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Strnadová V, Pačesová A, Charvát V, Šmotková Z, Železná B, Kuneš J, Maletínská L. Anorexigenic neuropeptides as anti-obesity and neuroprotective agents: exploring the neuroprotective effects of anorexigenic neuropeptides. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231385. [PMID: 38577975 PMCID: PMC11043025 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Since 1975, the incidence of obesity has increased to epidemic proportions, and the number of patients with obesity has quadrupled. Obesity is a major risk factor for developing other serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Recent epidemiologic studies have defined obesity as a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of dementia. Despite all these serious comorbidities associated with obesity, there is still a lack of effective antiobesity treatment. Promising candidates for the treatment of obesity are anorexigenic neuropeptides, which are peptides produced by neurons in brain areas implicated in food intake regulation, such as the hypothalamus or the brainstem. These peptides efficiently reduce food intake and body weight. Moreover, because of the proven interconnection between obesity and the risk of developing AD, the potential neuroprotective effects of these two agents in animal models of neurodegeneration have been examined. The objective of this review was to explore anorexigenic neuropeptides produced and acting within the brain, emphasizing their potential not only for the treatment of obesity but also for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Strnadová
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Pačesová
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vilém Charvát
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Šmotková
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Blanka Železná
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Kuneš
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Maletínská
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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Strnadová V, Karnošová A, Blechová M, Neprašová B, Holá L, Němcová A, Myšková A, Sýkora D, Železná B, Kuneš J, Maletínská L. Search for lipidized PrRP analogs with strong anorexigenic effect: In vitro and in vivo studies. Neuropeptides 2023; 98:102319. [PMID: 36669365 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2022.102319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) is an anorexigenic neuropeptide that attenuates food intake and increases energy expenditure. We designed three series of new lipidized PrRP31 analogs of different lengths of fatty acids attached at amino acids 1 or 11 directly or via linkers, part of them acetylated at the N-terminus and/or modified with dichlorophenylalanine (PheCl2) at the C-terminus. We tested their affinity for and activation of signaling pathways relevant to receptors GPR10, NPFF-R2, and NPFF-R1, effect on food intake in fasted or freely fed mice and rats, and stability in rat plasma. We aimed to select a strong dual GPR10/NPFF-R2 agonist whose affinity for NPFF-1 was not enhanced. The selected potent analog was then tested for body weight-lowering potency after chronic administration in mice with diet-induced obesity. PrRP31 analogs lipidized by monocarboxylic fatty acids showed strong dual affinity for both GPR10 and NPFF-R2 and activated MAPK/ERK1/2, Akt and CREB in cells overexpressing GPR10 and NPFF-R2. The selected analog stabilized at N- and C-termini and palmitoylated through the TTDS linker to Lys11 is a powerful dual agonist GPR10/NPFF-R2 at not enhanced affinity for NPFF-R1. It showed strong anti-obesity properties in mice with diet-induced obesity and became a potential compound for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Strnadová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Karnošová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 121 08, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslava Blechová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Neprašová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic; Institute of Physiology, CAS, Prague 142 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Holá
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 121 08, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Němcová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic; University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Aneta Myšková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic; University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - David Sýkora
- University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Blanka Železná
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Kuneš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic; Institute of Physiology, CAS, Prague 142 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Maletínská
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic.
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Kurtzhals P, Østergaard S, Nishimura E, Kjeldsen T. Derivatization with fatty acids in peptide and protein drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:59-80. [PMID: 36002588 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00529-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Peptides and proteins are widely used to treat a range of medical conditions; however, they often have to be injected and their effects are short-lived. These shortcomings of the native structure can be addressed by molecular engineering, but this is a complex undertaking. A molecular engineering technology initially applied to insulin - and which has now been successfully applied to several biopharmaceuticals - entails the derivatization of peptides and proteins with fatty acids. Various protraction mechanisms are enabled by the specific characteristics and positions of the attached fatty acid. Furthermore, the technology can ensure a long half-life following oral administration of peptide drugs, can alter the distribution of peptides and may hold potential for tissue targeting. Due to the inherent safety and well-defined chemical nature of the fatty acids, this technology provides a versatile approach to peptide and protein drug discovery.
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