The prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes with BDNF, a myokine derived from skeletal muscle

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26350885
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied health science
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: HANYU Osamu 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 講師 (10452054)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAWA Hiroyuki 新潟大学, 脳研究所, 教授 (50183083)
• Research Collaborator: FURUKAWA Kazuo
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: BDNF / 糖尿病 / 肥満

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a possible anti-obesity and anti-diabetes agent with its anorectic and hypoglycemic effect. Recently BDNF is considered as one of myokines which is produced in skeletal muscle. We demonstrated that BDNF reduces blood glucose level via suppression of glucagon secretion from pancreas. In addition, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) induces BDNF release from human platelets through the activation of the Src family kinase pathway (Furukawa, K. et al. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2017;16(1):20). Considering the toxic action of AGEs and the protective roles of BDNF, it can be hypothesized that AGE-induced BDNF release is a biological defense system in the early phase of diabetes. Chronic elevation of AGEs may induce depletion or downregulation of BDNF in platelets during the progression of diabetes mellitus.

Free Research Field

糖尿病内科／内分泌代謝内科／糖エネルギー代謝