The role of neuromedin U in leptin resistance

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860766
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Endocrinology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: AOTANI Daisuke 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (80600494)
• Research Collaborator: EBIHARA Ken 京都大学病院, 臨床研究総合センター, 准教授 (70362514) ; ABE Megumi 京都大学病院, 臨床研究総合センター, 助教 (20568688) ; KUSAKABE Toru 京都大学, 大学院医学研究科・内分泌代謝内科, 助教 (60452356) ; KATAOKA Sachiko 京都大学, 大学院医学研究科・内分泌代謝内科 ; SAKAI Takeru 京都大学, 大学院医学研究科・内分泌代謝内科 ; EBIHARA Chihiro 京都大学, 大学院医学研究科・内分泌代謝内科
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: レプチン抵抗性 / ニューロメジンU / 肥満 / 炎症 / インスリン抵抗性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that regulates food intake, energy expenditures and glucose homeostasis. Leptin exerts its anorexic effect by acting on the hypothalamus. In most of obese individuals, high levels of circulating leptin fail to control their body weight, resulting in a state known as leptin resistance. However, the mechanism of leptin resistance remains well unknown. Neuromedin U (NMU) is a peptide that has been implicated in central energy homeostasis and a wide variety of physiological role, including smooth muscle contraction, stress response, and pro-inflammatory response.
In the present study, we demonstrated that NMU is involved in diet-induced leptin resistance in the hypothalamus and systemic insulin resistance mainly via inflammatory signals.These results will yield new insights and potential targets for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Free Research Field

内分泌学