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Vähätalo LH, Ruohonen ST, Mäkelä S, Ailanen L, Penttinen AM, Stormi T, Kauko T, Piscitelli F, Silvestri C, Savontaus E, Di Marzo V. Role of the endocannabinoid system in obesity induced by neuropeptide Y overexpression in noradrenergic neurons. Nutr Diabetes 2015; 5:e151. [PMID: 25915740 PMCID: PMC4423197 DOI: 10.1038/nutd.2015.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Endocannabinoids and neuropeptide Y (NPY) promote energy storage via central and peripheral mechanisms. In the hypothalamus, the two systems were suggested to interact. To investigate such interplay also in non-hypothalamic tissues, we evaluated endocannabinoid levels in obese OE-NPYDβH mice, which overexpress NPY in the noradrenergic neurons in the sympathetic nervous system and the brain. Methods: The levels of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) were measured in key regulatory tissues, that is, hypothalamus, pancreas, epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT), liver and soleus muscle, over the development of metabolic dysfunctions in OE-NPYDβH mice. The effects of a 5-week treatment with the CB1 receptor inverse agonist AM251 on adiposity and glucose metabolism were studied. Results: 2-AG levels were increased in the hypothalamus and epididymal WAT of pre-obese and obese OE-NPYDβH mice. Anandamide levels in adipose tissue and pancreas were increased at 4 months concomitantly with higher fat mass and impaired glucose tolerance. CB1 receptor blockage reduced body weight gain and glucose intolerance in OE-NPYDβH to the level of vehicle-treated wild-type mice. Conclusions: Altered endocannabinoid tone may underlie some of the metabolic dysfunctions in OE-NPYDβH mice, which can be attenuated with CB1 inverse agonism suggesting interactions between endocannabinoids and NPY also in the periphery. CB1 receptors may offer a target for the pharmacological treatment of the metabolic syndrome with altered NPY levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- L H Vähätalo
- 1] Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland [2] Drug Research Doctoral Program, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - S T Ruohonen
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - S Mäkelä
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - L Ailanen
- 1] Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland [2] Drug Research Doctoral Program, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - A-M Penttinen
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - T Stormi
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - T Kauko
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - F Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
| | - C Silvestri
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
| | - E Savontaus
- 1] Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland [2] Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - V Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
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Vähätalo LH, Ruohonen ST, Mäkelä S, Kovalainen M, Huotari A, Mäkelä KA, Määttä JA, Miinalainen I, Gilsbach R, Hein L, Ailanen L, Mattila M, Eerola K, Röyttä M, Ruohonen S, Herzig KH, Savontaus E. Neuropeptide Y in the noradrenergic neurones induces obesity and inhibits sympathetic tone in mice. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2015; 213:902-19. [PMID: 25482272 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Revised: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
AIM Neuropeptide Y (NPY) co-localized with noradrenaline in central and sympathetic nervous systems seems to play a role in the control of energy metabolism. In this study, the aim was to elucidate the effects and pathophysiological mechanisms of increased NPY in catecholaminergic neurones on accumulation of body adiposity. METHODS Transgenic mice overexpressing NPY under the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase promoter (OE-NPY(DβH) ) and wild-type control mice were followed for body weight gain and body fat content. Food intake, energy expenditure, physical activity, body temperature, serum lipid content and markers of glucose homoeostasis were monitored. Thermogenic and lipolytic responses in adipose tissues, and urine catecholamine and tissue catecholamine synthesizing enzyme levels were analysed as indices of sympathetic tone. RESULTS Homozygous OE-NPY(DβH) mice showed significant obesity accompanied with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Increased adiposity was explained by neither increased food intake or fat absorption nor by decreased total energy expenditure or physical activity. Adipocyte hypertrophy and decreased circulating lipid levels suggested decreased lipolysis and increased lipid uptake. Brown adipose tissue thermogenic capacity was decreased and brown adipocytes filled with lipids. Enhanced response to adrenergic stimuli, downregulation of catecholamine synthesizing enzyme expressions in the brainstem and lower adrenaline excretion supported the notion of low basal catecholaminergic activity. CONCLUSION Increased NPY in catecholaminergic neurones induces obesity that seems to be a result of preferential fat storage. These results support the role of NPY as a direct effector in peripheral tissues and an inhibitor of sympathetic activity in the pathogenesis of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. H. Vähätalo
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Drug Research Doctoral Program; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - S. T. Ruohonen
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - S. Mäkelä
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - M. Kovalainen
- Faculty of Health Sciences; School of Pharmacy; Pharmaceutical Technology; University of Eastern Finland; Kuopio Finland
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biocenter of Oulu; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
| | - A. Huotari
- Faculty of Health Sciences; School of Pharmacy; Pharmaceutical Technology; University of Eastern Finland; Kuopio Finland
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biocenter of Oulu; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
| | - K. A. Mäkelä
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biocenter of Oulu; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
| | - J. A. Määttä
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy; Institute of Biomedicine; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - I. Miinalainen
- Biocenter Oulu Electron Microscopy Core Facility; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
| | - R. Gilsbach
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies; University of Freiburg; Freiburg Germany
| | - L. Hein
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology and BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies; University of Freiburg; Freiburg Germany
| | - L. Ailanen
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Drug Research Doctoral Program; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - M. Mattila
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Drug Research Doctoral Program; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - K. Eerola
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - M. Röyttä
- Department of Pathology; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - S. Ruohonen
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - K. -H. Herzig
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biocenter of Oulu; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu and Oulu University Hospital; Oulu Finland
| | - E. Savontaus
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology; Turku University Hospital; Turku Finland
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Baldock PA, Lin S, Zhang L, Karl T, Shi Y, Driessler F, Zengin A, Hörmer B, Lee NJ, Wong IPL, Lin EJD, Enriquez RF, Stehrer B, During MJ, Yulyaningsih E, Zolotukhin S, Ruohonen ST, Savontaus E, Sainsbury A, Herzog H. Neuropeptide y attenuates stress-induced bone loss through suppression of noradrenaline circuits. J Bone Miner Res 2014; 29:2238-49. [PMID: 24535841 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.2205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2013] [Revised: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress and depression have adverse consequences on many organ systems, including the skeleton, but the mechanisms underlying stress-induced bone loss remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that neuropeptide Y (NPY), centrally and peripherally, plays a critical role in protecting against stress-induced bone loss. Mice lacking the anxiolytic factor NPY exhibit more anxious behavior and elevated corticosterone levels. Additionally, following a 6-week restraint, or cold-stress protocol, Npy-null mice exhibit three-fold greater bone loss compared to wild-type mice, owing to suppression of osteoblast activity. This stress-protective NPY pathway acts specifically through Y2 receptors. Centrally, Y2 receptors suppress corticotropin-releasing factor expression and inhibit activation of noradrenergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus. In the periphery, they act to control noradrenaline release from sympathetic neurons. Specific deletion of arcuate Y2 receptors recapitulates the Npy-null stress response, coincident with elevated serum noradrenaline. Importantly, specific reintroduction of NPY solely in noradrenergic neurons of otherwise Npy-null mice blocks the increase in circulating noradrenaline and the stress-induced bone loss. Thus, NPY protects against excessive stress-induced bone loss, through Y2 receptor-mediated modulation of central and peripheral noradrenergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Baldock
- Neurological Disease Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Osteoporosis and Bone Biology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Heinonen I, Rinne P, Ruohonen ST, Ruohonen S, Ahotupa M, Savontaus E. The effects of equal caloric high fat and western diet on metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress and vascular endothelial function in mice. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2014; 211:515-27. [PMID: 24621461 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Nutrition contributes to increased adiposity, but it remains to be determined whether high fat rather than Western diet exacerbates the development of obesity and other characteristics of metabolic syndrome and vascular function. METHODS We studied the effects of high fat (45% kcal) diet (HFD) and equal caloric Western diet (WD) high in fat, sucrose and cholesterol for 8 weeks in male C57B1/6N mice. RESULTS Mice fed with HFD and WD showed substantially higher body adiposity (body fat %) compared with control mice receiving low fat (10%) diet (LFD). However, total body weight was higher only in HFD mice compared with other groups. The amount of liver triglycerides, cholesterol and oxidative damage was higher in WD mice compared with mice on LFD. There were no significant differences in fasting blood glucose or serum insulin, serum or muscle triglycerides, glucose tolerance or systolic blood pressure between the groups, but serum free fatty acids were increased in HFD mice compared with LFD. Increased levels of tissue and serum diene conjugation as a marker of oxidative stress were evident especially in WD mice. The endothelium-dependent relaxations were significantly impaired in the small mesenteric arteries of HFD mice, but not in the aorta. Maximal relaxations correlated negatively with body adiposity in WD but not in HFD mice. CONCLUSIONS The major finding in the present study is that without changing body weight, Western diet induces marked whole-body oxidative stress and elevates body adiposity, which associates with the endothelial function of resistance arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- I. Heinonen
- Department of Pharmacology; Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Turku PET Centre; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital; Turku Finland
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital; Turku Finland
| | - P. Rinne
- Department of Pharmacology; Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - S. T. Ruohonen
- Department of Pharmacology; Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
| | - S. Ruohonen
- Department of Pharmacology; Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital; Turku Finland
| | - M. Ahotupa
- MCA Research Laboratory; Department of Physiology; University of Turku and Turku University Hospital; Turku Finland
| | - E. Savontaus
- Department of Pharmacology; Drug Development and Therapeutics and Turku Center for Disease Modeling; University of Turku; Turku Finland
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology; Turku University Hospital; Turku Finland
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Eerola K, Nordlund W, Virtanen S, Dickens AM, Mattila M, Ruohonen ST, Chua SC, Wardlaw SL, Savontaus M, Savontaus E. Lentivirus-mediated α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone overexpression in the hypothalamus decreases diet induced obesity in mice. J Neuroendocrinol 2013; 25:1298-1307. [PMID: 24118213 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) derived from the pro-hormone pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) has potent effects on metabolism and feeding that lead to reduced body weight in the long-term. To determine the individual roles of POMC derived peptides and their sites of action, we created a method for the delivery of single MSH peptides using lentiviral vectors and studied the long-term anti-obesity effects of hypothalamic α-MSH overexpression in mice. An α-MSH lentivirus (LVi-α-MSH-EGFP) vector carrying the N'-terminal part of POMC and the α-MSH sequence was generated and shown to produce bioactive peptide in an in vitro melanin synthesis assay. Stereotaxis was used to deliver the LVi-α-MSH-EGFP or control LVi-EGFP vector to the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus of male C57Bl/6N mice fed on a high-fat diet. The effects of 6-week-treatment on body weight, food intake, glucose tolerance and organ weights were determined. Additionally, a 14-day pairfeeding study was conducted to assess whether the weight decreasing effect of the LVi-α-MSH-EGFP treatment is dependent on decreased food intake. The 6-week LVi-α-MSH-EGFP treatment reduced weight gain (8.4 ± 0.4 g versus 12.3 ± 0.6 g; P < 0.05), which was statistically significant starting from 1 week after the injections. The weight of mesenteric fat was decreased and glucose tolerance was improved compared to LVi-EGFP treated mice. Food intake was decreased during the first week in the LVi-α-MSH-EGFP treated mice but subsequently increased to the level of LVi-EGFP treated mice. The LVi-EGFP injected control mice gained more weight even when pairfed to the level of food intake by LVi-α-MSH-EGFP treated mice. We demonstrate that gene transfer of α-MSH, a single peptide product of POMC, into the ARC of the hypothalamus, reduces obesity and improves glucose tolerance, and that factors other than decreased food intake also influence the weight decreasing effects of α-MSH overexpression in the ARC. Furthermore, viral MSH vectors delivered stereotaxically provide a novel tool for further exploration of chronic site-specific effects of POMC peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Eerola
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- FinPharma Doctoral Program, Drug Discovery Section, Turku, Finland
| | - W Nordlund
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - S Virtanen
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - A M Dickens
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku PET Centre, Medicity/PET Preclinical Imaging, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - M Mattila
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - S T Ruohonen
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - S C Chua
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - S L Wardlaw
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Savontaus
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Heart Center, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - E Savontaus
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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Matic I, Matthews BG, Kizivat T, Igwe JC, Marijanovic I, Ruohonen ST, Savontaus E, Adams DJ, Kalajzic I. Bone-specific overexpression of NPY modulates osteogenesis. KLIN NEUROPHYSIOL 2013. [PMID: 23196263 DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1305278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a peptide involved in the regulation of appetite and energy homeostasis. Genetic data indicates that NPY decreases bone formation via central and peripheral activities. NPY is produced by various cell types including osteocytes and osteoblasts and there is evidence suggesting that peripheral NPY is important for regulation of bone formation. We sought to investigate the role of bone-derived NPY in bone metabolism. METHODS We generated a mouse where NPY was over-expressed specifically in mature osteoblasts and osteocytes (Col2.3NPY) and characterized the bone phenotype of these mice in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS Trabecular and cortical bone volume was reduced in 3-month-old animals, however bone formation rate and osteoclast activity were not significantly changed. Calvarial osteoblast cultures from Col2.3NPY mice also showed reduced mineralization and expression of osteogenic marker genes. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that osteoblast/osteocyte-derived NPY is capable of altering osteogenesis in vivo and in vitro and may represent an important source of NPY for regulation of bone formation. However, it is possible that other peripheral sources of NPY such as the sympathetic nervous system and vasculature also contribute to peripheral regulation of bone turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Matic
- Department of Reconstructive Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
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