Figure 1

Transcriptional triad of survival. PPARs promote mitochondrial proton gradient uncoupling, reduce ROS and increase heat generation, while ensuring safe lipid storage and burning (reducing lipotoxicity), safe carbohydrate storage and reducing need for insulin. They also suppress inflammation. NFkB promotes resistance to infections and aids healing, but suppresses incentive salience and increases thermogenesis – it can be said to have general anorexic actions. Also promotes ROS production, both as a signal and as a defence. Response amplified by increasing fat stores. Promotes inflammation. FOXO promotes resistance to oxidative stress, enhances DNA repair, suppresses proliferation, and encourages incentive salience and survival in low food situations – it is thought to be generally orexigenic. Can oppose inflammation.