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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The future of fighting obesity may include treatments to reduce food cravings and burn more calories.
Scientists from Scripps Research say an antibody that works against the gastric hormone ghrelin -- which has been linked to weight gain through its metabolic actions -- could lead to new ways of treating obesity that would interfere with some of the biological mechanisms that determine weight.
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The study finds the antibody catalyst GHR-11E11 led to a higher metabolic rate in fasting mice and suppressed feeding after 24 hours of food deprivation.
Our study showed that this novel catalytic ghrelin antibody could specifically seek out and degrade ghrelin, researcher Kim Janda, Scripps Research, was quoted as saying. While this antibody lacks a high level of catalytic efficiency, our study clearly demonstrates that even a basal level of catalysis can effectively modulate feeding behavior. These findings not only validate antibody-based therapeutics, but strongly suggest that catalytic anti-ghrelin antibodies might help patients reach and maintain their weight loss goals.
Ghrelin can affect weight loss or gain. The body releases the hormone to encourage eating during periods of calorie restriction. Previous research shows ghrelin levels rise before meals and fall after eating. Food deprivation increases circulating ghrelin levels while eating decreases them.
The researchers say scientists need to better understand issues such as the effect of the antibodies over the long-term and how they can impact people with varying body weights.
SOURCE: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published online October 27, 2008
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