New Discovery May Unravel the Holy Grail of Obesity
posted 08/01/03

New Protein Identified Which Can Possibly Unlock The Treatment For Obesity

Researchers have unlocked another door in the complex search for a drug that could treat the growing scourge of obesity.

Researchers at the McGill University Health Centre and Britain's Sheffield University announced last week, they've made the first identification of a new protein on fat cells that signals fat tissue to store more fat. "Now we can say we have not only the key, but the lock on the door that can actually control how much fat gets stored," said McGill's Dr. Katherine Cianflone.

By identifying molecules that affect fat production, researchers believe they would be able to affect weight gain and provide relief to millions of obese people around the world.

The hope is to find a way to interrupt or slow down the C5L2 receptor's signal to the asylation stimulating protein (ASP) hormone to prevent fat storage.

More than 300 genes associated with weight have been discovered in the past decade, with help from the human genome project. However, this is the strongest one associated with fat storage, she said.

The discovery was made six months ago after four years of research into the receptor gene. The findings were published recently in the U.S.-based Journal of Biological Chemistry.
A patent application has been submitted for the receptor that could eventually be used as the basis for an anti-obesity drug. Talks are set to begin with several large American and Canadian pharmaceutical companies, said Cianflone.

Obesity has became a problem in North American in all age groups, raising the risk for heart disease, diabetes and cardiovascular problems.

But Cianflone warned a drug won't completely replace exercise and diet to regulate weight.

Dr. David Lau, president of Obesity Canada which is a non-profit agency of health-care professionals, said the discovery opens the door to better understanding of the role of fat cells but won't provide a miracle cure. "Certainly, it's an important discovery along the way to unravel the Holy Grail, if you will," said Lau, who's also a professor of medicine at the University of Calgary and a fat cell researcher. "We're years away from the magic pill and I think it's important to understand that there are no quick fixes when it comes to a chronic problem such as overweight and obesity, which doesn't develop overnight."

Dr. Diane Finegood, scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, agreed.

Finegood said research such as this is an important step forward in understanding how to regulate body weight, aside from diet and exercise. "There is no silver bullet for this problem."

Simply telling people to eat less and exercise more is harmful because some people's gene profile makes it more difficult for them to change their behaviour, Finegood added.

"It's really unfair to say obesity is all about people who eat too much and don't exercise enough because each of us makes our choices around food and physical activity based on a whole complex web of factors both social and biological factors."

Source: Diabetes In Control Dot Com: Journal of Biological Chemistry July 2003.

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