Abstract
The vgf gene regulates energy homeostasis and the VGF-derived peptide TLQP-21 centrally exerts catabolic effects in mice and hamsters. Here, we investigate the effect of chronic intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of TLQP-21 in mice fed high fat diet (HFD). Fast weightgaining mice injected with the peptide or cerebrospinal fluid were selected for physiological, endocrine, and molecular analysis. TLQP-21 selectively inhibited the increase in body weight and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) weight induced by HFD in control animals despite both groups having a similar degree of hyperphagia. TLQP-21 normalized the increase in leptin and decrease in ghrelin while increasing epinephrine and epinephrine/norepinephrine ratio when compared to values in controls. Finally, HFD-TLQP-21 mice showed a selective increase of eWAT β3-adrenergic receptor mRNA. Peroxisome-proliferatoractivated- receptor-δ and hormone-sensing-lipase mRNA were also upregulated. In conclusion, chronic icv infusion of TLQP-21 prevented the early phase of diet-induced obesity despite overfeeding. These effects were paralleled by activation of catabolic pathways within the eWAT. Our results further support a role for TLQP-21 as a catabolic neuropeptide.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 49-57 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Genes and Nutrition |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgments Supported by FIRB RBNE01JKLF_ 004 and and FILAS Regione Lazio to A.M., FIRB RBNE01JKLF_006 and FIRB RBNE013XSJ_004 to R.P.; FIRB RBNE01JKLF_008 to V.L. and Fondo di Ateneo per la Ricerca of the University of Milano-Bicocca to A.T. and V.L.; FIRB RBNE01JKLF_ 001 to E.E.M.
Keywords
- High fat diet
- Neuropeptides
- Obesity
- VGF
- White adipose tissue
