The Long-Term Impact of High Levels of Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone in Energy Balance Among Obese Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Deregulation of orexigenic and anorexigenic pathways occurs among adolescents with obesity. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a key catabolic mediator of energy homeostasis and an important anorexigenic neuropeptide in the control of energy balance and thermogenesis. However, it was not well explored if α-MSH can modulate long-term weight loss therapy responses in a dependent manner according to its concentration. Our hypothesis is that a high α-MSH concentration at baseline promotes better modulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic pathways in obese adolescents. Methods: One hundred ten post-pubertal obese adolescents (body mass index >95th percentile) were submitted to 1 year of interdisciplinary therapy (clinical, nutritional, psychological, physical exercise, and physiotherapy support). Body composition and plasma levels of α-MSH, neuropeptide Y (NPY), melanin-concentrating hormone, and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) were measured before and after therapy. The volunteers were grouped on the basis of Tertiles of α-MSH concentration: Low (<0.75 ng/mL), Medium (≤0.76 to ≥1.57 ng/mL), and High (>1.57 ng/mL). Significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: The treatment promoted a significant improvement in body adiposity and fat free mass for all groups. It is important to note that only in the high α-MSH group, a significant increase of the α-MSH/NPY ratio and decrease NPY/AgRP ratio post treatment were observed. Conclusion: The high α-MSH concentration promotes better modulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic pathways in obese adolescents following long-term weight loss therapy and this is important in clinical practice.

Metabolomics Reveals the Alteration of Metabolic Pathway by Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone in B16F10 Melanoma Cells

“…Meanwhile, there are some reports that α-MSH is involved in energy balance by regulating appetite stimulation based on the relationship with orexigenic neuropeptides and leptin [ 26 , 27 ]. Kravchychyn et al [ 28 ] reported that the long-term α-MSH treatment promoted a significant improvement in body adiposity through the regulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic pathways in obese adolescents. From the above results, α-MSH appears to be an important substance involved in the complex mechanisms of energy balance control.…”

Microbiome-based interventions to modulate gut ecology and the immune system

“… • The probiotic bacterium, Hafnia alvei HA4597, has been shown to reduce feed intake by patients, improving weight loss during dieting 283 . This was linked to the expression of ClpB, a protein similar to α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, which is involved in the regulation of energy balance 284 . • FMT has been studied for inducing remission in patients with ulcerative colitis 285 .…”

Dietary total antioxidant capacity interacts with a variant of chromosome 5q13-14 locus to influence cardio-metabolic risk factors among obese adults

“…Analyses of serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were conducted by commercially available kits (Pars Azmoon Inc., Tehran, Iran) [ 21 ]. Serum insulin [ 23 ] and plasma concentrations of α-MSH and AgRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Shanghai Korean Biotech, Shanghai City, China) [ 24 ] based on manufacturer’s protocol. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), the homeostasis model of assessment ratio (HOMA-R) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were calculated using the protocols which have been described by Friedewald et al [ 25 ], Matthews et al [ 26 ] and Katz et al [ 27 ], respectively.…”