Signaling pathway in the brain to control food intake decoded

Binge eating bye bye: Signaling pathway in the brain to control food intake decoded. (Image: Pixabay CC0) - A group of researchers has found a completely new approach to treating eating disorders. The scientists have demonstrated that a group of nerve cells in the hypothalamus (known as AgRP, agouti-related peptide neurons) control the release of endogenous lysophospholipids, which in turn control the excitability of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex, stimulating food intake. In this regard, the crucial step of this signaling pathway is controlled by the enzyme autotaxin, which is responsible for the production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in the brain as a modulator of network activity. In this context, the administration of autotaxin inhibitors can significantly reduce both the well-known overeating after fasting and obesity in animal models. The article ,,AgRP neurons control feeding behavior at cortical synapses via peripherally-derived lysophospholipids" has now been published in ,,Nature Metabolism". Eating disorders and especially obesity are one of the most common causes of a variety of diseases in industrialized societies worldwide, especially cardiovascular diseases with permanent disabilities or fatal outcome such as heart attack, diabetes or stroke.