University Associate Professor in Systems Physiology University of Cambridge Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Disclosure(s):
Eleanor Raffan, BVM&S, PhD, CertSAM, DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS: Wisdom Panel: Wisdom Panel support a PhD student in my research group. (Ongoing)
A wealth of research across humans, laboratory animals and veterinary species shows that obesity is highly heritable and that the majority of the genes responsible are primarily expressed in the brain. Research into the genetics of canine obesity has corroborated this with the central importance of leptin-melanocortin signalling in the hypothalamus being highlighted by genomic and functional work in Labrador retrievers and related breeds. I will outline our recent work which originated with canine genetics but has highlighted novel obesity genes and molecular mechanisms of relevance humans. I will draw contrast with obesity genomic data from farm animals which may point to peripheral (non-brain) mechanisms driving adiposity in these species which have been heavily selected for carcase traits. My focus will be to highlight research opportunities and areas where results from veterinary studies may point to new obesity biology with therapeutic potential.
Learning Objectives:
Explain the heritable nature of obesity across humans, laboratory animals, and veterinary species, and understand that many obesity associated genes are primarily expressed in the brain.
Describe the role of the leptin–melanocortin signalling pathway in canine obesity and summarise the genomic and functional evidence from Labrador retrievers and related breeds, explaining its relevance to human obesity and canine health.
Compare obesity genetics in companion animals, farm animals and humans, explaining how research in animals may benefit our understanding of obesity pathophysiology and lead to novel therapeutics.
Evaluate cross species research opportunities and articulate how findings from veterinary species can reveal previously unrecognised biological pathways with potential therapeutic applications for obesity.
