Oxytocin in metabolic homeostasis: implications for obesity and diabetes management.

Article Details

Citation

Ding C, Leow MK, Magkos F

Oxytocin in metabolic homeostasis: implications for obesity and diabetes management.

Obes Rev. 2019 Jan;20(1):22-40. doi: 10.1111/obr.12757. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

PubMed ID
30253045 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Oxytocin was once understood solely as a neuropeptide with a central role in social bonding, reproduction, parturition, lactation and appetite regulation. Recent evidence indicates that oxytocin enhances glucose uptake and lipid utilization in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, suggesting that dysfunction of the oxytocin system could underlie the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. Murine studies revealed that deficiencies in oxytocin signalling and oxytocin receptor expression lead to obesity despite normal food intake, motor activity and increased leptin levels. In addition, plasma oxytocin concentration is notably lower in obese individuals with diabetes, which may suggest an involvement of the oxytocin system in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic disease. More recently, small scale studies demonstrated that intranasal administration of oxytocin was associated with significant weight loss as well as improvements in insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell responsivity in human subjects. The multi-pronged effects of oxytocin signalling on improving peripheral insulin sensitivity, pancreatic function and lipid homeostasis strongly suggest a role for this system as a therapeutic target in obesity and diabetes management. The complexity of obesity aetiology and the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic complications underscore the need for a systems approach to better understand the role of oxytocin in metabolic function.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
OxytocinOxytocin receptorProteinHumans
Yes
Agonist
Details
Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
OxytocinLeucyl-cystinyl aminopeptidaseProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
Drug Reactions
Reaction
Details