Targeted proteomics reveal α-MSH-like Enterobacterial ClpB protein in gut microbiota of patients with anorexia nervosa

α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is an anorexigenic peptide. In this exploratory study, a targeted proteomic approach was used to detect α-MSH-like bacterial proteins in the gut microbiota of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and healthy controls. Enterobacteriaceae chaperone DnaK was identified as an α-MSH-like protein common to both study groups, while caseinolytic protease B (ClpB) was present in patients with AN. These data further link anorexigenic ClpB to the AN pathophysiology.