Serotonin as a New Therapeutic Target for Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity.
- Author:
Chang Myung OH
1
;
Sangkyu PARK
;
Hail KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Obesity; Serotonin
- MeSH: Adipose Tissue, Brown; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Central Nervous System; Diabetes Mellitus*; Feeding Behavior; Genome-Wide Association Study; Heart Valve Diseases; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Mice; Neurons; Neurotransmitter Agents; Obesity*; Polymorphism, Genetic; Receptors, Serotonin; Serotonin*; Thermogenesis; Tryptophan Hydroxylase; Weight Gain
- From:Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2016;40(2):89-98
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is a monoamine that has various functions in both neuronal and non-neuronal systems. In the central nervous system, 5-HT regulates mood and feeding behaviors as a neurotransmitter. Thus, there have been many trials aimed at increasing the activity of 5-HT in the central nervous system, and some of the developed methods are already used in the clinical setting as anti-obesity drugs. Unfortunately, some drugs were withdrawn due to the development of unwanted peripheral side effects, such as valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension. Recent studies revealed that peripheral 5-HT plays an important role in metabolic regulation in peripheral tissues, where it suppresses adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. Inhibition of 5-HT synthesis reduced the weight gain and improved the metabolic dysfunction in a diet-induced obesity mouse model. Genome-wide association studies also revealed genetic associations between the serotonergic system and obesity. Several genetic polymorphisms in tryptophan hydroxylase and 5-HT receptors were shown to have strong associations with obesity. These results support the clinical significance of the peripheral serotonergic system as a therapeutic target for obesity and diabetes.
