title: Nesfatin-1; implication in stress and stress-associated anxiety and depression.
abstract: Nesfatin-1, derived from an 82-amino-acid peptide precursor protein nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2), is a highly conserved peptide across mammalian species. Initial functional and neuroanatomical studies on NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the central nervous system have supported a role for NUCB2/nesfatin-1 as a novel satiety molecule. In recent years, however, it has become apparent that this neuropeptide is involved in various other processes, one of which is the stress response. Stress-associated activation of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons, together with nesfatin-1's central actions in the brain, is indicative of its significance in the stress adaptation response. Interestingly, increasing body of evidence implicates also NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in various forms of stress-associated psychopathologies, such as anxiety and depression. In this review, we will outline evidence that has significantly broadened our understanding of the biological significance of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 far beyond to be only a hypothalamic peptide with potent anorexigenic actions. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons in the brain seem to emerge as novel, integral regulators of the stress adaptation response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9100, 6500HG Nijmegen, The Netherlands. t.kozicz@science.ru.nl.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Emmerzaal
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kozicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000630650:NUCB2 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000080866:Nucleobindins