New Peptides as Potential Players in the Crosstalk Between the Brain and Obesity, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization report published in 2016, 650 million people worldwide suffer from obesity, almost three times more than in 1975. Obesity is defined as excessive fat accumulation which may impair health with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke), and some cancers. Despite medical advances, cardiovascular complications are still the leading causes of death arising from obesity. Excessive fat accumulation is caused by the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. The pathogenesis of this process is complex and not fully understood, but current research is focused on the role of the complex crosstalk between the central nervous system (CNS), neuroendocrine and immune system including the autonomic nervous system, adipose tissue, digestive and cardiovascular systems. Additionally, special attention has been paid to newly discovered substances: neuropeptide 26RFa, preptin, and adropin. It was shown that the above peptides are synthesized both in numerous structures of the CNS and in many peripheral organs and tissues, such as the heart, adipose tissue, and the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, particular attention has been paid to the role of the presented peptides in the pathogenesis of obesity, metabolic and cardiovascular system diseases. This review summarizes the role of newly investigated peptides in the crosstalk between brain and peripheral organs in the pathogenesis of obesity, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: adropin; brain feeding areas; neuropeptide 26RFa; obesity; preptin.

FIGURE 1

Schematic presentation of the pleiotropic effect of the 26RFa/43RFa system. BAT, brown adipose tissue; ISO, isoproterenol; MAP, mean arterial pressure; TG, triglyceride; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; WAT, white adipose tissue; UPC1, uncoupling protein 1.

FIGURE 2

Schematic presentation of the effect of preptin.

FIGURE 3

Schematic presentation of the pleiotropic effect of adropin. BAT, brown adipose tissue; BBB, blood–brain barrier; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; ICH, intracerebral hemorrhage; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MAP, mean arterial pressure; PPAR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; UPC1, uncoupling protein 1.