Homo Diabesus: involvement of metabotrophic factors

Diabesity is a new term which refers to type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity found in one individual, hence Homo diabesus. Previously we presented our hypothesis of metabo- trophic factors (MTF), also termed metabotrophins. Onward we described Homo obesus (man obese) as a metabotrophin-deficient species. Now - as a phenotypic variety of this species - we introduce H. diabesus. Endogenous MTF are in general signaling proteins able to improve cardiovascular and metabolic homeostasis including that of lipids, glu- cose, energy, inflammation, angiogenesis, and cognition. Hence pharmacological ma- nipulations of the secretion and/or signaling of MTF might bring a therapeutic benefit for H. diabesus. Here we Dance Round the hypothesis that deficit and/or dysfunction of MTF may lead to diabesity. Arguably, an updated list of MTF including nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, adiponectin, humanin, irisin and other adi- pose- and nonadipose-derived bioactive molecules is presented. Overall this may culti- vate a novel pathogenic and therapeutic thinking for cardiometabolic disease.