澳大利亚的研究人员正在加大对肥胖症的研究力度。他们的研究发现，基因疗法不像减肥药那样会有副作用，这可能是更安全的肥胖治疗方法的关键。
A team from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research says blocking a certain genetic receptor in fat cells can raise heat production, thereby increasing fat metabolism. Study authors add that this treatment would avoid targeting a patient’s central nervous system, like other drugs do. Instead, this approach to weight loss focuses on the Y1 receptor in the molecule neuropeptide Y (NPY).
Garvan医学研究所的一个研究小组说，在脂肪细胞中阻断某种基因受体可以提高热量的产生，从而增加脂肪代谢。研究作者补充说，这种治疗方法可以避免像其他药物一样，针对患者的中枢神经系统。相反，这种减肥方法的重点是NPY中的Y1受体。
“The Y1 receptor acts as a ‘brake’ for heat generation in the body. In our study, we found that blocking this receptor in fat tissues transformed the ‘energy-storing’ fat into ‘energy-burning’ fat, which switched on heat production and reduced weight gain,” explains co-senior author Dr. Yan-Chuan Shi, leader of the Neuroendocrinology Group at Garvan, in a media release.
“Y1受体在人体内产生热量上有“刹车”的作用。在我们的研究中，我们发现，在脂肪组织中阻断这种受体，将“储能”脂肪转化为“能量燃烧”脂肪，从而开启热量生产和减肥的作用。”Garvan神经内分泌小组组长史延川博士在媒体发布中解释说。
“Most of the current medications used to treat obesity target the brain to suppress appetite and can have severe side effects that limit their use. Our study reveals an alternative approach that targets the fat tissues directly, which may potentially be a safer way to prevent and treat obesity.”
“目前用于治疗肥胖的药物大多针对大脑以抑制食欲，但可能产生严重的副作用，因此限制其使用。我们的研究揭示了一种直接针对脂肪组织的替代方法，这可能是预防和治疗肥胖更安全的方法。”
Linking the Y1 receptor to obesity
Y1受体与肥胖的关系
Obesity is a major public health issue around the world. As of 2018, over 40 percent of the adult population in the United States classifies as obese. Nearly one in five children are also obese, according to the same estimates from the CDC. Previous studies have revealed how being overweight or obese can lead to severe health complications, including diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.
肥胖是世界范围内的一个主要公共健康问题。截止到2018年，美国超过40% 的成年人口被归类为肥胖。根据疾病预防控制中心的同样估计，近五分之一的儿童也患有肥胖症。先前的研究已经揭示了超重或肥胖会导致严重的健康并发症，包括糖尿病、心脏病，甚至癌症。
In the new report, Dr. Shi’s group studied the role Y1 receptors play when it comes to fat storage and metabolic health. NPY molecules typically release these receptors when they think the body is starving. This helps to reduce energy usage and increases fat storage.
在新的报告中，史博士的研究小组研究了Y1受体在脂肪储存和代谢健康方面的作用。NPY通常在认为身体饥饿时释放这些受体，以减少热量使用，增加脂肪储存。
To their surprise, researchers also discovered Y1 receptors are released in greater numbers in the fat tissue of obese people. After this revelation, the team tried blocking Y1 receptors using the experimental treatment BIBO3304 on obese mice.
令他们惊讶的是，研究人员还发现，Y1受体在肥胖者的脂肪组织中释放的数量更多。在这一发现之后，研究小组尝试用实验性治疗BIBO3304来阻断Y1受体。
“In our study, we found that mice that were administered BIBO3304 and fed a high-fat diet gained about 40% less body weight over seven weeks than mice on a high-fat diet alone. This significant reduction of body weight gain was caused by an increase in body heat generation and reduction in fat mass,” Dr. Shi reports.
“在我们的研究中，我们发现给予 BIBO3304并喂食高脂肪食物的老鼠，在7周内比单独喂食高脂肪食物的老鼠体重减轻了40% 。体重显著减少是由于体内产热量增加和脂肪量减少引起的。“
The team adds one of the key takeaways from this study is the discovery that BIBO3304 does not cross the blood-brain barrier. This means the genetic changes to the Y1 receptors don’t reach the brain and focuses specifically on peripheral tissues.
研究小组补充说，这项研究的一个重要结果是发现 BIBO3304并没有通过血脑屏障。这意味着Y1受体的基因变化不会到达大脑，而是专门集中在外周组织。
In addition to providing a safer weight loss therapy, researchers say targeting the NPY-Y1 receptor system can also stimulate bone cell growth, strengthen cardiovascular function, and improve insulin resistance.
除了提供更安全的减肥疗法外，研究人员说，靶向NPY-Y1受体系统还能刺激骨细胞生长，增强心血管功能，改善胰岛素抵抗。
The study appears in the journal Nature Communications.
这项研究发表在《自然通讯》杂志上。
