Ronaldo F. Enriquez

Hypothalamic Y2 receptors regulate bone formation

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a downstream modulator of leptin action, possibly at the level of the arcuate nucleus where NPY neurons are known to express both leptin receptors and Y2 receptors. In addition to the well-described role of NPY and leptin in energy balance and obesity, intracerebroventricular administration of NPY or leptin also causes bone loss. Here we show that Y2 receptor-deficient mice have a twofold increase in trabecular bone volume as well as greater trabecular number and thickness compared with control mice. We also demonstrate that central Y2 receptors are crucial for this process, since selective deletion of hypothalamic Y2 receptors in mature conditional Y2 knockout mice results in an identical increase in trabecular bone volume within 5 weeks. This hypothalamus-specific Y2 receptor deletion stimulates osteoblast activity and increases the rate of bone mineralization and formation, with no effect on osteoblast or osteoclast surface measurements. The lack of any changes in plasma total calcium, leptinemia, or hypothalamo-pituitary-corticotropic, -thyrotropic, -somatotropic, or -gonadotropic output suggests that Y2 receptors do not modulate bone formation by humoral mechanisms, and that alteration of autonomic function through hypothalamic Y2 receptors may play a key role in a major central regulatory circuit of bone formation.

Tumor-induced anorexia and weight loss are mediated by the TGF-beta superfamily cytokine MIC-1.

Anorexia and weight loss are part of the wasting syndrome of late-stage cancer, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer, and are thought to be cytokine mediated. Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) is produced by many cancers. Examination of sera from individuals with advanced prostate cancer showed a direct relationship between MIC-1 abundance and cancer-associated weight loss. In mice with xenografted prostate tumors, elevated MIC-1 levels were also associated with marked weight, fat and lean tissue loss that was mediated by decreased food intake and was reversed by administration of antibody to MIC-1. Additionally, normal mice given systemic MIC-1 and transgenic mice overexpressing MIC-1 showed hypophagia and reduced body weight. MIC-1 mediates its effects by central mechanisms that implicate the hypothalamic transforming growth factor-β receptor II, extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1 and 2, signal transducer and activator of transcription-3, neuropeptide Y and pro-opiomelanocortin. Thus, MIC-1 is a newly defined central regulator of appetite and a potential target for the treatment of both cancer anorexia and weight loss, as well as of obesity.

Peptide YY ablation in mice leads to the development of hyperinsulinaemia and obesity

Aims/hypothesisObese people exhibit reduced circulating peptide YY (PYY) levels, but it is unclear whether this is a consequence or cause of obesity. We therefore investigated the effect of Pyy ablation on energy homeostasis.MethodsBody composition, i.p. glucose tolerance, food intake and hypothalamic neuropeptide expression were determined in Pyy knock-out and wild-type mice on a normal or high-fat diet.ResultsPyy knock-out significantly increased bodyweight and increased fat mass by 50% in aged females on a normal diet. Male chow-fed Pyy−/− mice were resistant to obesity but became significantly fatter and glucose-intolerant compared with wild-types when fed a high-fat diet. Pyy knock-out animals exhibited significantly elevated fasting or glucose-stimulated serum insulin concentrations vs wild-types, with no increase in basal or fasting-induced food intake. Pyy knock-out decreased or had no effect on neuropeptide Y expression in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, and significantly increased proopiomelanocortin expression in this region. Male but not female knock-outs exhibited significantly increased growth hormone-releasing hormone expression in the ventromedial hypothalamus and significantly elevated serum IGF-I and testosterone levels. This sex difference in activation of the hypothalamo–pituitary somatotrophic axis by Pyy ablation may contribute to the resistance of chow-fed male knock-outs to late-onset obesity.Conclusions/interpretationPYY signalling is important in the regulation of energy balance and glucose homeostasis, possibly via regulation of insulin release. Therefore reduced PYY levels may predispose to the development of obesity, particularly with ageing or under conditions of high-fat feeding.

Novel Role of Y1 Receptors in the Coordinated Regulation of Bone and Energy Homeostasis

The importance of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Y2 receptors in the regulation of bone and energy homeostasis has recently been demonstrated. However, the contributions of the other Y receptors are less clear. Here we show that Y1 receptors are expressed on osteoblastic cells. Moreover, bone and adipose tissue mass are elevated in Y1-/- mice with a generalized increase in bone formation on cortical and cancellous surfaces. Importantly, the inhibitory effects of NPY on bone marrow stromal cells in vitro are absent in cells derived from Y1-/- mice, indicating a direct action of NPY on bone cells via this Y receptor. Interestingly, in contrast to Y2 receptor or germ line Y1 receptor deletion, conditional deletion of hypothalamic Y1 receptors in adult mice did not alter bone homeostasis, food intake, or adiposity. Furthermore, deletion of both Y1 and Y2 receptors did not produce additive effects in bone or adiposity. Thus Y1 receptor pathways act powerfully to inhibit bone production and adiposity by nonhypothalamic pathways, with potentially direct effects on bone tissue through a single pathway with Y2 receptors.

Hypothalamic Control of Bone Formation: Distinct Actions of Leptin and Y2 Receptor Pathways

Leptin and Y2 receptors on hypothalamic NPY neurons mediate leptin effects on energy homeostasis; however, their interaction in modulating osteoblast activity is not established. Here, direct testing of this possibility indicates distinct mechanisms of action for leptin anti‐osteogenic and Y2−/− anabolic pathways in modulating bone formation.

Greater Bone Formation of Y2 Knockout Mice Is Associated with Increased Osteoprogenitor Numbers and Altered Y1 Receptor Expression

Germ line or hypothalamus-specific deletion of Y2 receptors in mice results in a doubling of trabecular bone volume. However, the specific mechanism by which deletion of Y2 receptors increases bone mass has not yet been identified. Here we show that cultured adherent bone marrow stromal cells from Y2-/- mice also demonstrate increased mineralization in vitro. Isolation of two populations of progenitor cell types, an immature mesenchymal stem cell population and a more highly differentiated population of progenitor cells, revealed a greater number of the progenitor cells within the bone of Y2-/- mice. Analysis of Y receptor transcripts in cultured stromal cells from wild-type mice revealed high levels of Y1 but not Y2, Y4, Y5, or y6 receptor mRNA. Interestingly, germ line Y2 receptor deletion causes Y1 receptor down-regulation in stromal cells and bone tissue possibly due to the lack of feedback inhibition of NPY release and subsequent overstimulation of Y1 receptors. Furthermore, deletion of Y1 receptors resulted in increased bone mineral density in mice. Together, these findings indicate that the greater number of mesenchymal progenitors and the altered Y1 receptor expression within bone cells in the absence of Y2 receptors are a likely mechanism for the greater bone mineralization in vivo and in vitro, opening up potential new treatment avenues for osteoporosis.

Synergistic Effects of Y2 and Y4 Receptors on Adiposity and Bone Mass Revealed in Double Knockout Mice

ABSTRACT Neuropeptide Y regulates numerous physiological processes via at least five different Y receptors, but the specific roles of each receptor are still unclear. We previously demonstrated that Y2 receptor knockout results in a lean phenotype, increased cancellous bone volume, and an increase in plasma pancreatic polypeptide (PP), a ligand for Y4 receptors. PP-overexpressing mice are also known to have a lean phenotype. Deletion of the Y4 receptor also produced a lean phenotype and increased plasma PP levels. We therefore hypothesized that part of the Y2 phenotype results from increased PP action on Y4 receptors and tested this in PP transgenic Y4−/− and Y2−/− Y4−/− double knockout mice. Bone mass was not altered in Y4 knockout mice. Surprisingly, despite significant hyperphagia, Y2−/− Y4−/− mice retained a markedly lean phenotype, with reduced body weight, white adipose tissue mass, leptinemia, and insulinemia. Furthermore, bone volume was also increased threefold in Y2−/− Y4−/− mice, and this was associated with enhanced osteoblastic activity. These changes were more pronounced than those observed in Y2−/− mice, suggesting synergy between Y2 and Y4 receptor pathways. The lack of bone changes in PP transgenic mice suggests that PP alone is not responsible for the bone mass increases but might play a major role in the lean phenotype. However, a synergistic interaction between Y2 and Y4 pathways seems to regulate bone volume and adiposity and could have important implications for possible interventions in obesity and for anabolic treatment of osteoporotic bone loss.

Hypothalamic Regulation of Cortical Bone Mass: Opposing Activity of Y2 Receptor and Leptin Pathways

NeuropeptideY–, Y2 receptor (Y2)‐, and leptin‐deficient mice show similar anabolic action in cancellous bone but have not been assessed in cortical bone. Cortical bone mass is elevated in Y2−/− mice through greater osteoblast activity. In contrast, leptin deficiency results in reduced bone mass. We show opposing central regulation of cortical bone.

PYY transgenic mice are protected against diet-induced and genetic obesity

The gut-derived hormone, peptide YY (PYY) reduces food intake and enhances satiety in both humans and animals. Obese individuals also have a deficiency in circulating peptide YY, although whether this is a cause or a consequence of obesity is unclear. Our aims were to determine whether peptide YY (PYY) over-expression may have therapeutic effects for the treatment of obesity by altering energy balance and glucose homeostasis. We generated PYY transgenic mice and measured body weight, food intake, temperature, adiposity, glucose tolerance, circulating hormone and lipid concentrations and hypothalamic neuropeptide levels (neuropeptide Y; proopiomelanocortin, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone) under chow and high-fat feeding and after crossing these mice onto the genetically obese leptin-deficient ob/ob mouse background. PYY transgenic mice were protected against diet-induced obesity in association with increased body temperature (indicative of increased thermogenesis) and sustained expression of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Moreover, PYY transgenic mice crossed onto the genetically obese ob/ob background had significantly decreased weight gain and adiposity, reduced serum triglyceride levels and improved glucose tolerance compared to ob/ob controls. There was no effect of PYY transgenic over expression on basal or fasting-induced food intake measured at 11-12 weeks of age. Together, these findings suggest that long-term administration of PYY, PYY-like compounds or agents that stimulate PYY synthesis in vivo can reduce excess adiposity and improve glucose tolerance, possibly via effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis and thermogenesis.

NPY neuron-specific Y2 receptors regulate adipose tissue and trabecular bone but not cortical bone homeostasis in mice

Background Y2 receptor signalling is known to be important in neuropeptide Y (NPY)-mediated effects on energy homeostasis and bone physiology. Y2 receptors are located post-synaptically as well as acting as auto receptors on NPY-expressing neurons, and the different roles of these two populations of Y2 receptors in the regulation of energy homeostasis and body composition are unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings We thus generated two conditional knockout mouse models, Y2lox/lox and NPYCre/+;Y2lox/lox, in which Y2 receptors can be selectively ablated either in the hypothalamus or specifically in hypothalamic NPY-producing neurons of adult mice. Specific deletion of hypothalamic Y2 receptors increases food intake and body weight compared to controls. Importantly, specific ablation of hypothalamic Y2 receptors on NPY-containing neurons results in a significantly greater adiposity in female but not male mice, accompanied by increased hepatic triglyceride levels, decreased expression of liver cartinine palmitoyltransferase (CPT1) and increased expression of muscle phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). While food intake, body weight, femur length, bone mineral content, density and cortical bone volume and thickness are not significantly altered, trabecular bone volume and number were significantly increased by hypothalamic Y2 deletion on NPY-expressing neurons. Interestingly, in situ hybridisation reveals increased NPY and decreased proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus of mice with hypothalamus-specific deletion of Y2 receptors in NPY neurons, consistent with a negative feedback mechanism between NPY expression and Y2 receptors on NPY-ergic neurons. Conclusions/Significance Taken together these data demonstrate the anti-obesogenic role of Y2 receptors in the brain, notably on NPY-ergic neurons, possibly via inhibition of NPY neurons and concomitant stimulation of POMC-expressing neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, reducing lipogenic pathways in liver and/or skeletal muscle in females. These data also reveal as an anti-osteogenic effect of Y2 receptors on hypothalamic NPY-expressing neurons on trabecular but not on cortical bone.