From Homo Obesus to Homo Diabesus: Neuroadipology Insight

Abstract

Cardiovascular (atherosclerosis and hypertension) and metabolic (obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease which is recently viewed as type 3 diabetes) diseases are most prevalent pathologies globally. Diabesity is a new term that refers to type 2 diabetes and obesity found in one individual, hence Homo diabesus. Arguably, the field of study on adipose tissue, adipobiology, has witnessed a number of breakthroughs in last 20 years. Various neuroendocrine and neurotrophic factors, including the neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), were also included in the increasing list of adipokines, endocrine and paracrine adipose-derived signaling proteins. These findings open a novel field of research, neuroadipology. There is evidence now that NGF and BDNF mediate multiple biological phenomena, ranging from the Rita Levi-Montalcini’s neurotrophic through immunotrophic to epitheliotrophic and metabotrophic effects. These latter effects involve the improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism as well as energy balance, cardioneuroprotection, and possibly vascular (atherosclerotic) wound healing. Recent results demonstrate that the circulating and/or tissue levels of NGF and BDNF and of the adipokines adiponectin and interleukin-10 are generally decreased in cardiometabolic diseases. Altogether, a hypothesis of neuro-metabotrophic deficit due to the reduction of metabotrophic factors (MTF) availability and/or utilization was raised, and implicated in the development of these diseases. Here an updated list of MTF including NGF, BDNF, adiponectin, humanin, irisin and other adipose- and nonadipose-derived bioactive molecules is also presented. Overall this may cultivate a novel pathogenic and therapeutic insight for Homo diabesus.