Phoenixin: a novel brain-gut-skin peptide with multiple bioactivity.

In this brief review we summarize the current fndings relative to the discovery of a small peptide ligand, phoenixin (PNX). Using a bioinformatic approach, two novel peptides PNX-14 and PNX-20 containing 14 and 20 amino acids, respectively, were isolated from diverse tissues including the brain, heart, lung and stomach. Mass spectrometry analysis identified a major and minor peak corresponding to PNX-14 and PNX-20, in rat or mouse spinal cord extracts.

A total solid-phase synthesis of DILP8.

We have developed a cysteine anchoring method for the synthesis of DILP8 and its analogues. The first is to synthesis of DILP8A SS13-18, C14-MeOBzl, C24-Acm and activate it as DILP8A S13-18, C14-SSPyr C24-Acm. A next step is to synthesize the DILP8BC16-Acm.

Neuronostatin encoded by the somatostatin gene regulates neuronal, cardiovascular, and metabolic functions.

Somatostatin is important in the regulation of diverse neuroendocrine functions. Based on bioinformatic analyses of evolutionarily conserved sequences, we predicted another peptide hormone in pro-somatostatin and named it neuronostatin. Immuno-affinity purification allowed the sequencing of an amidated neuronostatin peptide of 13 residues from porcine tissues.

State-dependent calcium mobilization by urotensin-II in cultured human endothelial cells.

Human endothelial cells express urotensin-II (U-II) as well as its receptor GPR14. Using microfluorimetric techniques, the effect of human U-II on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations [Ca2+]i in cultured human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) loaded with Fura-2 was evaluated in static or flow conditions. Under the static state, U-II (100 nM) abolished spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations, which occurred in a population of cultured HAEC.

Obestatin inhibits vasopressin secretion: evidence for a physiological action in the control of fluid homeostasis.

Obestatin, a product of post-translational processing of the ghrelin prohormone, has been reported to act in the brain to inhibit thirst. We extended our initial studies on water drinking by examining the effects of obestatin on hypovolemia-induced water and saline drinking and vasopressin release in male rats. Intracerebroventricular administration of obestatin significantly inhibited water, but not saline (0.

Nesfatin-1: distribution and interaction with a G protein-coupled receptor in the rat brain.

Nesfatin-1 is a recently identified satiety molecule detectable in neurons of the hypothalamus and nucleus of solitary tract (NTS). Immunohistochemical studies revealed nesfatin-1-immunoreactive (irNEF) cells in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus, and caudal raphe nuclei of the rats, in addition to the hypothalamus and NTS reported in the initial study. Double-labeling immunohistochemistry showed that irNEF cells were vasopressin or oxytocin positive in the paraventricular and supraoptic nucleus; cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript or tyrosine hydroxylase positive in arcuate nucleus; cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript or melanin concentrating hormone positive in the lateral hypothalamus.

Smooth muscle-associated protein 8: distribution and biological activity in the rat brain.

With the use of an antiserum directed against the human smooth muscle-associated protein 8 (SMAP8) fragment SMAP8(98-138), Western blot and immunohistochemical studies revealed SMAP8 expression in the rat brain. A band with a molecular size of about 45 kDa was detected in tissues from the rat hypothalamus and a weaker band from the cortex. SMAP8 immunoreactivity (irSMAP8) was detected in neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular, supraoptic, and supraoptic retrochiasmatic nuclei; a few irSMAP8 cells were scattered in the zona incerta as well as the cerebral cortex.

Expression and activity of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide(1-39) in the rat.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide consists of a family of peptides. Expression of the peptide fragment CART(1-39) was explored in the rat using an antiserum directed against CART(1-39) of the short form of the human CART prohormone. CART(1-39)-immunoreactivity, herein referred to as irCART, was detected in the rat central and peripheral nervous tissues with a pattern similar to that labeled with the antiserum CART(55-102) or CART(79-102).

Distribution and biological activity of obestatin in the rat.

Obestatin, a 23 amino acid peptide recently isolated from the rat stomach, is encoded by the same gene that encodes ghrelin. With the use of an antiserum directed against the mouse/rat obestatin, obestatin immunoreactivity (irOBS) was detected in cells of the gastric mucosa, myenteric plexus, and in Leydig cells of the testis in Sprague-Dawley rats. Double labeling the myenteric plexus with obestatin antiserum and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) antiserum revealed that nearly all irOBS neurons were ChAT positive and vice versa.

Intermedin1-53 protects the heart against isoproterenol-induced ischemic injury in rats.

Intermedin is a novel member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family peptide, which has vasodilatory and hypotensive actions identical to those of adrenomedullin and CGRP. Cleavage sites located between 2 basic amino acids at Arg93-Arg94 result in the production of prepro-intermedin95-147, namely intermedin1-53. The bioactive action of intermedin1-53 and its physiological significance are unclear.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide and sympatho-adrenal axis.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) is constitutively expressed in discrete regions of the mammalian central and peripheral nervous system. Immunohistochemical studies reveal a well-defined network of CART-immunoreactive (irCART) neurons organized along the sympatho-adrenal axis. Sympathetic preganglionic neurons, but not parasympathetic preganglionic neurons, in the lateral horn area are CART-positive; which in turn innervate postganglionic neurons in the paravertebral and prevertebral sympathetic ganglia as well as the adrenal medulla.

Salusin beta is a surrogate ligand of the mas-like G protein-coupled receptor MrgA1.

The mas-like G protein-coupled receptors form a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors that includes variable member numbers across different species and that have been shown to bind a wide variety of ligands from peptides to amino acid derivatives. While screening a library of peptides against different orphan G protein-coupled receptors, we found that human salusin beta activates the mouse mas-like G protein-coupled receptor, mMrgA1 with an EC(50) of about 300 nM. Salusin beta is a bioactive peptide recently discovered through bioinformatics analysis which stimulates arginine-vasopressin release from rat pituitary and causes rapid and profound hypotension and bradycardia.

Electroacupuncture suppresses expression of gastric ghrelin and hypothalamic NPY in chronic food restricted rats.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to reduce body weight in overweight subjects in clinical practice, as well as in rats and mice with diet-induced obesity. In the present study, this effect of EA was tested in lean rats subjected to long-term food restriction (FR, food was offered only 1 h/day). Two hertz EA administered once every other day produced a further reduction in body weight in FR rats.

Insulin-like peptide 5: expression in the mouse brain and mobilization of calcium.

Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) mRNA was detected in the mouse hypothalamus by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical studies using an antiserum against the mouse INSL5 peptide revealed INSL5-immunoreactive (irINSL5) neurons in the paraventricular, supraoptic, accessory secretory, and supraoptic retrochiasmatic nuclei and immunoreactive cell processes in the internal layer of the median eminence. In the pituitary, irINSL5 was detected in terminal-like elements of the posterior lobe and in cells of the anterior lobe.

Apelin protects myocardial injury induced by isoproterenol in rats.

We aimed to explore the change in level of apelin and its receptor APJ during myocardial injury and the therapeutic effects of apelin in myocardial injury. Rat myocardial injury was induced by subcutaneous injection of a high dose of isoproterenol (ISO); apelin and APJ mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR; APJ protein was determined by Western blot; EIA and RIA were used to measure the apelin content and receptor binding, respectively. Plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and myocardial and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were higher in ISO-treated hearts than that in controls.

Distribution of beacon immunoreactivity in the rat brain.

Beacon is a novel peptide isolated from the hypothalamus of Israeli sand rat. In the present study, we determined the distribution of beacon in the rat brain using immunohistochemical approach with a polyclonal antiserum directed against the synthetic C-terminal peptide fragment (47-73). The hypothalamus represented the major site of beacon-immunoreactive (IR) cell bodies that were concentrated in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the supraoptic nucleus (SON).

Cardiovascular effects of newly discovered peptide intermedin/adrenomedullin 2.

Intermedin (IMD) is a novel member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The present study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular effects of IMDs (IMD1-47 and IMD8-47) in rats. Intravenous administration of 150 nmol IMDs continuously decreased mean arterial pressure and inhibited cardiac function.

Effect of relaxin on myocardial ischemia injury induced by isoproterenol.

The omnipresent 6-kDa polypeptide relaxin (RLX) is emerging as a multifunctional endocrine and paracrine factor in a broad range of target tissues including cardiovascular tissues. To explore the pathophysiological roles of RLX in ischemic cardiovascular diseases, we studied the changes in RLX mRNA level in the myocardium and the effect of RLX supplements in rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury. In ISO-treated rats, RLX levels in myocardia and plasma increased 3.

Neuropeptide B immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the rat.

Neuropeptide B (NPB) is a recently identified endogenous ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptors GPR7 and GPR8. NPB mRNA is expressed in the human, rat, and mouse brain. With the use of an antiserum directed against the rat NPB, immunoreactivity to NPB (irNPB) was detected in several discrete areas of the hypothalamus and midbrain.

Up-regulation of the expression of cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide by electroacupuncture in the arcuate nucleus of diet-induced obese rats.

It was reported that acupuncture or electro-acupuncture (EA) is effective in reducing the body weight for obese patients, although the mechanisms remain obscure. In a previous study, we have found that rats fed with high-fat (HIF) diet developed diet-induced obesity (DIO) with a concomitant decrease in the hypothalamic content of the cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide, a peptide with anorexiogenic effect. To assess the central effect of EA on DIO rat, we revealed that EA up-regulated the expression of CART peptide in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the DIO rats.

Insulin-like 6 immunoreactivity in the mouse brain and testis.

Insulin-like 6 immunoreactivity (irINSL6) was detected in Leydig cells of the mouse testis. In the brain, labeled somata were detected mainly in the caudal hypothalamus and midbrain. Double labeling the brainstem sections revealed that irINSL6 somata were 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) positive.

Protective effects of intermedin/adrenomedullin2 on ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts.

Intermedin (IMD) is a novel member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CT/CGRP) family identified from human and other vertebrate tissues. Preprointermedin can generate a 47-amino acid mature peptide (IMD(1-47)) and a shorter 40-amino acid one (IMD(8-47)) by proteolytic cleavage. The present study was designed to determine the protective effect of IMD on cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and its possible mechanism.

Effects of intermedin(1-53) on cardiac function and ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts.

Intermedin (IMD) is a novel member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CT/CGRP) family identified from human and other vertebrate tissues. Preprointermedin (preproIMD) can generate a 47 amino acid mature peptide (IMD(1-47)) and a shorter 40 amino acid one (IMD(8-47)) by proteolytic cleavage. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that cleavage sites are located between two basic amino acids at Arg93-Arg94, resulting in the production of preproIMD(95-147), namely IMD(1-53).

KiSS-1 expression and metastin-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain.

Metastin, the gene product of metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1, is the endogenous ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR54 (or AXOR12, or OT7T175). The expression of KiSS-1 gene and peptide and the distribution of metastin were studied in the rat central nervous system by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical methods. KiSS-1 gene and peptide expression was higher in the hypothalamus than in the brainstem and spinal cord.

Changes of hypothalamic alpha-MSH and CART peptide expression in diet-induced obese rats.

Two hypothalamic peptides, cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), recognized as anorexigenic neuropeptides to suppress the feeding behavior, were monitored in rats fed with a high-fat (HIF) diet for 14 weeks. While half of the rats developed obesity (diet-induced obese, DIO), some did not (diet resistant, DR). Compared to the DR rats and the control rats (fed with standard chow), DIO rats were accompanied by a markedly higher energy intake and a decrease in the number of neurons carrying alpha-MSH and CART peptide in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.