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Increased NMUR1 Expression in Mast Cells in the Synovial Membrane of Obese Osteoarthritis Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911237. [PMID: 36232539 PMCID: PMC9570196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Neuromedin U (NMU) and NMU receptors (NMUR1 and NMUR2) are associated with obesity-related disorders and found in mast cells (MCs), which are elevated in osteoarthritis. However, NMU/NMUR expression was not examined in the synovial membrane (SM) or synovial MCs of obese osteoarthritis patients. We compared expression of NMU, NMUR1, NMUR2, and the mast cell (MC) marker, CPA3, in the SM of KOA patients categorized as normal weight (NW; BMI < 25 kg/m2, n = 79), overweight (OW; BMI ≥ 25 and <30 kg/m2, n = 87), and obese (OB; ≥30 kg/m2, n = 40). To study NMU/NMUR expression in MCs, we compared the MC-rich fraction (MC-RF), CD88(+) MC-RF, and CD88(−) MC-RF, extracted using magnetic isolation, with the MC-poor fraction (MC-PF). While NMU and NMUR2 expression were comparable, NMUR1 was significantly elevated in OW and OB compared to NW. Moreover, CPA3 levels were significantly greater in OB than NW. NMUR1 and CPA3 expression were significantly higher in both the CD88(+) and CD88(−) MC-RF than MC-PF. Therefore, NMUR1 expression was elevated in the SM of OB KOA patients, and its expression was found in MCs. Further investigation to analyze the NMU/NMUR1 pathway in MC may provide a link between obesity and KOA pathology.
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Neuromedin U, a Key Molecule in Metabolic Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084238. [PMID: 33921859 PMCID: PMC8074168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is now a public health concern. The leading cause of obesity is an energy imbalance between ingested and expended calories. The mechanisms of feeding behavior and energy metabolism are regulated by a complex of various kinds of molecules, including anorexigenic and orexigenic neuropeptides. One of these neuropeptides, neuromedin U (NMU), was isolated in the 1980s, and its specific receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2, were defined in 2000. A series of subsequent studies has revealed many of the physiological roles of the NMU system, including in feeding behavior, energy expenditure, stress responses, circadian rhythmicity, and inflammation. Particularly over the past decades, many reports have indicated that the NMU system plays an essential and direct role in regulating body weight, feeding behavior, energy metabolism, and insulin secretion, which are tightly linked to obesity pathophysiology. Furthermore, another ligand of NMU receptors, NMS (neuromedin S), was identified in 2005. NMS has physiological functions similar to those of NMU. This review summarizes recent observations of the NMU system in relation to the pathophysiology of obesity in both the central nervous systems and the peripheral tissues.
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Ye Y, Liang Z, Xue L. Neuromedin U: potential roles in immunity and inflammation. Immunology 2021; 162:17-29. [PMID: 32888314 PMCID: PMC7730025 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of neuromedin U (NmU) from porcine spinal cord in 1985, this neuropeptide has been subsequently identified in many other species with multiple physiological and pathophysiological roles detected, ranging from smooth muscle contraction, feeding, energy balance to tumorigenesis. Intriguingly, NmU is also emerging to play pro-inflammatory roles involving immune cell activation and cytokine release in a neuron-dependent or neuron-independent manner. The NmU-mediated inflammatory responses have already been observed in worm infection, sepsis, autoimmune arthritis and allergic animal models. In this review, we focus on the roles of NmU in immunity and inflammation by highlighting the interactions between NmU and immune cells, summarizing the signalling mechanism involved in their reactions and discussing its potential contributions to inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ye
- The Respiratory Medicine UnitOxford NIHR Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care MedicineWest China School of Medicine and West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zongan Liang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care MedicineWest China School of Medicine and West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Luzheng Xue
- The Respiratory Medicine UnitOxford NIHR Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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Peng S, Lu Y, Li P, Liu P, Shi X, Liu C, Zhang Y, Liu S, Wang J. The short interference RNA (siRNA) targeting NMUR2 relieves nociception in a bone cancer pain model of rat through PKC-ERK and PI3K-AKT pathways. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 512:616-622. [PMID: 30914203 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.03.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Bone cancer pain (BCP) causes troubles and burdens to patients globally. Increasing evidence proved that neuromedin U receptor 2 (NMUR2) was involved in pains. Our study was performed to investigate the role of NMUR2 on BCP and the underlying mechanism. METHODS The rats were raised and BCP rat model was established by injection with Walker 256 cells. The RNA and protein expression levels of NMUR2 in rat neurons-dorsal spinal cord cells, RNdsc cells were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The administration with NMUR2 was via intrathecal injection with siRNA to silence NMUR2. The tolerance of rat to pain was measured by mechanical allodynia test and presented by paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) value. The effects on protein kinase C (PKC)/extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signal pathways were examined by western blot. RESULTS The expression of NMUR2 in both mRNA and protein levels was upregulated in BCP rat model. In addition, siRNA injection significantly decreased the expression of NMUR2 on the 3rd, 7th and 14th day. BCP group revealed lower PWT value compared with control while NMUR2 silence increased the PWT value compared with negative control. The phosphorylation of PKC, ERK, PI3K and AKT was increased in BCP model while was decreased by si-NMUR2. PKC/ERK and PI3K/AKT inhibitor administration increased the PWT value compared with BCP group. CONCLUSION si-NMUR2 alleviates BCP via inactivation of PKC/ERK and PI3K/AKT signal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, No.358 Datong Road, Shanghai, 200137, China
| | - Yingjun Lu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, No.748 Zhongshan Middle Road, Shanghai, 201600, China.
| | - Pengyi Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Peirong Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, No.358 Datong Road, Shanghai, 200137, China
| | - Xiaowei Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, No.358 Datong Road, Shanghai, 200137, China
| | - Chunliang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, No.358 Datong Road, Shanghai, 200137, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, No.358 Datong Road, Shanghai, 200137, China
| | - Shasha Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, No.358 Datong Road, Shanghai, 200137, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Seventh People's Hospital of Shanghai University of TCM, No.358 Datong Road, Shanghai, 200137, China
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Martinez VG, Crown J, Porter RK, O'Driscoll L. Neuromedin U alters bioenergetics and expands the cancer stem cell phenotype in HER2-positive breast cancer. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:2771-2784. [PMID: 28340506 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuromedin U (NmU) is a neuropeptide belonging to the neuromedin family. Recently, we reported a significant association between NmU and breast cancer, particularly correlating with increased aggressiveness, resistance to HER2-targeted therapies and overall significantly poorer outcome for patients, although the mechanism through which it exerts this effect remained unexplained. Investigating this, here we found that ectopic over-expression of NmU in HER2-positive breast cancer cells induced aberrant metabolism, with increased glycolysis, likely due to enhanced pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity. Similar results were observed in HER2-targeted drug-resistant cell variants, which we had previously shown to display increased levels of NmU. Overexpression of NmU also resulted in upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers and increased IL-6 secretion which, together with aberrant metabolism, have all been associated with the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. Flow cytometry experiments confirmed that NmU-overexpressing and HER2-targeted drug-resistant cells showed an increased proportion of cells with CSC phenotype (CD44+ /CD24- ). Taken together, our results report a new mechanism of action for NmU in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer that enhances resistance to HER2-targeted drugs through conferring CSC characteristics and expansion of the CSC phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa G Martinez
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Crown
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard K Porter
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lorraine O'Driscoll
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Kono T, Ida T, Kawahara N, Watanabe F, Biswas G, Sato T, Mori K, Miyazato M. Identification and immunoregulatory function of neuromedin U (Nmu) in the Japanese pufferfish Takifugu rubripes. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 73:246-256. [PMID: 28286258 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, immunoregulatory function of neuromedin U (Nmu) in the teleost fish Fugu (Takifugu rubripes) was characterized. Three splicing variants of nmu mRNA encoding preproNMUs consisting of 164 (Nmu1), 139 (Nmu2), and 129 (Nmu3) amino acid residues were found in Fugu.The biologically active C-terminal region of Fugu Nmu showed high homology among fish and other vertebrate NMUs. The genomic organization of Fugu nmu differed from those of zebrafish and mammals. However, in phylogenetic analysis, Fugu Nmu formed a cluster with NMUs of other vertebrates, in addition to neuromedin S. The splicing variants of mRNA were identified in various tissues. Nmu-21 and Nmu-9 were purified as endogenous peptides from Fugu intestine. The synthetic Nmu-21 peptide activated phagocytic cells, and elevated the expression of cytokine mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kono
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.
| | - Takanori Ida
- Division of Searching and Identification of Bioactive Peptides, Department of Bioactive Peptides, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan; Division of Research & Inspection for Infectious Diseases, Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Natsumi Kawahara
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Fumiya Watanabe
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Gouranga Biswas
- ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Kakdwip Research Centre, Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal 743347, India
| | - Takahiro Sato
- Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Sciences, Kurume University, Fukuoka 839-0864, Japan
| | - Kenji Mori
- Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Mikiya Miyazato
- Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
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Martinez VG, O'Driscoll L. Neuromedin U: a multifunctional neuropeptide with pleiotropic roles. Clin Chem 2015; 61:471-82. [PMID: 25605682 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2014.231753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuromedin U (NmU) belongs to the neuromedin family, comprising a series of neuropeptides involved in the gut-brain axis and including neuromedins B and C (bombesin-like), K (neurokinin B), L (neurokinin A or neurotensin), N, S, and U. CONTENT Although initially isolated from porcine spinal cord on the basis of their ability to induce uterine smooth muscle contraction, these peptides have now been found to be expressed in several different tissues and have been ascribed numerous functions, from appetite regulation and energy balance control to muscle contraction and tumor progression. NmU has been detected in several species to date, particularly in mammals (pig, rat, rabbit, dog, guinea pig, human), but also in amphibian, avian, and fish species. The NmU sequence is highly conserved across different species, indicating that this peptide is ancient and plays an important biological role. Here, we summarize the main structural and functional characteristics of NmU and describe its many roles, highlighting the jack-of-all-trades nature of this neuropeptide. SUMMARY NmU involvement in key processes has outlined the possibility that this neuropeptide could be a novel target for the treatment of obesity and cancer, among other disorders. Although the potential for NmU as a therapeutic target is obvious, the multiple functions of this molecule should be taken into account when designing an approach to targeting NmU and/or its receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa G Martinez
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lorraine O'Driscoll
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Abstract
Neuromedin U (NMU) is known to have potent actions on appetite and energy expenditure. Deletion of the NMU gene in mice leads to an obese phenotype, characterized by hyperphagia and decreased energy expenditure. Conversely, transgenic mice that overexpress proNMU exhibit reduced body weight and fat storage. Here, we show that central administration of NMU or the related peptide neuromedin S (NMS) dose-dependently decreases food intake, increases metabolic rate, and leads to significant weight loss in mice. The effects of NMU and NMS on both feeding and metabolism are almost completely lost in mice lacking the putative CNS receptor for NMU and NMS, NMUr2. However, NMUr2 knockout mice do not exhibit overt differences in body weight or energy expenditure compared with wild-type mice, suggesting that the dramatic phenotype of the NMU gene knockout mouse is not due simply to the loss of NMU/NMUr2 signaling. Putative proteolytic cleavage sites indicate that an additional peptide is produced from the NMU precursor protein, which is extremely well conserved between human, mouse, and rat. Here, we demonstrate that this peptide, proNMU(104-136), has a pronounced effect on energy balance in mice. Specifically, central administration of proNMU(104-136) causes a significant but transient ( approximately 4 h) increase in feeding, yet both food intake and body weight are decreased over the following 24 h. proNMU(104-136) administration also significantly increased metabolic rate. These results suggest that proNMU(104-136) is a novel modulator of energy balance and may contribute to the phenotype exhibited by NMU knockout mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Bechtold
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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