly reduces excessive food intake and obesity.
The researchers used a mouse model to test the inhibitor’s effectiveness, leading to promising results. To increase the craving for food, the mice were subjected to a period of fasting during which the researchers found that there was an increase in LPC in the blood that led to stimulating LPA in the brain. By using an autotaxin inhibitor, food-seeking behaviors caused by the biomolecule LPA were normalized. In addition, when the inhibitors were administered to the mice continuously, a significant weight loss was seen in the obese mice. Prior research also demonstrated that people with a disturbed synaptic LPA signaling pathway are more likely to struggle with obesity and have type II diabetes, but the success of autotaxin inhibitors in the mouse model reveals hope for the development of the therapeutic drug for human use.
Featured Image Source: Nelly Kovalchuk
