Role of melanocortin receptor-4 in energy regulation and obesity / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

As a pandemic metabolic disease, obesity has become a worldwide problem, which endangering human health. The change in body weight reflects the energy imbalance. And the homeostasis regulation of the central and peripheral melanocortin system may maintain the energy balance and then affect the body weight. Recent studies have found that melanocortin receptor-4 ( MC4R) plays an important role in energy homeostasis and body weight changes, but its specific mechanism needs further elucidation. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress of MC4R in body weight and energy regulation, so as to provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the potential role of MC4R in improving energy metabolism imbalance and obesity.