2024-08-15 16:57:00
Using ACBP peptide to induce feeding
A large multi-institutional group of medical researchers reported that they administered the peptide ACBP to anorexic rats and overeating.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person consumes less food than necessary. It is best known as a disorder that arises when a person is afraid of gaining weight, sometimes due to body dysmorphia. But the problem can also appear for other reasons, such as stress that causes a lack of love. Patients receiving chemotherapy also often lose their appetite. In this new study, the research team asked if it would be possible to regain the desire to eat.
The researchers focused their work on acyl-coenzyme-binding protein (ACBP), which is known to induce hunger by interacting with certain brain neurons. Previous research has shown that people with anorexia tend to have low levels in their blood; Some studies have also found associations between ACBP levels and hunger pangs. The researchers analyzed the records of patients hospitalized for anorexia, all of whom had less than normal ACBP levels, a finding that may explain the high rate of relapses of the disorder.
Since ACBP is only released in the body when cells break down, the research team had to find another way to get the anorexic rats to start producing more naturally. They genetically modified their liver cells to produce ACBP when exposed to biotin; some rats are made anorexic by putting them under stress, others by giving them chemotherapy drugs.
After inducing symptoms of anorexia, the team administered biotin to the mice to increase their ACBP levels, which overcame the stress and chemotherapy drugs, allowing the mice to feel hungry and start eating.
The researchers also found that added ACBP silenced the activity of melanocortin 4 receptors in the hypothalamus, which are known to play a role in neutralizing food.
This article was published in the journal Scientific Interpretation.
#ACBP #peptide #induce #feeding