Regulation of Energy Homeostasis by GPR41.

Daisuke Inoue,Gozoh Tsujimoto,Ikuo Kimura

doi:10.3389/fendo.2014.00081

Abstract

Imbalances in energy regulation lead to metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Diet plays an essential role in the maintenance of body energy homeostasis by acting not only as energy source but also as a signaling modality. Excess energy increases energy expenditure, leading to a consumption of it. In addition to glucose, mammals utilize short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are produced by colonic bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber, as a metabolic fuel. The roles of SCFAs in energy regulation have remained unclear, although the roles of glucose are well-studied. Recently, a G-protein-coupled receptor deorphanizing strategy successfully identified GPR41 (also called free fatty acid receptor 3 or FFAR3) as a receptor for SCFAs. GPR41 is expressed in adipose tissue, gut, and the peripheral nervous system, and it is involved in SCFA-dependent energy regulation. In this mini-review, we focus on the role of GPR41 in host energy regulation.

Highlights

Dysfunctional energy regulation leads to a variety of metabolic disorders, including obesity [1, 2]
GPR41 is reported to be involved in energy regulation in response to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced from the gut microbiota
These results indicate that the function of GPR41 depends on the SCFA produced by the fermentation of microbiota

Summary

Introduction

Dysfunctional energy regulation leads to a variety of metabolic disorders, including obesity [1, 2]. A G-protein-coupled receptor deorphanizing strategy successfully identified GPR41 ( called free fatty acid receptor 3 or FFAR3) as a receptor for SCFAs. GPR41 is expressed in adipose tissue, gut, and the peripheral nervous system, and it is involved in SCFA-dependent energy regulation. GPR41 is reported to be involved in energy regulation in response to SCFAs produced from the gut microbiota.

Results

Conclusion