17 Oct New Molecule Induces Weight Loss By Converting White Fat To Brown

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ramesh Narayanan, Ph.D., MBA
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine,
Director, Center for Cancer Drug Discovery,
University of Tennessee Health Science Center,
Memphis, 38103.

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Obesity and metabolic diseases affect over a third of the global population. Obesity, unlike several diseases, is not isolated as it’s incidence is associated with other conditions such as type-2-diabetes, insulin resistance, and fatty-liver. Although calorie-restriction and exercise assist in the fight against obesity, these approaches have limitations in morbidly obese individuals and in individuals with comorbidities. The drugs that are available to treat obesity act by inducing satiety. Alternate peripheral non-CNS approaches are required to treat obesity.

The molecule reported in this manuscript, β-LGND2, activates estrogen receptor β (ER-β) and prevents weight gain in a preclinical high-calorie diet-induced obesity model. The molecule increases body heat and energy expenditure by converting white adipose tissue (bad fat) to brown adipose tissue (good energy burning fat), culminating in weight gain prevention. These physiological changes were not accompanied by an increase in physical activity. Since the molecule increases energy expenditure without a concomitant increase in activity, it could be considered as an exercise mimetic.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: In the absence of clinical trial data, these findings have to be cautiously interpreted. If these findings are reproduced in future clinical trials in obese patients, the drug could offer a treatment for obesity that utilizes mechanisms distinct from those that induce satiety. These results provide early hope for patients suffering from obesity and metabolic diseases.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: The molecule has to undergo clinical trials to determine if the magnitude of effects seen pre-clinically could be obtained in humans. Also, it is yet to be determined if ER-β agonists with different scaffolds will have the ability to promote these favorable changes or whether these effects are unique to this structural class of molecules.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

S. Ponnusamy, Q. T. Tran, I. Harvey, H. S. Smallwood, T. Thiyagarajan, S. Banerjee, D. L. Johnson, J. T. Dalton, R. D. Sullivan, D. D. Miller, D. Bridges, R. Narayanan.Pharmacologic activation of estrogen receptor increases mitochondrial function, energy expenditure, and brown adipose tissue. The FASEB Journal, 2016; DOI:10.1096/fj.201600787RR

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Last Updated on October 17, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD