The Unlikely Connection: Starfish and Human Hunger

London, UK – In a surprising revelation that could revolutionize the way we understand and treat obesity, biologists at Queen Mary University of London have found that a key neurohormone controlling appetite in humans has roots stretching back over half a billion years. This ancient molecule, known as bombesin, isn’t just found in humans and other vertebrates; it’s also present in starfish and their marine cousins.

The findings, published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, highlight the deep evolutionary connections between seemingly disparate species and offer new avenues for developing weight-loss drugs that mimic the body’s natural appetite-regulating mechanisms.

Bombesin: from Toad Skin to Potential Obesity Treatment

Bombesin, a peptide first isolated from the skin of a European frog, has long been known to play a role in various physiological processes, including appetite regulation.In humans, bombesin-like peptides signal satiety, effectively telling the brain, “We’re full, stop eating.” This mechanism is now being explored as a potential target for obesity treatments, a pressing concern in the United States, where over 40% of adults are classified as obese, according to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. Emily Carter, a leading endocrinologist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), explains the importance: “The discovery that bombesin-like neurohormones have been regulating appetite for eons, even before vertebrates existed, is truly remarkable. It suggests a basic and highly conserved mechanism that we can perhaps leverage to combat the obesity epidemic.”

The Starfish Connection: Uncovering Evolutionary History

The research team, led by Professor Alistair Davies at Queen Mary University of London, embarked on a quest to unravel the evolutionary history of appetite control. Their search for genes encoding bombesin-like neurohormones in various animals led them to an unexpected source: the common starfish (Asterias rubens) and other echinoderms.

“We were trying to understand how appetite regulation evolved,” explains Professor Davies. “The fact that we found bombesin-like molecules in starfish, creatures so distantly related to humans, was a real eureka moment.”

This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for developing new obesity treatments. By studying how bombesin works in starfish, researchers hope to gain insights into how to better target the same pathways in humans.

ArBN: Starfish Bombesin in Action

The starfish version of bombesin, dubbed ArBN, stimulates the stomach retraction needed to end a feeding cycle. This mechanism mirrors how bombesin works to reduce meal size and regulate appetite in humans.

Consider this analogy: Imagine a Thanksgiving dinner. As you eat, your stomach stretches, and various hormones signal to your brain that you’re getting full. Bombesin, in this scenario, acts as the final “stop” signal, preventing you from overeating. ArBN performs a similar function in starfish, ensuring they don’t consume more than they need.

The potential for translating this knowledge into human therapies is significant. Researchers are exploring ways to develop drugs that mimic ArBN’s action, providing a more targeted and natural approach to weight management.

Implications for Climate Change and Invasive Species

Beyond human health, this research has implications for managing invasive species. Climate change is causing some starfish to invade cooler waters, where they decimate shellfish populations, creating a problem for U.S. fisheries.

“These starfish can wreak havoc on shellfish populations,” says Dr. Sarah Miller,a marine biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.“If we can find molecules that inhibit their eating, we could potentially protect these valuable resources.”

This approach could offer a more environmentally pleasant alternative to traditional methods of controlling invasive species, such as chemical treatments or physical removal.

Looking Ahead: Further Research and Potential Therapies

The next crucial step is translating these findings into practical treatments. The fact that bombesin and its effects are conserved across the evolutionary tree suggests a fundamental role in appetite regulation.

Scientists are already working to:

• Synthesize and study ArBN: Researchers have chemically synthesized ArBN, the starfish version of the neurohormone. It can be tested on its ability to decrease food intake in humans.
• Identify drug targets: Scientists will work to identify or design drugs that mimic the effects of bombesin. Because this system likely works by binding to specific receptors, researchers are focusing on identifying those receptors and finding safe compounds to target them.

This research is still in its early stages, but the potential benefits are enormous. new weight loss drugs based on bombesin or ArBN could offer a more effective and natural way to manage weight and combat the obesity epidemic in the United States.

Starfish Secrets to Slimming Down: An Expert’s Deep Dive into Ancient Appetite Control

To gain further insights into this groundbreaking research, we spoke wiht Dr. David Reed, a leading expert in neuroendocrinology.

world-today-news.com Editor: You mentioned bombesin. Could you elaborate on what bombesin is and its function in both humans and starfish?

Dr. Reed: “Absolutely. Bombesin is a small peptide—a short chain of amino acids—that acts as a signaling molecule. In humans, bombesin plays a vital role in signaling satiety. It tells our brains, “Hey, we’re full, stop eating.” This research confirms that bombesin-like neurohormones have regulated appetite for eons,predating even the emergence of vertebrates. The research specifically focused on ArBN, the starfish version of bombesin, which stimulates the stomach retraction needed to end a feeding cycle. This mechanism mirrors how bombesin works to reduce meal size and regulates appetite in humans.”

world-today-news.com Editor: The study’s focus on starfish is surely quite novel. What exactly were researchers looking for when they started examining these creatures? And what was the connection to obesity treatment?

dr. Reed: “The team, led by Professor Maurice Elphick and his colleagues, were trying to unravel the evolutionary history of appetite control. They were searching for genes encoding bombesin-like neurohormones in various animals. They made a remarkable discovery in common starfish (Asterias rubens) and other echinoderms! The link to obesity treatment lies in the potential to create drugs that mimic bombesin’s action, giving us more options in battling the obesity epidemic. The ultimate goal is to create more targeted and natural weight management solutions.”

world-today-news.com Editor: One of the exciting points in the research is the potential for ArBN to not only help with weight fluctuations but also help manage invasive species.Can you elaborate on that?

Dr. Reed: “Climate change is impacting multiple species, and it’s causing some starfish to invade cooler waters, where shellfish live. These starfish can decimate shellfish populations, creating a problem for U.S. fisheries.The idea here is that if we can find molecules that would inhibit the starfish from eating, this could help protect shellfish populations. This research,while initially aimed at human health,has far-reaching potential by helping manage invasive species.”

World-Today-News.com Editor: Many people might wonder about how practical this is: how do we translate the study’s findings–which look at sea stars–into treatments?

Dr. Reed: “That is the crucial next step. The fact that bombesin and its effects are conserved across the evolutionary tree suggest a fundamental role in appetite regulation is very significant. Scientists are already working to:

Synthesize and study ArBN: Researchers have chemically synthesized ArBN, the starfish version of the neurohormone. It can be tested on its ability to decrease food intake in humans.

Identify drug targets: Scientists will work to identify or design drugs that mimic the effects of bombesin. As this system likely works by binding to specific receptors, researchers are focusing on identifying those receptors and finding safe compounds to target them.

World-Today-News.com Editor: Are there any potential drawbacks or counterarguments that researchers are considering?

Dr. Reed: “One common pushback is that the leap from starfish to humans is too broad. There always are certain risks any time you’re dealing with a new drug. Tho, the long evolutionary conservation of bombesin-like molecules provides a strong biological basis for expecting it to function in similar ways for many different species.”

World-Today-News.com editor: What is the one key takeaway you’d like our audience to remember from this research?

Dr. Reed: “The most exciting aspect of this research is that something as seemingly distant as a starfish and our own bodies may have a deep connection when it comes to appetite control. It highlights the interconnectedness of life and offers a glimpse of how unexpected discoveries can lead to breakthroughs in human health, making this an incredibly promising area of research. The research opens the door to novel obesity treatments and offers new options in the constant battle against overeating.”

World-Today-News.com Editor: This has been incredibly insightful,Dr. Reed. Thank you for sharing your expertise. We are grateful for your insights, and we are very hopeful about this research’s impact.

Dr. Reed: “My pleasure. It’s an exciting time in the field, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”