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Anti-obesity Drug Discovery

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2024) | Viewed by 9804

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
2. Centre for Obesity Management, The First Internal Clinic, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen Czech Republic, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
Interests: obesity management; anti-obesity drugs; nutrition; public health; obesogens-endocrine disrupting chemicals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last 40 years, the obesity pandemic has been a challenge for economic prosperity and, from an individual perspective, a threat to the quality and length of life. As a chronic progressive disease, which is the gateway to a whole range of other chronic non-communicable diseases, it requires pharmacological treatment. Its premise is the recognition of physiological and eventually pathophysiological mechanisms that prevent and strengthen immuno-metabolic disturbances in obesity. Their subsequent influence at the level of molecular, cellular and central regulation is the promise of their correction in the prevention and treatment of obesity. The first anti-obesity drugs from the nutrient stimulated hormone-based therapy series show immense progress in obesity management. Therefore, this Special Issue is devoted to the current knowledge and perspectives in anti-obesity drug development.

Prof. Dr. Dana Mullerova
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • gut-derived hormones and gut brain axis (nutrient stimulated hormone based therapy)
  • other gut peptide-related approaches
  • gut microbiome
  • mitochondrial uncouplers (DNPME/CRMP)
  • CNS secreted neuropeptides and antagonists
  • adipose tissue hormones and adipokines

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 5404 KiB  
Article
The Role of Lactobacillus plantarum in Reducing Obesity and Inflammation: A Meta-Analysis
by Chen-Pi Li, Chin-Chang Chen, Yao Hsiao, Chieh-Hsin Kao, Chin-Chu Chen, Hao-Jan Yang and Ru-Yin Tsai
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7608; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147608 - 11 Jul 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5026
Abstract
Recent research has underscored the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) in managing obesity among healthy adults. This meta-analysis reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from major databases up to May 2024, focusing on the effects of L. plantarum on body weight, body mass [...] Read more.
Recent research has underscored the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) in managing obesity among healthy adults. This meta-analysis reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from major databases up to May 2024, focusing on the effects of L. plantarum on body weight, body mass index (BMI), and metabolic parameters. This study has been registered in PROSPERO (number: CRD 42024531611). The analysis of nine studies revealed significant weight reduction and BMI decreases with L. plantarum supplementation compared to a placebo. Notably, using more than two strains together enhanced these effects. Improvements were also observed in abdominal fat and inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). This meta-analysis synthesizes evidence from nine RCTs to test the hypothesis that L. plantarum supplementation effectively reduces body weight and BMI in healthy adults compared to a placebo. However, variations in study designs, probiotic strains, and intervention durations call for more robust trials to confirm these benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity Drug Discovery)
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Review

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24 pages, 3163 KiB  
Review
Anti-Obesity Therapeutic Targets Studied In Silico and In Vivo: A Systematic Review
by Wendjilla F. de Medeiros, Ana Francisca T. Gomes, Ana Júlia F. C. Aguiar, Jaluza Luana C. de Queiroz, Ingrid Wilza L. Bezerra, Juliana Kelly da Silva-Maia, Grasiela Piuvezam and Ana Heloneida de A. Morais
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4699; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094699 - 25 Apr 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4107
Abstract
In the age of information technology and the additional computational search tools and software available, this systematic review aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets for obesity, evaluated in silico and subsequently validated in vivo. The systematic review was initially guided by the research [...] Read more.
In the age of information technology and the additional computational search tools and software available, this systematic review aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets for obesity, evaluated in silico and subsequently validated in vivo. The systematic review was initially guided by the research question “What therapeutic targets have been used in in silico analysis for the treatment of obesity?” and structured based on the acronym PECo (P, problem; E, exposure; Co, context). The systematic review protocol was formulated and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022353808) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items Checklist for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P), and the PRISMA was followed for the systematic review. The studies were selected according to the eligibility criteria, aligned with PECo, in the following databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, BVS, and EMBASE. The search strategy yielded 1142 articles, from which, based on the evaluation criteria, 12 were included in the systematic review. Only seven these articles allowed the identification of both in silico and in vivo reassessed therapeutic targets. Among these targets, five were exclusively experimental, one was exclusively theoretical, and one of the targets presented an experimental portion and a portion obtained by modeling. The predominant methodology used was molecular docking and the most studied target was Human Pancreatic Lipase (HPL) (n = 4). The lack of methodological details resulted in more than 50% of the papers being categorized with an “unclear risk of bias” across eight out of the eleven evaluated criteria. From the current systematic review, it seems evident that integrating in silico methodologies into studies of potential drug targets for the exploration of new therapeutic agents provides an important tool, given the ongoing challenges in controlling obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity Drug Discovery)
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