| First Author | Halaas JL | Year | 1995 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 269 |
| Issue | 5223 | Pages | 543-6 |
| PubMed ID | 7624777 | Mgi Jnum | J:29161 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:76692 | Doi | 10.1126/science.7624777 |
| Citation | Halaas JL, et al. (1995) Weight-reducing effects of the plasma protein encoded by the obese gene [see comments]. Science 269(5223):543-6 |
| abstractText | The gene product of the ob locus is important in the regulation of body weight. The ob product was shown to be present as a 16-kilodalton protein in mouse and human plasma but was undetectable in plasma from C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. Plasma levels of this protein were increased in diabetic (db) mice, a mutant thought to be resistant to the effects of ob. Daily intraperitoneal injections of either mouse or human recombinant OB protein reduced the body weight of ob/ob mice by 30 percent after 2 weeks of treatment with no apparent toxicity but had no effect on db/db mice. The protein reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure in ob/ob mice. Injections of wild-type mice twice daily with the mouse protein resulted in a sustained 12 percent weight loss, decreased food intake, and a reduction of body fat from 12.2 to 0.7 percent. These data suggest that the OB protein serves an endocrine function to regulate body fat stores. |
