Regulation of adaptive behaviour during fasting by hypothalamic Foxa2

Jose P. Silva, Ferdinand von Meyenn, Jessica Howell, Bernard Thorens, Christian Wolfrum and Markus Stoffel ()
Additional contact information
Jose P. Silva: The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA
Ferdinand von Meyenn: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich, Institute for Molecular Systems Biology, Wolfgang Pauli Strasse 16, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
Jessica Howell: The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA
Bernard Thorens: Center of Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne
Christian Wolfrum: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich, Institute for Molecular Systems Biology, Wolfgang Pauli Strasse 16, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
Markus Stoffel: The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA

Nature, 2009, vol. 462, issue 7273, 646-650

Abstract: Foxa2 shows antiobesity potential A novel mechanism by which insulin regulates metabolic and behavioural responses to fasting and feeding has been discovered. During fasting, the neuropeptides orexin and MCH (melanin-concentrating hormone) are released in the lateral hypothalamic area — the classic 'feeding centre' of the brain — where they induce motivated behaviour and stimulate food intake. Work in mice shows that expression of orexin and MCH is regulated by the transcription factor Foxa2. After a meal, insulin signalling renders Foxa2 ineffective and orexin and MCH production ceases. Mice with Foxa2 permanently 'on' have more orexin and MCH, eat more and are more physically active and have improved insulin sensitivity. Turning on Foxa2 in obese mice increases lean body mass and reduces their fat content. Pharmacological blockade of Foxa2 phosphorylation may therefore increase levels of physical activity and improve overall health.

Date: 2009
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature08589 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:462:y:2009:i:7273:d:10.1038_nature08589

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/nature08589

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().