脑干和边缘系统调控代谢和能量平衡研究进展

Brainstem and Limbic System Regulate Metabolism and Energy Balance

肥胖和相关代谢紊乱是人类日益增长的健康挑战,主要由能量摄入和能量消耗之间失衡所致。众所周知,中枢神经系统调控机体代谢稳态和能量平衡,下丘脑发挥核心调控作用。近年来研究发现,脑干和边缘系统也密切参与摄食、体温、糖脂代谢、食物相关奖赏及成瘾、水盐平衡等代谢相关功能调控,共同维持机体能量平衡。目前美国FDA批准上市的7种减肥药物,其中6种是以中枢神经系统神经递质及其受体为靶点。因此,阐明中枢神经系统调节代谢和能量平衡的机制,对研究肥胖相关发病机制及新药研发,具有重要意义。本文综述近年来有关脑干和边缘系统调控代谢和能量平衡研究进展,以期深入了解中枢神经系统调控代谢和能量平衡的神经与分子机制,为开发新的肥胖相关疾病诊疗药物提供新的参考。

Obesity and related metabolic disorders are growing health challenges,which is mainly resulted from an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.The central nervous system,in particularly the hypothalamus,plays a pivotal role in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and energy balance.Recently studies show that the brainstem and limbic system are also involved in regulating energy balance,including food intake,body temperature,glucose and lipid metabolism,food-related reward,and water-salt balance.To date,there are seven anti-obesity drugs,which have been approved by the FDA,and six of them target on neurotransmitters and their receptors in the brain,showing that exploring the central mechanism of metabolic regulation contributes to the understanding of obesity pathogenesis as well as the new drug discovery.In this review,the studies on the roles of the brainstem and limbic system in the regulation of metabolism are summarized with an emphasis on progress made during the recent years for providing insights into the mechanism by which the brainstem and limbic system regulates the metabolic homeostasis and energy balance,and the novel therapeutic strategy for metabolic diseases.