Immune system component also helps control appetite
The abundant food supply and relative leisure enjoyed by developed nations over the past century has put a premium on weight issues. Obesity is at epidemic levels, fueling related health problems such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Yet the more we learn about how our bodies regulate appetite, weight, fat accumulation and metabolism, the more dizzyingly complex the whole topic becomes. Using JAX® Mice, researchers at The Scripps Research Institute led by Eric Zorrilla have added yet another piece to the puzzle: our immune system. In a paper published in the June 26, 2007, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Zorilla et al show that mice genetically engineered to lack interleukin-18, an important regulator of the body’s immune response, overate and gained weight. And when interleukin-18 was administered to food-deprived mice, appetite and weight regain were suppressed. The mechanisms are not known, but it appears that certain components of the immune system help regulate appetite. Future studies will look at how interleukin-18 works in the brain to help control appetite in normal circumstances and how the process might translate to clinical weight loss therapies.
