title: Regulation of NucB2/Nesfatin-1 throughout rat pregnancy.
abstract: Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic neuropeptide derived by post-translational cleavage from the N-terminus region DNA binding/EF-hand/acidic amino acid rich region (NEFA)/nucleobindin2 (NucB2) protein through proteolytic prohormone convertases. This neuropeptide was originally localized in different appetite controlling areas such as the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area, and nucleus tractus solitarius. The objective of this study was to determine the expression and the changes that occur to mRNA and protein of NucB2 and Nesfatin-1 serum levels during gestation. This study utilized molecular and immunological approaches to investigate the expression and regulation of NucB2/Nesfatin-1 protein throughout gestation in rat fed under ad libitum and food restricted conditions (30% nutrient restriction). NucB2 was immunolocalized in the amnion and decidua of the rat placenta. Nesfatin-1 serum levels were measured by radioimmunoassay on gestational days 12, 16, 19 and 21, showing a significant (p<0.01) decrease in serum levels after day 12 until the end of gestation in rats fed ad libitum. These results were correlated with the analysis of NucB2 mRNA, with a significant (p<0.01) reduction observed in both the mRNA and protein of NucB2 during the gestational days 12, 16 and 21. It was also observed that food restriction decreases Nesfatin-1 serum levels and NucB2 placental expression at day 16 of gestation when compared to pregnant rats fed ad libitum. This study illustrates for the first time through molecular and immunological approaches the NucB2 expression and regulation on rat placenta and that this peptide is regulated throughout pregnancy. Consistent with previous reports, our results provide additional evidence supporting the role of NucB2 protein as an anorexigenic peptide that may contribute to the regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. NucB2/Nesfatin-1 might play an important metabolic role during pregnancy and fetal development and its energy balance mediating role should be studied in various physiological and pathological conditions throughout gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Garcés
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Natalia E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Poveda
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ángel Y
authors.initials: ÁY
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Fundación Ramón Domínguez, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Susana B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology (CIMUS), School of Medicine-Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IDIS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology (CIMUS), School of Medicine-Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IDIS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diéguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology (CIMUS), School of Medicine-Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IDIS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nogueiras
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Department of Physiology (CIMUS), School of Medicine-Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IDIS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Electronic address: jecaminosp@unal.edu.co.
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Caminos
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D010920:Placenta / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013270:Stomach / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000630652:Nucb1 protein, rat; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Nesfatin-1; Nucleobindin2 (NucB2); Placenta; Pregnancy