scholarly journals Cang-Ai Volatile Oil Ameliorates Depressive Behavior Induced by Chronic Stress Through IDO-Mediated Tryptophan Degradation Pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kailing Zhang ◽  
Na Lei ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Jijun Li ◽  
Caijun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Volatile Oil ◽  
Degradation Pathway ◽  
Protein Expression Level ◽  
Tryptophan Degradation ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

Background: Cang-ai volatile oil (CAVO) is a Chinese herbal volatile oil. Previous studies report that CAVO exhibits of anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory effects, and modulates activity of monoamine neurotransmitter. The current study sought to explore whether CAVO exhibits anti-depressant effects of CAVO through inhibition of inflammatory response and regulation of indoleamine 2 and 3-dioxygenase (IDO) mediated tryptophan degradation pathway.Methods: The study established chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression-like model using rats. Body weight and food intake of animals were determined, and open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SPT) were performed to explored the behavioral changes of animals. Expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), kynurenine (KYN), quinolinic acid (QUIN), tryptophan (Trp), kynurenic acid (KYNA), serotonin (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the prefrontal cortex of CUMS rats were determined by ELISA. Co-localization of the microglia markers, Iba1 and IL-6 was determined by immunofluorescence. Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expression level of IDO1.Results: The findings of the current study showed that CAVO increased the body weight and food intake of rats and alleviated depression-like behaviors as shown in OFT, FST, and SPT analysis. ELISA assay showed that CAVO decreased IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels and increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the prefrontal cortex of CUMS rats. Analysis showed that CAVO significantly reduced KYN and QUIN levels and the ratio of KYN/Trp, whereas it increased the levels of Trp, KYNA, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that CAVO reduced the number of positive cells with co-localization of microglia markers, Iba1 and IL-6. Western blot analysis showed that CAVO decreased the protein expression level of IDO1 in rats.Conclusion: The findings show that the anti-depressant effects of CAVO are mainly attributed to inhibition of the activation of microglia and downregulation of IDO expression, thus inhibiting the kynurenine pathway and reversing the effects exerted on the 5-HT system.

scholarly journals Tailored Hydrogels as Delivery Platforms for Conditioned Medium from Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Model of Acute Colitis in Mice

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1127
Author(s):  
Juan Sendon-Lago ◽  
Lorena Garcia-del Rio ◽  
Noemi Eiro ◽  
Patricia Diaz-Rodriguez ◽  
Leandro Avila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Conditioned Medium ◽  
Local Treatment ◽  
Histopathological Analysis ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Acute Colitis ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasingly prevalent and current therapies are not completely effective. Mesenchymal stem cells are emerging as a promising therapeutic option. Here, the effect of local hydrogel application loaded with conditioned medium (CM) from human uterine cervical stem cells (hUCESC-CM) in an experimental acute colitis mice model has been evaluated. Colitis induction was carried out in C57BL/6 mice by dissolving dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for nine days. Ulcers were treated by rectal administration of either mesalazine (as positive control) or a mucoadhesive and thermosensitive hydrogel loaded with hUCESC-CM (H-hUCESC-CM). Body weight changes, colon length, and histopathological analysis were evaluated. In addition, pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ mRNA levels were measured by qPCR. Treatment with H-hUCESC-CM inhibited body weight loss and colon shortening and induced a significant decrease in colon mucosa degeneration, as well as TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 mRNA levels. Results indicate that H-hUCESC-CM effectively alleviated DSS-induced colitis in mice, suggesting that H-hUCESC-CM may represent an attractive cell-free therapy for local treatment of IBD.

scholarly journals Upregulation of Cytokines Is Detected in the Placentas of Cattle Infected with Neospora caninum and Is More Marked Early in Gestation When Fetal Death Is Observed

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 2352-2361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Rosbottom ◽  
E. Helen Gibney ◽  
Catherine S. Guy ◽  
Anja Kipar ◽  
Robert F. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Fetal Death ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Cytokine Mrna ◽  
Early Gestation ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT The protozoan parasite Neospora caninum causes fetal death after experimental infection of pregnant cattle in early gestation, but the fetus survives a similar infection in late gestation. An increase in Th1-type cytokines in the placenta in response to the presence of the parasite has been implicated as a contributory factor to fetal death due to immune-mediated pathological alterations. We measured, using real-time reverse transcription-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the levels of cytokines in the placentas of cattle experimentally infected with N. caninum in early and late gestation. After infection in early gestation, fetal death occurred, and the levels of mRNA of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-12p40, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-18, IL-10, and IL-4, were significantly (P < 0.01) increased by up to 1,000-fold. There was extensive placental necrosis and a corresponding infiltration of CD4+ T cells and macrophages. IFN-γ protein expression was also highly increased, and a modest increase in transforming growth factor β was detected. A much smaller increase in the same cytokines and IFN-γ protein expression, with minimal placental necrosis and inflammatory infiltration, occurred after N. caninum infection in late gestation when the fetuses survived. Comparison of cytokine mRNA levels in separated maternal and fetal placental tissue that showed maternal tissue was the major source of all cytokine mRNA except for IL-10 and TNF-α, which were similar in both maternal and fetal tissues. These results suggest that the magnitude of the cytokine response correlates with but is not necessarily the cause of fetal death and demonstrate that a polarized Th1 response was not evident in the placentas of N. caninum-infected cattle.

scholarly journals A Defect in Interleukin-10 Leads to Enhanced Malarial Disease in Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi Infection in Mice

1999 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 4435-4442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching Li ◽  
Inés Corraliza ◽  
Jean Langhorne
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Interleukin 10 ◽  
Plasmodium Chabaudi ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT Infection of interleukin-10 (IL-10)-nonexpressing (IL-10−/−) mice with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) leads to exacerbated pathology in female mice and death in a proportion of them. Hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and loss in body weight were significantly greater in female IL-10−/−mice than in male knockout mice and all wild-type (WT) mice during the acute phase of infection. At this time, both female and male IL-10−/− mice produced more gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-12p40 mRNA than their respective WT counterparts. Inactivation of IFN-γ in IL-10−/− mice by the injection of anti-IFN-γ antibodies or by the generation of IL-10−/− IFN-γ receptor−/− double-knockout mice resulted in reduced mortality but did not affect body weight, temperature, or blood glucose levels. The data suggest that IFN-γ-independent pathways may be responsible for these pathological features of P. chabaudimalaria and may be due to direct stimulation of TNF-α by the parasite. Since male and female knockout mice both produce more inflammatory cytokines than their WT counterparts, it is likely that the mortality seen in females is due to the nature or magnitude of the response to these cytokines rather than the amount of IFN-γ or TNF-α produced.

scholarly journals Continuing Effect of Cytokines and Toll-Like Receptor Agonists on Indoleamine-2,3-Dioxygenase-1 in Human Periodontal Ligament Stem/Stromal Cells

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2696
Author(s):  
Christian Behm ◽  
Alice Blufstein ◽  
Johannes Gahn ◽  
Barbara Kubin ◽  
Andreas Moritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Periodontal Ligament ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Toll Like Receptor ◽  
Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Inflammatory Stimuli ◽  
Ifn Γ

Transplanted mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising and innovative approach in regenerative medicine. Their regenerative potential is partly based upon their immunomodulatory activities. One of the most investigated immunomediators in MSCs, such as in periodontal ligament-derived MSCs (hPDLSCs), is indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) which is upregulated by inflammatory stimuli, like cytokines. However, there are no data concerning continuing IDO-1 expression in hPDLSCs after the removal of inflammatory stimuli, such as cytokines and toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist-2 and TLR-3. Hence, primary hPDLSCs were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, TLR-2 agonist Pam3CSK4 or TLR-3 agonist Poly I/C. IDO-1 gene and protein expression and its enzymatic activity were measured up to five days after removing any stimuli. IL-1β- and TNF-α-induced IDO-1 expression and enzymatic activity decreased in a time-dependent manner after cessation of stimulation. IFN-γ caused a long-lasting effect on IDO-1 up to five days after removing IFN-γ. Both, TLR-2 and TLR-3 agonists induced a significant increase in IDO-1 gene expression, but only TLR-3 agonist induced significantly higher IDO-1 protein expression and enzymatic activity in conditioned media (CM). IDO-1 activity of Poly I/C- and Pam3CSK4-treated hPDLSCs was higher at one day after removal of stimuli than immediately after stimulation and declined to basal levels after five days. Among all tested stimuli, only IFN-γ was able to induce long-lasting IDO-1 expression and activity in hPDLSCs. The high plasticity of IDO-1 expression and its enzymatic activity in hPDLSCs due to the variable cytokine and virulence factor milieu and the temporal-dependent responsiveness of hPDLSCs may cause a highly dynamic potential of hPDLSCs to modulate immune responses in periodontal tissues.

scholarly journals In Vitro Investigation of Host Resistance toToxoplasma gondii Infection in Microglia of BALB/c and CBA/Ca Mice

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 765-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne R. Freund ◽  
Naunihal T. Zaveri ◽  
Harold S. Javitz
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasmic Encephalitis ◽  
No Production ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Newborn Mice ◽  
Tryptophan Degradation ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
In Vitro Investigation ◽  
Dependent Inhibition ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is a life-threatening disease of immunocompromised individuals and has increased in prevalence as a consequence of AIDS. TE has been modeled in inbred mice, with CBA/Ca mice being susceptible and BALB/c mice resistant to the development of TE. To better understand the innate mechanisms in the brain that play a role in resistance to TE, nitric oxide (NO)-dependent and NO-independent mechanisms were examined in microglia from BALB/c and CBA/Ca mice and correlated with the ability of these cells to inhibit Toxoplasma gondii replication. These parameters were measured 48 h after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), or combinations of these inducers in T. gondii-infected microglia isolated from newborn mice. CBA/Ca microglia consistently produced less NO than did BALB/c microglia after stimulation with LPS or with IFN-γ plus TNF-α, and they inhibitedT. gondii replication significantly less than did BALB/c microglia. Cells of both strains treated with IFN-γ alone significantly inhibited uracil incorporation by T. gondii, and N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (NMMA) treatment did not reverse this effect. In cells treated with IFN-γ in combination with other inducers, NMMA treatment resulted in only partial recovery of T. gondii replication. This IFN-γ-dependent inhibition of replication was not due to generation of reactive oxygen species or to increased tryptophan degradation. These data suggest that NO production and an IFN-γ-dependent mechanism contribute to the inhibition of T. gondii replication after in vitro stimulation with IFN-γ plus TNF-α or with LPS. Differences in NO production but not in IFN-γ-dependent inhibition of T. gondii replication were observed between CBA/Ca and BALB/c microglia.

scholarly journals Differential Effects of Combined Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitor t-TUCB and n-3 Epoxides in Diet-Induced Obesity

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1260-1260
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Xinyun Xu ◽  
Christophe Morisseau ◽  
Bruce Hammock ◽  
Ahmed Bettaieb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Cold Tolerance ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Epoxide Hydrolase ◽  
Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Brown Adipose

Abstract Objectives Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a promising target for obesity prevention. N-3 epoxides are fatty acid epoxides produced from n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and shown to be beneficial for health. However, these epoxides are unstable and quickly metabolized by the cytosolic soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Here, we investigated the effects of sEH inhibitor (t-TUCB) alone or combined with two different n-3 epoxides on BAT activation in the development of diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Methods Male C57BL6/J mice were fed a high-fat diet and received either of the following treatment: the vehicle control, t-TUCB alone (T), or t-TUCB combined with 19,20-EDP (T + EDP) or 17,18-EEQ (T + EEQ) via osmotic minipump delivery near the interscapular BAT for 6 weeks. Mice were examined for changes in body weight, food intake, glucose, insulin, and cold tolerance tests, and indirect calorimetry. Blood and tissue biochemical analyses were also performed to assess changes in metabolic homeostasis. Results Although no differences in food intake were observed, there were small but significant increases in body weight in both T and T + EDP groups. Mice in the T + EDP and T + EEQ groups showed significant decreases in fasting glucose and serum TG levels, higher core body temperature, and better cold tolerance compared to the controls. However, heat production was significantly increased only in the T + EEQ group. Thermogenic UCP1 protein expression showed a moderate, but not significant, increase in the T + EEQ group. On the other hand, PGC1 α protein expression was significantly increased in the T, T + EDP, and T + EEQ groups compared to the controls. Perilipin protein expression and phosphorylation were also significantly increased in the three treated groups. In contrast, protein expression of FABP4 and HSL was only increased in the T and T + EDP groups, and CD36 protein expression was only increased in the T + EEQ group. Conclusions Our results suggest that sEH pharmacological inhibition by t-TUCB combined with n-3 epoxides may prevent high-fat diet-induced glucose and lipid disorders, in part through increased thermogenesis and upregulating of protein expression of thermogenic and lipid metabolic genes. Funding Sources The work was supported by NIH grants to L.Z., A.B., and B.D.H.

scholarly journals Effects of Acute Diquat Poisoning on Liver Mitochondrial Apoptosis and Autophagy in Ducks

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaxin Chen ◽  
Yalin Su ◽  
Renzhao Lin ◽  
Fei Lin ◽  
Peng Shang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Expression Level ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Histopathological Changes ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
Protein Expression Level ◽  
Apoptotic Gene ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Gene Level ◽  
Apoptotic Factors

Diquat (DQ) is an effective herbicide and is widely used in agriculture. Due to persistent and frequent applications, it can enter into aquatic ecosystem and induce toxic effects to exposed aquatic animals. The residues of DQ via food chain accumulate in different tissues of exposed animals including humans and cause adverse toxic effects. Therefore, it is crucial and important to understand the mechanisms of toxic effects of DQ in exposed animals. We used ducks as test specimens to know the effects of acute DQ poisoning on mechanisms of apoptosis and autophagy in liver tissues. Results on comparison of various indexes of visceral organs including histopathological changes, apoptosis, autophagy-related genes, and protein expression indicated the adverse effects of DQ on the liver. The results of our experimental trial showed that DQ induces non-significant toxic effects on pro-apoptotic factors like BAX, BAK1, TNF-α, caspase series, and p53. The results revealed that anti-apoptotic gene Parkin was significantly upregulated, while an upward trend was also observed for Bcl2, suggesting that involvement of the anti-apoptotic factors in ducklings plays an important role in DQ poisoning. Results showed that DQ significantly increased the protein expression level of the autophagy factor Beclin 1 in the liver. Results on key autophagy factors like LC3A, LC3B, and p62 showed an upward trend at gene level, while the protein expression level of both LC3B and p62 reduced that might be associated with process of translation affected by the pro-apoptotic components such as apoptotic protease that inhibits the occurrence of autophagy while initiating cell apoptosis. The above results indicate that DQ can induce cell autophagy and apoptosis and the exposed organism may resist the toxic effects of DQ by increasing anti-apoptotic factors.

Fractalkine/CX3CL1 production by human airway smooth muscle cells: induction by IFN-γ and TNF-α and regulation by TGF-β and corticosteroids

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (6) ◽  
pp. L1230-L1240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria B. Sukkar ◽  
Razao Issa ◽  
Shaoping Xie ◽  
Ute Oltmanns ◽  
Robert Newton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Airway Smooth Muscle ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Airway Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Mrna And Protein Expression ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Sb 203580

Chemokine synthesis by airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) may be an important process underlying inflammatory cell recruitment in airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fractalkine (FKN) is a recently described CX3C chemokine that has dual functions, serving as both a cell adhesion molecule and a chemoattractant for monocytes and T cells, expressing its unique receptor, CX3CR1. We investigated FKN expression by human ASMC in response to the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, the T helper 2-type cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13, and the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Neither of these cytokines alone had any significant effect on ASMC FKN production. Combined stimulation with IFN-γ and TNF-α induced FKN mRNA and protein expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. TGF-β had a significant inhibitory effect on cytokine-induced FKN mRNA and protein expression. Dexamethasone (10−8–10−6 M) significantly upregulated cytokine-induced FKN mRNA and protein expression. Finally, we used selective inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinases c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) (SP-610025), p38 (SB-203580), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (PD-98095) to investigate their role in FKN production. SP-610025 (25 μM) and SB-203580 (20 μM), but not PD-98095, significantly attenuated cytokine-induced FKN protein synthesis. IFN-γ- and TNF-α-induced JNK phosphorylation remained unaltered in the presence of TGF-β but was inhibited by dexamethasone, indicating that JNK is not involved in TGF-β- or dexamethasone-mediated regulation of FKN production. In summary, FKN production by human ASMC in vitro is regulated by inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors.

scholarly journals Maternal flaxseed diet during lactation changes adrenal function in adult male rat offspring

2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 1046-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Sarto Figueiredo ◽  
Ellen Paula Santos da Conceição ◽  
Elaine de Oliveira ◽  
Patricia Cristina Lisboa ◽  
Egberto Gaspar de Moura
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Adrenal Function ◽  
Liver Fat ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Adult Offspring ◽  
Potential Health

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) has been a focus of interest in the field of functional foods because of its potential health benefits. However, we hypothesised that maternal flaxseed intake during lactation could induce several metabolic dysfunctions in adult offspring. In the present study, we aimed to characterise the adrenal function of adult offspring whose dams were supplemented with whole flaxseed during lactation. At birth, lactating Wistar rats were divided into two groups: rats from dams fed the flaxseed diet (FLAX) with 25 % of flaxseed and controls dams. Pups received standard diet after weaning and male offspring were killed at age 180 days old to collect blood and tissues. We evaluated body weight and food intake during development, corticosteronaemia, adrenal catecholamine content, hepatic cholesterol, TAG and glycogen contents, and the protein expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) and adrenaline β2 receptor at postnatal day 180 (PN180). After weaning, pups from the FLAX group had a higher body weight (+10 %) and food intake (+10 %). At PN180, the FLAX offspring exhibited higher serum corticosterone (+48 %) and lower adrenal catecholamine ( − 23 %) contents, lower glycogen ( − 30 %), higher cholesterol (4-fold increase) and TAG (3-fold-increase) contents in the liver, and higher 11β-HSD1 (+62 %) protein expression. Although the protein expression of hypothalamic CRH was unaffected, the FLAX offspring had lower protein expression of pituitary ACTH ( − 34 %). Therefore, induction of hypercorticosteronaemia by dietary flaxseed during lactation may be due to an increased hepatic activation of 11β-HSD1 and suppression of ACTH. The changes in the liver fat content of the FLAX group are suggestive of steatosis, in which hypercorticosteronaemia may play an important role. Thus, it is recommended that lactating women restrict the intake of flaxseed during lactation.

Nucleobindin-2/Nesfatin-1 in the Human Hypothalamus Is Reduced in Obese Subjects and Colocalizes with Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Melanin-Concentrating Hormone, and Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript

2019 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristea Psilopanagioti ◽  
Sofia Nikou ◽  
Helen Papadaki
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Brain Area ◽  
Nucleus Basalis ◽  
Human Hypothalamus ◽  
Cholinergic Basal Forebrain ◽  
Melanin Concentrating Hormone ◽  
Immunofluorescence Labeling

Background/Aims: Nesfatin-1, processed from nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2), is a potent anorexigenic peptide being expressed in rodent hypothalamic nuclei and involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and body weight in animals. The present study aimed to investigate NUCB2/nesfatin-1 protein expression in the human hypothalamus as well as its correlation with body weight. Methods: Sections of hypothalamus and adjacent cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei, including the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) and the diagonal band of Broca (DBB), from 25 autopsy cases (17 males, 8 females; 8 lean, 9 overweight, 8 obese) were examined using immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence labeling. Results: Prominent NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoexpression was detected in supraoptic, paraventricular, and infundibular nuclei, lateral hypothalamic area (LHA)/perifornical region, and NBM/DBB. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was found to extensively colocalize with (a) oxytocin and vasopressin in paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, (b) melanin-concentrating hormone in the LHA, and (c) cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in infundibular and paraventricular nuclei and LHA. Interestingly, in the LHA, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 protein expression was significantly decreased in obese, compared with lean (p < 0.01) and overweight (p < 0.05) subjects. Conclusions: The findings of the present study are suggestive of a potential role for NUCB2/nesfatin-1 as an integral regulator of food intake and energy homeostasis in the human hypothalamus. In the LHA, an appetite- and reward-related brain area, reduced NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoexpression may contribute to dysregulation of homeostatic and/or hedonic feeding behavior and obesity. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 localization in NBM/DBB might imply its participation in the neuronal circuitry controlling cognitive influences on food intake and give impetus towards unraveling additional biological actions of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in human neuronal networks.

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