Scientists in Australia discover how to switch hunger on and off

Scientists in Australia have found how to switch hunger on and off and they say their discovery could be used to stop weight loss in terminally ill patients or produce weight loss in the morbidly obese.

The scientists say by using a molecule that targets the brain known as MIC-1, it may be possible to switch off the appetite.

The molecule is a protein produced by common cancers and targets receptors in the brain; the researchers found that by using antibodies against MIC-1 they were able to switch appetite back on.

The Sydney researchers found that when normal and obese mice were treated with MIC-1 they ate less and lost a lot of weight, suggesting that MIC-1 may also be used to treat severe obesity.

Researcher Herbert Herzog, director of neuroscience research at the Garvan Institute in Sydney, says the research has given them a better understanding of the part of the brain that regulates appetite.

Dr. Herzog says the body sends complex chemical signals to the brain, which interprets them and sends back responses, such as whether to eat or not.

He says their research indicates that MIC-1 is a previously unrecognised molecule which sends a 'don't eat' signal to the brain.

The researchers are hopeful that in future, the MIC-1 findings will prevent many advanced cancer patients from "literally wasting away".

According to Dr. Sam Breit at St Vincent's Centre for Immunology, who originally cloned the MIC-1 gene, the findings could have a significant impact on a range of appetite-related disorders.

Dr. Breit says injecting mice with MIC-1 protein also made them stop eating, suggesting that it may be possible to use this to advantage for treating patients with severe obesity.

The team hope to develop a human antibody and conduct clinical trials in the next few years.

The study findings are published in the current issue of Nature Medicine.