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What if the key to losing weight lay within our brains? According to researchers from the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea, brain cells may hold the secret to weight loss in obese individuals without requiring significant changes to their diets. These groundbreaking findings, published in the specialized journal Nature Metabolism, open up exciting new possibilities in the fight against obesity.
Obesity: A Group of Neurons at the Heart of Weight Regulation
The researchers explain that the intricate balance between food intake and energy expenditure is supervised by a region in the brain called the hypothalamus. While it has long been known that neurons in the lateral hypothalamus are linked to adipose tissue and play a role in fat metabolism, their precise function in weight regulation has remained a mystery. The results of this study conducted on mice shed light on the crucial role of a specific group of neurons found in the hypothalamus, identified as the GABRA5 group. This group expresses a receptor for the inhibitory neurotransmitter “GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)” and is associated with the α5 subunit of the GABAA receptor.
By observing obese mice, the Korean scientists noted a significant slowdown in the activation of GABRA5 neurons. Inhibiting the activity of these neurons resulted in a reduction in heat production in brown adipose tissue, leading to fat accumulation and weight gain. The researchers also demonstrated that activating GABRA5 neurons allowed mice to lose weight, hinting at the possibility that this group of neurons serves as a key switch for weight regulation.
Weight Loss Without Altering Diet: A Potential Reality
But the discoveries don’t stop there. The researchers also identified hypothalamic cells called astrocytes that regulate the activity of GABRA5 neurons. By suppressing the expression of a specific gene in these cells, it was possible to decrease the secretion of GABA, thus reversing the inhibition of GABRA5 neurons. This experiment, conducted on mice, showed that by acting on this enzyme, it was possible to increase heat production in the adipose tissue of obese animals without changing their diet. These experimental results suggest that the enzyme MAO-B, present in reactive astrocytes, could be an effective target for the treatment of obesity without affecting individuals’ appetite.
A Promising Treatment Against Obesity
Another promising avenue lies in the testing of a drug called KDS2010, which can target this enzyme. Initial results are described as “remarkable,” with a significant reduction in fat accumulation and weight without impacting the amount of food consumed. In a context where the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated obesity as an “emerging infectious disease of the 21st century,” KDS2010 is considered a potential next-generation treatment for obesity, capable of effectively combating this global epidemic without suppressing appetite. According to WHO, the number of obesity cases has nearly tripled worldwide since 1975, underscoring the urgency of these findings for public health.
