Shipp Steven L, Cline Mark A, Gilbert Elizabeth R
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Adipocyte. 2016 Jul 13;5(4):333-350. doi: 10.1080/21623945.2016.1208867. eCollection 2016 Oct-Dec.
Communication between the brain and the adipose tissue has been the focus of many studies in recent years, with the "brain-fat axis" identified as a system that orchestrates the assimilation and usage of energy to maintain body mass and adequate fat stores. It is now well-known that appetite-regulating peptides that were studied as neurotransmitters in the central nervous system can act both on the hypothalamus to regulate feeding behavior and also on the adipose tissue to modulate the storage of energy. Energy balance is thus partly controlled by factors that can alter both energy intake and storage/expenditure. Two such factors involved in these processes are neuropeptide Y (NPY) and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH). NPY, an orexigenic factor, is associated with promoting adipogenesis in both mammals and chickens, while α-MSH, an anorexigenic factor, stimulates lipolysis in rodents. There is also evidence of interaction between the 2 peptides. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the study of NPY and α-MSH regarding their role in adipose tissue physiology, with an emphasis on the cellular and molecular mechanisms. A greater understanding of the brain-fat axis and regulation of adiposity by bioactive peptides may provide insights on strategies to prevent or treat obesity and also enhance nutrient utilization efficiency in agriculturally-important species.
近年来，大脑与脂肪组织之间的通讯一直是众多研究的焦点，“脑-脂肪轴”被确定为一个协调能量同化和利用以维持体重和充足脂肪储备的系统。现在众所周知，在中枢神经系统中作为神经递质进行研究的食欲调节肽，既能作用于下丘脑以调节进食行为，也能作用于脂肪组织以调节能量储存。能量平衡因此部分受可改变能量摄入和储存/消耗的因素控制。参与这些过程的两个此类因素是神经肽Y（NPY）和α-黑素细胞刺激素（α-MSH）。NPY是一种促食欲因子，在哺乳动物和鸡中均与促进脂肪生成有关，而α-MSH是一种抑制食欲因子，可刺激啮齿动物的脂肪分解。也有证据表明这两种肽之间存在相互作用。本综述旨在总结NPY和α-MSH在脂肪组织生理学中作用的研究最新进展，重点是细胞和分子机制。更深入地了解脑-脂肪轴以及生物活性肽对肥胖的调节作用，可能为预防或治疗肥胖的策略提供见解，并提高农业重要物种的营养利用效率。
