The Case Study of Nesfatin-1 in the Pancreas of Tursiops truncatus

Abstract

Nesfatin-1 (Nesf-1) is an anorexigenic peptide involved in the regulation of homeostatic feeding. Nesf-1 is expressed in the central nervous system and other organs, including pancreas, where it promotes the release of insulin from β-cells. This raises the possibility that Nesf-1 dysfunction could be involved in metabolic disorders, particularly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Recently, it has been discovered that dolphins can be a natural animal model that fully replicates human T2D, due to its prolonged glucose tolerance curve and maintenance of a state of hyperglycemia similar to human T2D during fasting. This correspondence suggests that dolphins may be a suitable model for investigating physiological and pathological metabolic disorders. Here, we have characterized Nesf-1 distribution in the pancreas of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and measured plasmatic levels of Nesf-1 and glucose during fasting and post-prandial states. The Mediterranean Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (MMMTB) of the University of Padova provided us with pancreas samples, derived from four animals, and plasma samples, collected before and after the main meal. Interestingly, our results showed that Nesf-1-immunoreactive cells were distributed in Langerhans islets, co-localized with glucagon in α-cells. Similar to humans, dolphin plasma Nesf-1 concentration doesn’t show a statistically significant difference when comparing fasting and post-prandial states. On the other hand, blood glucose levels were significantly higher before than after the main meal. Our data provide a comparative analysis for further studies on the involvement of Nesf-1 in mammalian metabolic disorders.

Immunohistochemical identification of resistin in the uterus of ewes subjected to different diets: Preliminary results

“…It is likely that resistin action is affected by the participation of other molecules, as is the case for insulin, whose action is modulated by glucagon, nesfatin, leptin and resistin. [29][30][31][32] This immunohistochemical study identified resistin positive cells in the uterus of sheep, supporting the existence of a peripheral resistin system also in the reproductive apparatus of this animal species. There are no previous studies in this species on the resistin WB identification.…”

Plasma Nesfatin-1: Potential Predictor and Diagnostic Biomarker for Cognitive Dysfunction in T2DM Patient

“…Third, nesfatin-1 and its related inflammatory factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of impaired cognitive function in T2DM, which needs to be confirmed by further studies. Additionally, considering that nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic peptide involved in the regulation of homeostatic feeding 68 and HbA1c levels, glucose metabolism indices, and inflammation markers could be affected by dietary interventions, [69][70][71] dietary intervention may be a possible strategy to improve the cognitive function of T2DM patients as it affects the indicators mentioned above.…”

Ontogenetic Pattern Changes of Nucleobindin-2/Nesfatin-1 in the Brain and Intestinal Bulb of the Short Lived African Turquoise Killifish

“…The specificity of each immunohistochemical reaction was checked in repeated trials via pre-absorption of primary antibody Nesf-1 (H-003-24; Phoenix Pharmaceuticals) with homologous antigen Nesf-1 (1-45)/Nesf-1, N-terminal (Human) (003-24; Phoenix pharmaceuticals) (up to 50 mg/mL antiserum in the final dilution). Positive controls were made by sections of rat testis [10]. Internal reaction controls were carried out by substituting primary antisera or secondary antisera with 1× PBS or normal serum in the specific step.…”

“…However, the use of anti-Nesf-1 antibodies is not enough to inhibit the sense of satiety induced by leptin: therefore, Nesf-1 is an anorexigenic molecule with a leptin-independent action in mammals [7]. As with many other central appetite regulators, NUCB2/Nesf-1 was also detected in peripheral tissues in different vertebrate models that had an important role in energy homeostasis, such as adipose tissue [8], pancreas [9,10], and in middle and lower segments of gastric mucosal glands [11], as well as in the submucosal layer of the duodenum [9]. Stengel and colleagues described NUCB2/Nesf-1 in the gastric X/A-like endocrine cells of the stomach and showed co-localization with the orexigenic hormone ghrelin in mammals.…”