Stem Cell Model Identifies Eating Disorder Gene

Study in a Sentence: Using skin cells isolated from patients with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, researchers created a new stem cell model of this condition and identified a novel gene (tachykinin 1 receptor) involved in this disorder.

Healthy for Humans: The novel gene implicated in anorexia nervosa by this study can serve as a new drug target for this disorder. This gene was previously found to play a role in the regulation of the metabolic system by the brain, suggesting a new molecular insight into this disorder.   

Redefining Research: The study provides a new human-based research tool (i.e., stem cell model of anorexia nervosa) for scientist to further investigate other unknown underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in anorexia nervosa.