What is it about?
We have identified that amplification of oxidant stress by signaling through the sodium pump plays a key role in the development and maintenance of obesity and metabolic syndrome. We have further demonstrated that a peptide that targets this sodium pump signaling dramatically attenuates the oxidant stress and the development and maintenance of both obesity and metabolic syndrome in experimental animals without substantial toxicity. This work suggests that this signal cascade may be an effective target for conditions characterized by oxidant stress such as but not limited to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
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Why is it important?
Based on our work, we see the sodium pump as an amplifier of oxidant signals. While this may be advantageous in some settings, it is maladaptive in others. Targeting this amplification pathway is not only novel but it has an element of safety built in as the primary signals are not affected.
Perspectives
Oxidant stress is an important component of many pathological processes. To date, clinical use of "anti-oxidant" strategies have failed (e.g., vitamin E trials). My guess is that this failure is due to the adaptations which occur when oxidants are scavenged; the processes that made the oxidant stress in the first place simply makes more. Because of this, I personally think that targeting the amplification of oxidants may be a superior approach.
Professor Joseph I Shapiro
Marshall University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: pNaKtide inhibits Na/K-ATPase reactive oxygen species amplification and attenuates adipogenesis, Science Advances, October 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science,
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1500781.
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