Effects of Neuropeptide Y on Stem Cells and Their Potential Applications in Disease Therapy

Abstract

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino acid peptide, is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and other peripheral tissues. It takes part in regulating various biological processes including food intake, circadian rhythm, energy metabolism, and neuroendocrine secretion. Increasing evidence indicates that NPY exerts multiple regulatory effects on stem cells. As a kind of primitive and undifferentiated cells, stem cells have the therapeutic potential to replace damaged cells, secret paracrine molecules, promote angiogenesis, and modulate immunity. Stem cell-based therapy has been demonstrated effective and considered as one of the most promising treatments for specific diseases. However, several limitations still hamper its application, such as poor survival and low differentiation and integration rates of transplanted stem cells. The regulatory effects of NPY on stem cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation may be helpful to overcome these limitations and facilitate the application of stem cell-based therapy. In this review, we summarized the regulatory effects of NPY on stem cells and discussed their potential applications in disease therapy.

Irisin increases the expression of anorexigenic and neurotrophic genes in mouse brain

“…Of note, UCP2 is associated with the NPY/AgRP hypothalamic neurons, its expression being crucial for activation of these neurons . Unlike CART, POMC, and AgRP, which are expressed exclusively in the hypothalamus, NPY is one of the most abundant neuropeptides and shows a wide distribution within the central nervous system . Indeed, in addition to food intake, NPY is implicated in other processes including regulation of circadian rhythm, energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, and neuroendocrine secretion .…”

“…32 Indeed, in addition to food intake, NPY is implicated in other processes including regulation of circadian rhythm, energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, and neuroendocrine secretion. 32 Since we isolated the total mouse brain RNA, measured NPY mRNA was not specifically from hypothalamic areas and may reflect nonhypothalamic sources of this neurotransmitter. Moreover, in this study, changes in NPY were not associated with differences in mRNA expression of the final effectors of food intake, such as orexin and PMCH in irisin-treated mice.…”

“…Unlike CART, POMC, and AgRP, which are expressed exclusively in the hypothalamus, NPY is one of the most abundant neuropeptides and shows a wide distribution within the central nervous system . Indeed, in addition to food intake, NPY is implicated in other processes including regulation of circadian rhythm, energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, and neuroendocrine secretion . Since we isolated the total mouse brain RNA, measured NPY mRNA was not specifically from hypothalamic areas and may reflect nonhypothalamic sources of this neurotransmitter.…”

Do Neuroendocrine Peptides and Their Receptors Qualify as Novel Therapeutic Targets in Osteoarthritis?

“…NPY actions might also include preservation of a stable microenvironment in the bone marrow niche thereby securing the pool of immune cell progenitors [ 179 , 180 ]. The stem cell regulatory functions of NPY could highlight the potential of this peptide as a modulatory supplement in stem-cell-based therapeutic regimens for a range of diseases e.g., osteoporosis (reviewed by Peng et al [ 181 ]). Regarding OA, studies of the impact of NPY on the immunologic and degradative mechanisms are lacking and predominantly indicate that NPY participates in pain mechanisms [ 76 ].…”

Mechanisms of action of neuropeptide Y on stem cells and its potential applications in orthopaedic disorders

“…It is produced by nerve endings, and acts as a critical molecule in the interactions between nerves and the osseous system through central- and peripheral-mediated pathways[ 4 , 5 ]. NPY can maintain the homeostases of bone, blood vessels, and immune system via different NPY receptors[ 6 , 7 ]. Previous studies have indicated that NPY can stimulate proliferation, promote osteoblastic differentiation, and prevent apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) though Y1R[ 8 ].…”