Therapeutic potential of gut peptides

A great deal of research interest is directed toward understanding the control of appetite and regulation of metabolism. It seems as if an epidemic of obesity is sweeping the world, and type II diabetes (T2DM) is following in its wake. The regulation of energy homeostasis is an area that straddles neurobiology, classical endocrinology and metabolism. It is currently one of the most exciting and rapidly advancing topics in medical research, and is also one of the most frustrating areas. The availability of highly palatable, calorie-dense food, together with the low requirement for physical activity in our modern environment, are major factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. If energy intake exceeds energy use, the excess calories are stored as body fat. Knowledge of the homeostatic system that controls body weight has increased dramatically over the last years and has revealed new potential targets for the treatment of obesity. One therapeutic approach is the development of agents based on the gastrointestinal hormones that control food intake and appetite. This review discusses several gut hormones and ligands for their receptors as potential anti-obesity treatments.