University of Michigan researchers have discovered that manipulating a protein network in the brain, specifically melanocortin 3 and melanocortin 4, can enhance the effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs, which are used for treating diabetes and obesity. By altering the melanocortin system, the study found that mice became more responsive to these drugs, experiencing significantly greater weight loss and reduced food intake without increased side effects, suggesting potential for improved therapeutic strategies in humans. University of Michigan research shows that manipulating brain proteins melanocortin 3 and 4 can boost the effectiveness of diabetes and weight-loss drugs, reducing side effects and potentially enhancing treatment outcomes.
New research from the University of Michigan suggests that a network of proteins in the central nervous system may be used to enhance the efficacy and minimize the side effects of widely used diabetes and weight-loss medications. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation , focused on two proteins called melanocortin 3 and melanocortin 4 found primarily on the surface of neurons in the brain that play a central role in regulating feeding behavior and maintaining the body’s energy balance. Melanocortin 3 and melanocortin 4 impact everything from sensing long-term energy stores to processing signals from the gut regarding short-term fullness, or satiety, said U-M physiologist Roger Cone, who led the study.
The class of drugs known.