Interactions between nesfatin-1 and the autonomic nervous system—An overview

• Published in: Peptides (New York, N.Y. : 1980) Vol. 149; p. 170719
• Main Authors: Rupp, Sophia Kristina, Stengel, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Autonomic Nervous System - metabolism; Calcium-Binding Proteins - metabolism; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Food intake; Gut-brain axis; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Nesfatin-1; NUCB2; Nucleobindin-2; Nucleobindins; Rats; Nucleobindin-2; Nesfatin-1; Food intake; Gut-brain axis; NUCB2
• ISSN: 0196-9781; 1873-5169
• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170719

•NUCB2/nesfatin-1 positive neurons are widespread in brain autonomic areas.•Adrenergic receptors likely play a role in mediating the effects of nesfatin-1.•Nesfatin-1 modulates the excitability of both afferent and efferent vagal neurons.•The NTS might be a core component conveying autonomic effects of nesfatin-1.•The vagus nerve is likely a crucial structure regulating nesfatin-1 activity. Nesfatin-1, an 82-amino acid polypeptide derived from the precursor protein nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2), was first discovered in 2006 in the rat hypothalamus. The effects and distribution of nesfatin-1 immunopositive neurons in the brain and spinal cord point towards a role of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in autonomic regulation. Therefore, studies which have been conducted to investigate the interplay between nesfatin-1 and the autonomic nervous system were examined, and the outcomes of this research were summarized. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity is widely distributed in autonomic centers of the brain and spinal cord in both rodents and humans. In several regions of the hypothalamus, midbrain and brainstem, nesfatin-1 modulates autonomic functions. On the other hand, the autonomic nervous system also influences the activity of nesfatin-1 neurons. Here, the vagus nerve seems to be a crucial factor in the regulation of nesfatin-1. In summary, although data here is still sparse, there is a clear interplay between nesfatin-1 and the autonomic nervous system, the precise clarification of which still requires further research to gain more insight into these complex relationships.