1.
The roles of salivary secretion, brain-gut peptides, and oral hygiene in obesity.
Ueda, H, Yagi, T, Amitani, H, Asakawa, A, Ikeda, S, Miyawaki, S, Inui, A
Obesity research & clinical practice. 2013;(5):e321-9
Abstract
Obesity has a prevalence of 15-30% among European and American populations. It is an incurable chronic disease associated with considerable mortality and co-morbidity. The co-morbidity risk can be reduced substantially by a moderate weight loss of 5-15%. Notably, additional weight gain exacerbates the morbidity of any concurrent disease. Obesity is also recognized as the basis for metabolic syndrome. Recent research has shown that adipocytes secrete various hormones and cytokines that contribute to obesity. Leptin is an adipostatic hormone that acts on receptors in the hypothalamus to suppress food intake and increase energy consumption. Reduced sensitivity to this molecule can trigger the onset of obesity. Neuropeptides such as leptin also affect salivary secretion. Various neuropeptides have been identified in saliva; the associated receptors are located in the salivary glands or in the nerves innervating the salivary glands. Obesity is associated with hyposalivation and thereby related to several aspects of oral health, such as caries and periodontitis. Hyposalivation is a severe morbidity that can lead to a precipitous decline in oral hygiene, which further leads to multifocal dental caries and periodontitis, or even cardiac disorders. In this article, we review the relationship between salivary secretion and neuropeptides known to play a role in obesity.
2.
Signalling role of adipose tissue: adipokines and inflammation in obesity.
Trayhurn, P, Wood, IS
Biochemical Society transactions. 2005;(Pt 5):1078-81
Abstract
White adipose tissue (WAT) is a major endocrine and secretory organ, which releases a wide range of protein signals and factors termed adipokines. A number of adipokines, including leptin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor alpha, IL-1beta (interleukin 1beta), IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, nerve growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and haptoglobin, are linked to inflammation and the inflammatory response. Obesity is characterized by a state of chronic mild inflammation, with raised circulating levels of inflammatory markers and the expression and release of inflammation-related adipokines generally rises as adipose tissue expands (adiponectin, which has anti-inflammatory action is an exception). The elevated production of inflammation-related adipokines is increasingly considered to be important in the development of diseases linked to obesity, particularly Type II diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. WAT is involved in extensive cross-talk with other organs and multiple metabolic systems through the various adipokines.