Central nervous and peripheral actions of nesfatin-1 on thermogenesis and lipid storage in brown and white adipose tissue

Both central and peripheral peptide hormones act at hypothalamic and brainstem sites to affect food intake. Some of them, i.e. the adipokine leptin, also modulates sympathetic nervous system (SNS) output to white (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissue. In WAT, lipolysis is induced to mobilize fatty acids as energy source for other peripheral organs. In BAT however, lipolysis fuels thermogenesis.
We could recently show that i.c.v.-applied adipokine nesfatin-1 (NES-1) induces thermogenesis in rats, but the underlying mechanism of this effect is still unknown. Concerning central nervous NES-1 effects on WAT, currently no data are available.

In this project, we will investigate the effects of central nervous NES-1 on SNS output to WAT and BAT. To accomplish this, we will determine noradrenaline and glycerol release in theses tissues as readouts of SNS activation and lipolysis; direct calorimetry will be performed to assess thermogenesis.

Topics for research projects are:

  • Central nervous and peripheral actions of nesfatin-1 on thermogenesis and lipid storage in brown and white adipose tissue
  • Effects of central nervous adipokine administration on adipose tissue adipokine expression
  • Regulation of adipose tissue lipolysis-related enzymes by catecholamines in-vitro

Doctoral researcher/students will perform central nervous stereotaxic implantations, microdialysis in peripheral tissues and direct calorimetry in a rat model. For in-vitro studies, tissue culture models will be employed. Furthermore, high-performance liquid chromatography and several molecularbiology techniques will be applied.

Publications

Dore, R., Levata, L., Gachkar, S., Jöhren, O., Mittag, J., Lehnert, H., and Schulz, C.: The thermogenic effect of nesfatin-1 requires recruitment of the melanocortin system. J Endocrinol., vol. 235(2), pp. 111-122, 2017, doi: 10.1530/JOE-17-0151. Epub 2017 Aug 29 

Dore, R., Levata, L., Lehnert, H., and Schulz, C.: Nesfatin-1: functions and physiology of a novel regulatory peptide. J Endocrinol, vol. 232(1), pp. R45-R65, 2017, doi: 10.1530/JOE-16-0361