Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) reverses obesity and regulates appetite through a central mTOR pathway.

ABSTRACT: Body weight is regulated by coordinating energy intake and energy expenditure. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling has been shown to regulate energy balance in lower organisms, but whether a similar pathway exists in mammals is unknown. We have previously demonstrated that BMP7 can regulate brown adipogenesis and energy expenditure. In the current study, we have uncovered a novel role for BMP7 in appetite regulation. Systemic treatment of diet-induced obese mice with BMP7 resulted in increased energy expenditure and decreased food intake, leading to a significant reduction in body weight and improvement of metabolic syndrome. Similar degrees of weight loss with reduced appetite were also observed in BMP7-treated ob/ob mice, suggesting a leptin-ind

SUBMITTER: Townsend KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3336788 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature