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Nesfatin-1 as a novel cardiac peptide: identification, functional characterization, and protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences volume 70, pages 495–509 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Nesfatin-1 is an anorexic nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2)-derived hypothalamic peptide. It controls feeding behavior, water intake, and glucose homeostasis. If intracerebrally administered, it induces hypertension, thus suggesting a role in central cardiovascular control. However, it is not known whether it is able to directly control heart performance. We aimed to verify the hypothesis that, as in the case of other hypothalamic satiety peptides, Nesfatin-1 acts as a peripheral cardiac modulator. By western blotting and QT-PCR, we identified the presence of both Nesfatin-1 protein and NUCB2 mRNA in rat cardiac extracts. On isolated and Langendorff-perfused rat heart preparations, we found that exogenous Nesfatin-1 depresses contractility and relaxation without affecting coronary motility. These effects did not involve Nitric oxide, but recruited the particulate guanylate cyclase (pGC) known as natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A), protein kinase G (PKG) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 (ERK1/2). Co-immunoprecipitation and bioinformatic analyses supported an interaction between Nesfatin-1 and NPR-A. Lastly, we preliminarily observed, through post-conditioning experiments, that Nesfatin-1 protects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by reducing infarct size, lactate dehydrogenase release, and postischemic contracture. This protection involves multiple prosurvival kinases such as PKCε, ERK1/2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and mitochondrial KATP channels. It also ameliorates contractility recovery. Our data indicate that: (1) the heart expresses Nesfatin-1, (2) Nesfatin-1 directly affects myocardial performance, possibly involving pGC-linked NPR-A, the pGC/PKG pathway, and ERK1/2, (3) the peptide protects the heart against I/R injury. Results pave the way to include Nesfatin-1 in the neuroendocrine modulators of the cardiac function, also encouraging the clarification of its clinical potential in the presence of nutrition-dependent physio-pathologic cardiovascular diseases.

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Abbreviations

5-HD:

5-Hydroxydecanoate

ARC:

Arcuate nuclei

CP:

Coronary pressure

eNOS:

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase

ERK1/2:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2

I/R:

Ischemia/reperfusion injury

−(LVdP/dt)max :

Maximal rate of left ventricular pressure decline of LVP

+(LVdP/dt)max :

Maximal values of the first derivative of LVP

LVP:

Left ventricular pressure

NO:

Nitric oxide

NPR-A:

Natriuretic peptide receptor A

NPY/AgRP:

Neuropeptide Y/agouti-related peptide

NUCB2:

Nucleobindin-2

pGC:

Particulate guanylate cyclase

POMC/CART:

Pro-opiomelanocortin/cocaine and amphetamine responsive transcript

PostC:

Post-conditioning protocol

PVN:

Paraventricular nuclei

SNO:

S-nitrosylation

SON:

Supraoptic nuclei

STAT3:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from Ministero dell’Università e Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (ex 60 % T.A. and M.C.C.), “Progetto Giovani Ricercatori 2010.” (E.F.) and National Institute of Cardiovascular Research (INRC).

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, 87030, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy

    T. Angelone, E. Filice, T. Pasqua, M. Galluccio, G. Montesanti & A. M. Quintieri

  2. Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Department of Pharmaco-Biology, University of Calabria, 87030, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy

    M. C. Cerra

  3. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy

    N. Amodio

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  1. T. Angelone
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  2. E. Filice
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  3. T. Pasqua
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  5. M. Galluccio
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  7. A. M. Quintieri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. C. Cerra.

Additional information

T. Angelone and E. Filice contributed equally to the work.

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Angelone, T., Filice, E., Pasqua, T. et al. Nesfatin-1 as a novel cardiac peptide: identification, functional characterization, and protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 70, 495–509 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-1138-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-1138-7

Keywords

  • Nesfatin-1
  • Natriuretic peptide receptor A
  • Cardioprotection
  • pGC/PKG
  • Signal transduction