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

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 nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) and 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 immunofluor escence 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 p araventricular and supraoptic nuclei, b) melanin-concentrating hormone in LHA, and c) cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in infundibular and paraventricular nuclei, and LHA. Interestingly, in LHA, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 protein expression was significantly decreased in obese, compared with lean (P
Source: Neuroendocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research