Modified Peptide YY Molecule Attenuates the Activity of NPY/AgRP Neurons and Reduces Food Intake in Male Mice

• Published in: Endocrinology (Philadelphia) Vol. 160; no. 11; pp. 2737 - 2747
• Main Authors: Jones, Edward S, Nunn, Nicolas, Chambers, Adam P, Østergaard, Søren, Wulff, Birgitte S, Luckman, Simon M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.11.2019; Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Action potential; Affinity; Analysis; Animal models; Animals; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus - cytology; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus - drug effects; Body fat; Body weight; Eating - drug effects; Endocrinology; Food; Food intake; Ghrelin; Hypothalamus; Male; Mice; Neural circuitry; Neurons; Neurons - drug effects; Neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptides; Peptide Fragments - chemistry; Peptide Fragments - pharmacology; Peptide hormones; Peptide YY - chemistry; Peptide YY - pharmacology; Peptides; Physiological aspects; Receptors; Receptors, Neuropeptide Y - agonists; Satiation; Satiety; Satiety Response - drug effects; Selectivity; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1945-7170; 0013-7227; 1945-7170
• DOI: 10.1210/en.2019-00100

To study the effects of an analog of the gut-produced hormone peptide YY (PYY3-36), which has increased selectivity for the Y2 receptor; specifically, to record its effects on food intake and on hypothalamic neuropeptide Y/agouti-related peptide (NPY/AgRP) neuron activity. NNC0165-1273, a modified form of the peptide hormone PYY3-36 with potent selectivity at Y2 receptor (>5000-fold over Y1, 1250-fold over Y4, and 650-fold over Y5 receptor), was tested in vivo and in vitro in mouse models. NNC0165-1273 has fivefold lower relative affinity for Y2 compared with PYY3-36, but >250-, 192-, and 400-fold higher selectivity, respectively, for the Y1, Y4, and Y5 receptors. NNC0165-1273 produced a reduction in nighttime feeding at a dose at which PYY3-36 loses efficacy. The normal behavioral satiety sequence observed suggests that NNC0165-1273 is not nauseating and, instead, reduces food intake by producing early satiety. Additionally, NNC0165-1273 blocked ghrelin-induced cFos expression in NPY/AgRP neurons. In vitro electrophysiological recordings showed that, opposite to ghrelin, NNC0165-1273 hyperpolarized NPY/AgRP neurons and reduced action potential frequency. Administration of NNC0165-1273 via subcutaneous osmotic minipump caused a dose-dependent decrease in body weight and fat mass in an obese mouse model. Finally, NNC0165-1273 attenuated the feeding response when NPY/AgRP neurons were activated using ghrelin or more selectively with designer receptors. NNC0165-1273 is nonnauseating and stimulates a satiety response through, at least in part, a direct action on hypothalamic NPY/AgRP neurons. Modification of PYY3-36 to produce compounds with increased affinity to Y2 receptors may be useful as antiobesity therapies in humans.