More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, accounting for nearly 10% of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Williams that may someday help improve glucose metabolism in patients with obesity-driven conditions such as diabetes. The study, published in JCI Insight, is the latest research from Dr. 'We haven't uncovered all the cell populations that influence weight loss, but each of these findings brings us closer to developing effective, safe therapies for obesity.' Williams, Ph.D., an investigator at UT Southwestern's Center for Hypothalamic Research. 'This new understanding of how celastrol works on the cellular level opens more possibilities for targeting pathways that can improve our metabolism without the negative health impact,' said study author Kevin W. Key to the findings: The mice did not appear to endure the same physical ailments documented in previous research in which celastrol was administered. Scientists found they can mimic a 'fed' signal to mouse brains by deleting this protein from the neurons, resulting in mice losing 7% of their body weight in two weeks despite being a fed high-fat diet.

UT Southwestern may have solved part of the puzzle in a new study that shows celastrol requires a specific protein in a type of neuron that influences metabolism. However, because celastrol can cause reactions such as high blood pressure and lethargy in mice, researchers have sought to understand how the compound works and use that knowledge to develop safe weight-loss treatments for people.

Celastrol, derived from the root extracts of a white-flowered plant in China, has drawn increased attention in recent years after studies showed it can both prevent and reverse obesity in mice.

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