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Osteoblastic Actions of the Neuropeptide Y System to Regulate Bone and Energy Homeostasis

  • Skeletal Biology and Regulation (MR Forwood and A Robling, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Neural pathways are now a well-appreciated factor in the regulatory milieu controlling the maintenance of bone mass. A number of neural pathways from the brain to bone have been identified. These pathways often involve elements of the energy homeostatic apparatus, indicating links between the regulation of bone metabolism and energy balance. Neuropeptide Y is one such factor that co-regulates these two processes. Initial studies outlined the skeletal actions of NPY from within the brain and the interactions with energy homeostatic processes. However, in recent years, an appreciation for the actions of NPY within bone cells has expanded. Cells of the osteoblastic lineage express both NPY ligand and a cognate receptor NPY, Y1R. Murine studies have demonstrated that both ligand and receptor actively control bone mass and osteoblast activity and interact with mechanical signals to integrate with the local loading environment. Local NPY signalling regulates osteoprogenitor production and differentiation, to cover the entire osteoblastic lineage. In addition, several recent studies have demonstrated extra-skeletal actions of osteoblastic NPY signalling, to regulate energy expenditure and with it adiposity, and in a separate study, to control release of a factor-controlling beta cell mass and insulin production/release and with it glucose tolerance. Thus, osteoblastic neuropeptide production and signalling illustrates the rapidly widening sphere of influence of skeletal tissue, and suggests a far more complex and interconnected physiology then is currently appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Osteoporosis and Bone Biology Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, 390 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    Harry Horsnell & Paul A. Baldock

  2. Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Bath University, Claverton Down Rd, Bath, North East Somerset, BA2 7AY, UK

    Harry Horsnell

  3. School of Medicine, The University of Notre Dame Australia, 160 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    Paul A. Baldock

  4. Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Paul A. Baldock

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Correspondence to Paul A. Baldock.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Skeletal Biology and Regulation

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Horsnell, H., Baldock, P.A. Osteoblastic Actions of the Neuropeptide Y System to Regulate Bone and Energy Homeostasis. Curr Osteoporos Rep 14, 26–31 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-016-0300-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-016-0300-9

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