Archives of Obesity and Metabolism (비만대사연구학술지)

The Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, KAFM (대한가정의학회 비만대사증후군연구회)
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Serotonin and Energy Metabolism

세로토닌과 에너지 대사

  • Kyoung-Kon Kim (Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine)
  • 김경곤 (가천대학교 의과대학 가천대 길병원 가정의학과)
  • Received : 2024.06.13
  • Accepted : 2024.06.15
  • Published : 2024.06.30
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Abstract

Serotonin, a biogenic amine widely found in many organisms, functions as both a neurotransmitter and hormone. Although serotonin is involved in various physiological processes, this study aimed to review its role in energy metabolism. Given that serotonin cannot cross the blood-brain barrier and is synthesized by two different isoforms of tryptophan hydroxylase in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues, it is reasonable to assume that serotonin in the CNS and peripheral tissues functions independently. Recent studies have demonstrated how serotonin influences energy metabolism in metabolic target organs such as the intestines, liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue. In summary, serotonin in the CNS induces satiety and appetite suppression, stimulates thermogenesis, and reduces body weight. Conversely, serotonin in the periphery increases intestinal motility, stimulates gluconeogenesis in the liver, suppresses glucose uptake by hepatocytes, promotes fat uptake by liver cells, stimulates insulin secretion while suppressing glucagon secretion in the pancreatic islets, promotes lipogenesis in white adipose tissue, inhibits lipolysis and browning of white adipose tissue, and suppresses thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, thereby storing energy and increasing body weight. However, considering that most experimental results were obtained using mice and conducted under specific nutritional conditions, such as high-fat diets, whether serotonin acts in the same way in humans, whether it will act similarly in individuals with normal versus obese weights, and whether its effects vary depending on the type of food consumed, remain unknown.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 한국연구재단(Grant number, NRF-2021R1F1A1057106)과 일동제약(Grant number, Ildong-LCDI-2018-0143)에서 연구비를 지원받았음.

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