Business Daily Media

Men's Weekly

.

Hong Kong Baptist University-led research identifies new regulatory mechanism of satiety and therapeutic target for obesity

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 30 May 2022 - A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has found that a proteolytic enzyme called membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) plays an important role in the regulatory mechanism of fullness, or satiety, and it could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity.



Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (left), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU (right), identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity.
Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (left), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU (right), identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity.

The research findings were published in the internationally-renowned scientific journal Nature Metabolism. The study has also been featured as a research highlight in multiple high-impact journals, including Nature Reviews Endocrinology, Nature Metabolism and Science Signaling.

Half of Hong Kong's population obese or overweight

Being overweight, especially to the extent of obesity, exposes people to a higher risk of life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. According to the Population Health Survey conducted in 2014/15 by the Department of Health, about 30% of people in Hong Kong aged 15 to 84 were obese, and another 20% were overweight.

The most effective way to tackle obesity is to reduce food consumption, but obese people often encounter difficulties in regulating their dietary habits as they lose their sense of satiety. Identifying a factor that specifically controls body weight, and investigating how it regulates our sense of satiety, is crucial for the development of therapeutic approaches for obesity.

Identification of new regulator of satiety signals

A research team led by Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of SCM and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU, identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which regulates the mechanism of issuing satiety signals in the human brain.

Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a hormone that sends out satiety signals by binding with the neuron receptor in the hindbrain called GDNF-family receptor α-like (GFRAL). Mediation of GFRAL can therefore affect the ability of GDF15 to send satiety signals, and thus help regulate food intake. From this starting point, the research team conducted a series of experiments to investigate the mediation effects of MT1-MMP on GFRAL.

Depletion of MT1-MMP reduces obesity

The research team generated an obesity mouse model by feeding a fat-rich diet to a group of transgenic mice with a depletion of MT1-MMP in their satiety neurons, as well as a control group of ordinary mice. After 16 weeks, the mice with depleted MT1-MMP ate 10% less food, gained 50% less weight, and exhibited reduced glucose and plasma insulin levels compared to the control group. The results show that depletion of MT1-MMP protects mice from obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

Following analysis with western blots, a widely used analytical technique that can detect specific proteins, the research team also found that the obese mice displayed an increased activity of MT1-MMP in the Area Postrema and Nucleus of the Solitary Tract, the brain regions involved in appetite and weight regulation. The finding suggests that increased MT1-MMP activity in the brain of obese mice could be a risk factor causing sustained weight gain.

To understand the mechanism by which MT1-MMP suppresses GDF15 satiety signalling, the research team conducted a series of molecular biology experiments involving animal models and cell culture. The results show that in cells with active MT1-MMP, a significant reduction of GFRAL and thus GDF15 signalling were observed. It could be explained by MT1-MMP clipping GFRAL from the surface of the brain neurons, which blocks GDF15 from binding to GFRAL and thus reduces the number of satiety signals. This in turn keeps the neurons from transmitting the satiety signals sent by GDF15.

MT1-MMP as a therapeutic target for obesity

The researchers also explored the therapeutic potential of targeting MT1-MMP for obesity management, in particular through pharmacological inhibition of its activity in vivo. With the application of a specific neutralising antibody that inhibits MT1-MMP, significant improvements in metabolic parameters including food intake, glucose tolerance and body weight in obese mice were observed. The results suggest that MT1-MMP is a potential therapeutic target that could be used in the development of innovative drug treatments for obesity.

Dr Wong said: "The research findings have established the role played by MT1-MMP in regulating satiety, and they have provided preliminary indications that the proteolytic enzyme is a promising target for the treatment of obesity. Pharmacological inhibition of MT1-MMP could be a viable strategy for the development of effective pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity."

Apart from researchers from HKBU, the research team included scientists from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and the University of Helsinki.

#HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU

News from Asia

Etiqa Insurance Singapore Launches "Live Ready With You" Brand Campaign that brings Readiness to Life in Uncertain Times

Etiqa reaffirms its commitment to being there for Singaporeans during life’s unexpected moments, inspired by real-life experiences and emotional storiesSINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 Sep...

OROJIN™️ Makes Global Debut at BIOHK 2025 to Lead The Future of Preventive Medicine

Breakthrough Chewable Chlorogenic Acid Tablet Designed To Support Immunity, Cellular Vitality and Metabolism.HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - OROJIN™️, the breakth...

Finex Trader Wins BYD M6 in Get X2 Promo

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - Finex, an acclaimed Indonesian broker, announces the grand winner of the Get X2 promo, a 2025 New Year’s promotion celebrating s...

CIFTIS rides new wave of cultural consumption

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - The culture and tourism services exhibition hall was among the most vibrant venues at the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in ...

China's innovative service sector unlocks fresh int'l cooperation potential, says Australian accounting expert

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - The transition of China's service sector toward innovation and cutting-edge technologies is opening new avenues for global cooperatio...

AI innovation injects new momentum into China's services trade

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - Amid the buzz of the ongoing 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), a robot dog is stealing the show...

Services trade emerges as key engine for China's high-quality development

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - The services trade is becoming an increasingly crucial engine for China's economic growth and has substantial potential, driven by te...

Jennings Unveils Its Experience Center: A Tactile, Design-Driven Approach to Laminate Selection

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - Jennings Trading Enterprise Pte Ltd has officially opened its new Experience Center at Kranji Green, Singapore. More than just a showcas...

China advances services trade, unlocking opportunities for global collaboration

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - Amid global trade headwinds, China is sending fresh signals that it will further advance trade in services, providing strong momentum...

Services trade surges as China embraces smart technologies, openness

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 September 2025 - In Shougang Park, a former ironworks site in western Beijing, new technologies from AI to cloud computing and green innovation are on...

Manny Shah: Is your business disappearing from Google? You’re not alone

Small business owners across Australia are panicking as their websites vanish from Google’s front pages overnight. According to Manny Shah, cofounde...

MR Roads named Queensland Finalist in the 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards

MR Roads, co-founded by Daniel Mikus and James Rolph, has been announced as a Queensland finalist in the prestigious 2025 Telstra Best of Business...

AWS research shows strong AI adoption momentum in Australia, with startups outpacing large enterprises in innovation

Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, released new research revealing that while artificial intelligence (AI) adoption continues to acce...

Changing the World One Bite At a Time: IKU Turns 40

One of Australia’s first plant-based, chef-led eateries and now ready meal provider IKU is celebrating its 40 year anniversary with the business e...

Three generations marking 45 years in hot-air balloons

Australia’s leading hot-air balloon company is celebrating 45 years in the sky and its 700,000th passenger, driven by the passion of father-son du...

Workplace DMs, Reinvented: Deputy Messaging, Purpose-Built For Shift-Based Teams

Deputy, the global people platform for shift-based businesses, has launched Deputy Messaging, a fully integrated, real-time communication tool designe...

Sell by LayBy