SH2B1, A Protein that Regulates Obesity

Filed in archive Studies on January 21, 2007

Obesity leads to type II diabetes and other serious diseases. Previous studies revealed that a protein known as SH2B1 when lacking throughout the bodies of mice, are obese and develop diabetes.

A recent study from the University of Michigan have demonstrated that putting in SH2BI into the brain of mice lacking the protein prevented them from obesity.

As reported in advance of publication in the February print issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation (online January 18) SH2B1 is expressed in many tissues related to obesity, including the brain, liver, pancreas, and fat tissue.

Such findings reveals potential new avenue in developing targets for obesity and diabetes research.

Talk about finding a missing obesity switch and putting it back. Might be better than surgery and exercise and diet combined, what do you think?

Read the full report and the article.

[Photo Credit: Harvard Medical School]