Significance of homeodynamic regulation by hypothalamic orexin in preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09380
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Metabolomics
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: TSUNEKI Hiroshi 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(薬学), 准教授 (20332661)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 笹岡 利安 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(薬学), 教授 (00272906)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 糖尿病 / エネルギー・糖質代謝異常 / 生物時計 / インスリン抵抗性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Brain plays a major role in maintenance of energy homeostasis by coordinating daily rhythms in biological clock, sleep/wake, and metabolism. To reveal the mechanism, the present study investigated the functional significance of hypothalamic orexin system. In obese mice, amplification of the daily action of orexin by using orexin agonist in awake period or orexin antagonist in resting period improved glucose metabolism, whereas orexin deficiency caused severe obesity and metabolic abnormalities in the adipose tissue and the liver. Furthermore, orexin and estrogen synergistically prevented obesity-associated metabolic disorders. Thus, homeodynamic regulation of glucose and energy metabolism by hypothalamic orexin system appears to be a key factor for preventing metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学・内科系臨床医学・代謝学