title: Expression of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the taste buds of rats.
abstract: Nesfatin-1, an anorexigenic peptide derived from nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2), is closely involved in feeding behavior, glycometabolism, and satiety regulation. Some studies show that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is highly expressed and interacts with many appetite-regulating peptides that are co-expressed in the gastrointestinal tract. However, it remains unclear whether nesfatin-1 is expressed and interacts similarly in taste buds. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a well-known appetite down-regulating peptide, is associated with changes in the expression of nesfatin-1. Therefore, we measured the expression of the NUCB2 gene and the distribution of nesfatin-1-immunoreactive cells and investigated whether these variables change in taste buds of circumvallate papillae (CV) from rats with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after treatment with liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The results showed that nesfatin-1 immunoreactive cells were localized in the taste buds of rat CV. Quantitative RT-PCR showed a significantly lower expression of NUCB2 mRNA in the taste buds of diabetic control rats (T2DM-C) than in those of the normal control group (NC) and a higher level of NUCB2 in the liraglutide treated group (T2DM + LIR) than either the T2DM-C or the NC groups. Changes in the expression of NUCB2 in the rat hypothalamus were opposite to those in CV taste buds. In summary, we found that rat CV taste buds express NUCB2/nesfatin-1, and that this expression decreases significantly in T2DM and increases after treatment with liraglutide in rat CV. This indicates that nesfatin-1 could be an important factor in the regulation of gustatory function, feeding and perhaps energy homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xiao-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000630652:Nucb1 protein, rat; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D000069450:Liraglutide