Brain Enzyme May Slim Down The Obese

An enzyme found in the brain that may pave way for obesity treatment, has been identified by scientists from Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre.

The Sirt1 enzyme in the body has generated enormous attention as a possible secret to living longer.

Gene That Regulates Obesity and Diabetes Identified
The discovery of a genetic mutation has given researchers at Boston University School of Medicine, USA, new insights into the cellular mechanisms that link obesity to Type 2 diabetes.

They found that inhibiting the activity of Sirt1 in the brain’s hypothalamic region appears to help control food intake - something that provides ground for new treatments for obesity.

It suggests that Sirt1 behaves differently in the brain than in organs such as the liver and pancreas, where the enzyme has been more commonly studied.

Researchers have shown that fasting activates Sirt1 and thereby helps extend life.

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A gene by name SIRT1 prevents cholesterol build-up in body by activating a cellular pathway that removes cholesterol from the body.

Drug companies and scientists have also thrown their support behind resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, thought to be beneficial to the body because it may activate Sirt1.

The new Brown research challenges at least some of the preexisting findings, because scientists found that inhibiting the activity of Sirt1 in the brains of rats, rather than stimulating it, appeared to reduce appetite, leading to a smaller weight gain compared to untreated animals. They believe a similar mechanism exists in human brains.

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"It’s still controversial whether calorie restriction or resveratrol are Sirt1 stimulators," said Eduardo Nillni, the study’s lead author. Nillni is professor of medicine (research) at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a member of the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry.

The team did find that fasting helped increase Sirt1 production and activity in the brain, consistent with the view that reducing food intake stimulates Sirt1 elsewhere in the body.

Caloric Restriction in Non-obese People Extends Life Span
Caloric Restriction in non-obese people too is not without benefits. Caloric Restriction causes less oxidative damage in muscle cells which delays aging and extends life span.

But they generated clear data showing that pharmacologically or genetically inhibiting Sirt1 activity in the brain led to the animals eating less food and gaining fewer pounds compared to their untreated counterparts.

The study appears in PLoS ONE.

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