Gastrointestinal signalling peptides in obesity

Numerous peptides are synthesized and released from distinct populations of specific secretory cells throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Their roles in the regulation of gastrointestinal function have been well known for many years, but it is now evident that they also modulate orexigenic drive and energy metabolism via different mechanisms. Thereby, these peptides represent potential targets for the design of anti-obesity drugs. In this review, we summarize the main gastrointestinal peptides and their physiological functions.

Section editor:Yu-Xiao Yang – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA