Endocrinology and Immunology of Obesity, Obesity Vaccines

Vanja      Zjacic-Rotkvic

Abstract

The amount of body fat is precisely regulated in the overall process of energy homeostasis. Multiple organ systems participate in the regulatory process. Key regulatory signals reach the brain from the blood and control food intake and energy expenditure. The hypothalamus region integrates neurohormonal signaling from gut and adipose tissue. Morbid obesity is also associated with low grade systemic inflammation and immune activation. It can be at least in part regarded as an inflammatory disease. The anti-ghrelin vaccine decreases food intake, decreases hypothalamic orexigenic signals and increases energy expenditure and therefore might become an alternative treatment tool.

Keywords: Adiposity signals, anti-ghrelin vaccine, hypothalamus, inflammatory state, intestinal peptides, neuropeptides, obesity.

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