title: Characterization of Neuropeptide B (NPB), Neuropeptide W (NPW), and Their Receptors in Chickens: Evidence for NPW Being a Novel Inhibitor of Pituitary GH and Prolactin Secretion.
abstract: The 2 structurally and functionally related peptides, neuropeptide B (NPB) and neuropeptide W (NPW), together with their receptor(s) (NPBWR1/NPBWR2) constitute the NPB/NPW system, which acts mainly on the central nervous system to regulate many physiological processes in mammals. However, little is known about this NPB/NPW system in nonmammalian vertebrates. In this study, the functionality and expression of this NPB/NPW system and its actions on the pituitary were investigated in chickens. The results showed that: 1) chicken NPB/NPW system comprises an NPB peptide of 28 amino acids (cNPB28), an NPW peptide of 23 or 30 amino acids (cNPW23/cNPW30), and their 2 receptors (cNPBWR1 and cNPBWR2), which are highly homologous to their human counterparts. 2) Using a pGL3-CRE-luciferase reporter system, we demonstrated that cNPBWR2 expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells can be potently activated by cNPW23 (not cNPB28), and its activation inhibits the intracellular cAMP signaling pathway, whereas cNPBWR1 shows no response to peptide treatment, suggesting a crucial role of cNPBWR2 in mediating cNPW/cNPB actions. 3) Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that cNPW and cNPB are widely expressed in chicken tissues, including hypothalamus, whereas cNPBWR1 and cNPBWR2 are mainly expressed in brain or pituitary. 4) In accordance with abundant cNPBWR2 expression in pituitary, cNPW23 could dose dependently inhibit GH and prolactin secretion induced by GHRH and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, respectively, in cultured chick pituitary cells, as monitored by Western blotting. Collectively, our data reveal a functional NPB/NPW system in birds and offer the first proof that NPW can act directly on pituitary to inhibit GH/prolactin secretion in vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guixian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dongliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Simiao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D005777:Geese; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D026801:Synteny
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; C495188:neuropeptide B; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone