Frago Laura M, Chowen Julie A
Department of Endocrinology Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús. Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 65 28009 Madrid, Spain.
Curr Pharm Des. 2015;21(25):3596-605. doi: 10.2174/1381612821666150710145428.
Metabolic homeostasis requires a tight balance between energy intake and energy expenditure; hence, the physiological circuits implicated in the regulation of energy metabolism must be able to quickly adjust to changes in either side of the equation. Circulating orexigenic and anorexigenic factors, including ghrelin and leptin, are produced in the gastrointestinal tract and adipose tissue, respectively, in relation to an individual's nutritional status. These signals interact with central metabolic circuits to regulate the production and secretion of neuropeptides implicated in the control of appetite and energy expenditure. However, this physiological equilibrium can be perturbed by diverse processes, with weight gain occurring due to a positive energy balance and weight loss taking place if there is a negative energy balance. If a situation of positive energy balance continues for an extended period of time, excess weight is accumulated and this can eventually result in obesity. Obesity has become one of the most important health problems facing the industrialized world, indicating that metabolic equilibrium is frequently disrupted. Understanding how and why this occurs will allow new therapeutical targets to be identified.
代谢稳态要求能量摄入与能量消耗之间保持严格的平衡；因此，参与能量代谢调节的生理回路必须能够迅速适应等式两边任何一方的变化。与个体营养状况相关，促食欲和抑食欲因子（包括胃饥饿素和瘦素）分别在胃肠道和脂肪组织中产生。这些信号与中枢代谢回路相互作用，以调节与食欲和能量消耗控制相关的神经肽的产生和分泌。然而，这种生理平衡可能会受到多种过程的干扰，能量平衡为正时体重增加，能量平衡为负时体重减轻。如果正能量平衡的情况持续较长时间，就会积累过多体重，最终可能导致肥胖。肥胖已成为工业化世界面临的最重要的健康问题之一，这表明代谢平衡经常被打破。了解其发生的方式和原因将有助于确定新的治疗靶点。
