Beyond incretins: targeting neurokinin receptors for obesity treatment

Abstract

In a study published recently in Nature, Sass, Ma, and colleagues describe the neurokinin 2 receptor (NK2R), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), as a novel regulator of food intake as well as energy expenditure, and develop and characterize selective agonists that effectively activate NK2R to promote weight loss. Most interestingly, the authors bridge the gap between rodents and primates, raising hopes for novel treatment options.¹