Gut hormones regulating appetite and metabolism

The worldwide obesity epidemic has prompted renewed interest in understanding the mechanisms of energy homeostasis. Neural and endocrine signals from gut to brain are thought to play a vital role in the short-term regulation of appetite. Several gut hormones including glucagon-like-peptide-1, oxyntomodulin (OXM), peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) act as satiety signals, whilst ghrelin acts as a hunger hormone by increasing appetite. Modulation of gut hormones could provide an effective long-term therapy for the treatment of obesity.

Section editors:Ramakanth Sarabu and Jefferson W. Tilley – Roche Research Center, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA