How tiny cilia on brain cells affect appetite in ciliopathies
Obesity in ciliopathies: How neuronal primary cilia control appetite
This work looks at how tiny antennae on brain cells influence appetite in people with ciliopathies and genetic forms of obesity linked to MC4R.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11368132 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies primary cilia — tiny antennae on neurons — and how they help the brain control hunger and body weight. Using genetic and molecular tools in lab models, researchers are tracing where the appetite-regulating receptor MC4R sits in those cilia and how signals through it change feeding behavior. They will test how mutations that cause ciliopathies or alter MC4R location or function disrupt ciliary signaling and lead to obesity, aiming to identify steps that could be targeted by treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diagnosed ciliopathies, early-onset or severe obesity, or known MC4R genetic mutations would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical studies.
Not a fit: People whose weight issues are not linked to ciliary dysfunction or MC4R genetic changes may not directly benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new drug targets or strategies to control appetite in people with ciliopathies or MC4R-related obesity.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies showed MC4R acts in cilia and that disrupting ciliary signaling affects weight in animal models, but translating these findings into human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vaisse, Christian — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Vaisse, Christian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.