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Li J, Song J, Zaytseva YY, Liu Y, Rychahou P, Jiang K, Starr ME, Kim JT, Harris JW, Yiannikouris FB, Katz WS, Nilsson PM, Orho-Melander M, Chen J, Zhu H, Fahrenholz T, Higashi RM, Gao T, Morris AJ, Cassis LA, Fan TWM, Weiss HL, Dobner PR, Melander O, Jia J, Evers BM. An obligatory role for neurotensin in high-fat-diet-induced obesity. Nature 2016; 533:411-5. [PMID: 27193687 PMCID: PMC5484414 DOI: 10.1038/nature17662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Obesity and its associated comorbidities (for example, diabetes mellitus and hepatic steatosis) contribute to approximately 2.5 million deaths annually and are among the most prevalent and challenging conditions confronting the medical profession. Neurotensin (NT; also known as NTS), a 13-amino-acid peptide predominantly localized in specialized enteroendocrine cells of the small intestine and released by fat ingestion, facilitates fatty acid translocation in rat intestine, and stimulates the growth of various cancers. The effects of NT are mediated through three known NT receptors (NTR1, 2 and 3; also known as NTSR1, 2, and NTSR3, respectively). Increased fasting plasma levels of pro-NT (a stable NT precursor fragment produced in equimolar amounts relative to NT) are associated with increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality; however, a role for NT as a causative factor in these diseases is unknown. Here we show that NT-deficient mice demonstrate significantly reduced intestinal fat absorption and are protected from obesity, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance associated with high fat consumption. We further demonstrate that NT attenuates the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and stimulates fatty acid absorption in mice and in cultured intestinal cells, and that this occurs through a mechanism involving NTR1 and NTR3 (also known as sortilin). Consistent with the findings in mice, expression of NT in Drosophila midgut enteroendocrine cells results in increased lipid accumulation in the midgut, fat body, and oenocytes (specialized hepatocyte-like cells) and decreased AMPK activation. Remarkably, in humans, we show that both obese and insulin-resistant subjects have elevated plasma concentrations of pro-NT, and in longitudinal studies among non-obese subjects, high levels of pro-NT denote a doubling of the risk of developing obesity later in life. Our findings directly link NT with increased fat absorption and obesity and suggest that NT may provide a prognostic marker of future obesity and a potential target for prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Jun Song
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Yekaterina Y Zaytseva
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Yajuan Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Piotr Rychahou
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Kai Jiang
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Marlene E Starr
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Ji Tae Kim
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Jennifer W Harris
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Frederique B Yiannikouris
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Wendy S Katz
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Peter M Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Marju Orho-Melander
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Center for Structural Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Haining Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Center for Structural Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Timothy Fahrenholz
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Richard M Higashi
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Tianyan Gao
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Andrew J Morris
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky and Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Lisa A Cassis
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Teresa W-M Fan
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Heidi L Weiss
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Paul R Dobner
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA
| | - Olle Melander
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Jianhang Jia
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - B Mark Evers
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
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Ferraro L, Tiozzo Fasiolo L, Beggiato S, Borelli AC, Pomierny-Chamiolo L, Frankowska M, Antonelli T, Tomasini MC, Fuxe K, Filip M. Neurotensin: A role in substance use disorder? J Psychopharmacol 2016; 30:112-27. [PMID: 26755548 DOI: 10.1177/0269881115622240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neurotensin is a tridecapeptide originally identified in extracts of bovine hypothalamus. This peptide has a close anatomical and functional relationship with the mesocorticolimbic and nigrostriatal dopamine system. Neural circuits containing neurotensin were originally proposed to play a role in the mechanism of action of antipsychotic agents. Additionally, neurotensin-containing pathways were demonstrated to mediate some of the rewarding and/or sensitizing properties of drugs of abuse.This review attempts to contribute to the understanding of the role of neurotensin and its receptors in drug abuse. In particular, we will summarize the potential relevance of neurotensin, its related compounds and neurotensin receptors in substance use disorders, with a focus on the preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Laura Tiozzo Fasiolo
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Andrea C Borelli
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Malgorzata Frankowska
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Tiziana Antonelli
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria C Tomasini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Kjell Fuxe
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Malgorzata Filip
- Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
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Hall FS, Centeno M, Perona MTG, Adair J, Dobner PR, Uhl GR. Effects of neurotensin gene knockout in mice on the behavioral effects of cocaine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 219:35-45. [PMID: 21720755 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2370-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 05/29/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The neuropeptide neurotensin (NT), which has been implicated in the modulation of dopamine signaling, is expressed in a subset of dopamine neurons and antagonism of the NT receptor has been reported to reduce psychostimulant-induced behavior. Gene knockout (KO) of the neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor provides an approach to delineating possible roles of endogenous NT in psychostimulant-induced responses. OBJECTIVES Involvement of NT in cocaine responses was examined by comparing acute and conditioned locomotor responses, conditioned place preference, and sensitization in wild-type (WT), heterozygous, and homozygous NT KO mice. RESULTS NT KO mice did not differ from their WT or heterozygous littermates in either baseline or acute cocaine-stimulated locomotor activity. The locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine were slightly prolonged in these mice under some, but not all, experimental conditions. The rewarding effects of cocaine as assessed in the conditioned place preference and conditioned locomotion paradigms were also similar between genotypes at all cocaine doses tested. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that endogenous NT is not involved in cocaine-mediated behaviors in most circumstances, but under some conditions, a slight prolongation of the effects of cocaine was observed in the absence of endogenous NT.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Scott Hall
- Molecular Neurobiology Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH/DHHS, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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