Obesity: molecular basis and therapeutic targets

Obesity is an increasingly serious health problem, and is highly associated with insulin-resistance and dyslipidemia. The mechanisms involved in the d evelopment of this disorder are still poorly understood, although significa nt progress has been recently made in the elucidation of their molecular ba sis. The major causes leading to obesity are defects in the regulation of f at metabolism. Several mutations identified in different animal models have unveiled the roles of a number of genes in the regulation of energy balanc e. These dicoveries, together with the fact that some of these mutations ha ve been found in humans, have lead to the conclusion that obesity is due to nutritional or environmental factors, but also involves genetic factors. A number of important peripheric factors participate in the regulation proce sses, such as the adipocyte-specific hormone leptin, and the nuclear homone receptors PPARs. A general scheme can now be drawn which includes some key factors and their respective interactions.