Neuropeptide W is present in antral G cells of rat, mouse, and human stomach

Abstract

Neuropeptide W (NPW) is a 30-amino-acid peptide initially isolated from the porcine hypothalamus as an endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled receptors GPR7 and GPR8. An intracerebroventricular administration of NPW increased serum prolactin and corticosterone concentrations, decreased dark-phase feeding, raised energy expenditure, and lowered body weight. Peripherally, GPR7 receptors are abundantly expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract; the presence of NPW in the gastrointestinal endocrine system, however, remains unstudied. Using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies raised against rat NPW, we studied the localization of NPW in the rat, mouse, and human stomach by light and electron microscopy. NPW-immunoreactive cells were identified within the gastric antral glands in all three species. Double immunohistochemistry and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry studies in rats demonstrated that NPW is present in antral gastrin (G) cells. NPW immunoreactivity localized to round, intermediate-to-high-density granules in G cells. NPWimmunoreactive cells accounted for 90% chromagranin A-and 85% gastrin-immunoreactive endocrine cells in the rat gastric antral glands. Using reversed-phase HPLC coupled with enzyme immunoassays specific for NPW, we detected NPW30 and its C-terminally truncated form, NPW23, in the gastric mucosa. Plasma NPW concentration of the gastric antrum was significantly higher than that of the systemic vein, suggesting that circulating NPW is derived from the stomach. Plasma NPW concentration of the gastric antrum decreased significantly after 15-h fast and increased after refeeding. This is the first report to clarify the presence of NPW peptide in the stomachs of rats, mice, and humans. In conclusion, NPW is produced in gastric antral G cells; our findings will provide clues to additional mechanisms of the regulation of gastric function by this novel brain/gut peptide.

Cloning and distribution of neuropeptide W and its receptors in pigs

“…The presence of NPW protein in the stomach is consistent with the results of Mondal et al (2006Mondal et al ( , 2008, who identified NPW in the antral gastrin (G) cells of rat, mouse, and human stomachs and suggested that NPW has a physiological role in the development of the rat stomach. They also reported a decrease in NPW levels in the stomachs of fasting animals and a subsequent increase upon refeeding (Mondal et al, 2003).…”

Genetically engineered mice: a new paradigm to study gastric physiology

“…For instance, ghrelin and obestatin are produced in the gastric endocrine cells of the P/D 1 type in humans, A-like type in rats and X type in dogs [1][2][3][4]. Gastrin-producing antral G cells were recently found to also produce neuropeptide W [5], and enterochromaffin-like cells in the oxyntic mucosa produce pancreastatin (chromogranin A fragment) and histamine [6][7][8]9 ]. Gastric D cells in the antrum (open type) and in the oxyntic mucosa (close type) produce somatostatin, and the enterochromaffin cells produce serotonin.…”

Neuropeptide B (NPB) and neuropeptide W (NPW) system in cultured rat calvarial osteoblast-like (ROB) cells: NPW and NPB inhibit proliferative activity of ROB cells

“…Expression of its components was observed by others in the brain and alimentary tract (2,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Both NPB and NPW affect food intake and energy expenditure (15)(16)(17)(18).…”