Neuropeptide Ys-Regulate Food Intake & Body Weight

Role of salivary PYY in the modulation of food intake.

This is a study that comprehensively shows the expression of Neuropeptide Ys  (PYY _3–36 ) are present in saliva and showed the expression of its preferred receptor, Y2R, in the basal layer of the progenitor cells of the tongue epithelia and von Ebner's gland. The researchers used our Y2R antibody (dilution 1:3000) to determine level of expression. This receptor appears to be the main player in mediating hunger and body weight: Hurtado MD, Acosta A, Riveros PP, Baum BJ, Ukhanov K, et al. (2012) Distribution of Y-Receptors in Murine Lingual Epithelia. PLoS ONE 7(9): e46358. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046358.

Images: Immunolocalization of Y1, Y2, Y4, and Y5 receptors (Rs) in the dorsal epithelium of murine tongue. Images: Mirror section pairs (Panels A and B, C and D, E and F) were hybridized to the respective YR antibody (green), followed by DAPI counterstain (blue), as indicated in the upper left corner of each panel. For better viewing, the confocal images in B, D, and F were reflected horizontally. Representative areas of the epithelium, positive for either YR (dashed rectangles in the left-sided panels), are shown as close-up images on the right next to each respective panel. The irregular columned structures at the epithelial surface are transversely sectioned filiform papillae. G - Y4R-positive neuronal fibers (green) are located in the subepithelial region underlying the basal laminae. H – co-localization of Y4R and NCAM (red) immunoreactivity within mechanoreceptors of Meissner corpuscles (MC). As a morpho-histological reference of the dorsal lingual epithelium structure, an hematoxylin and eosin stained section is shown in panel I. Panel J shows a hypothetical diagram of a lingual dorsal epithelium layer and the differentiation/migration lineage of cell types expressing respective YR subtypes. K5 – cytokeratin-5 [2]. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046358.g006.

Note: this study is further validation of the potency of our NPY Y2 antibody.

Conclusion: NPY family peptides and their cognate receptors in the oral cavity may mediate a wide variety of functions, including proliferation, differentiation, motility, taste perception, as well as satiation. All of these multiple functions and their respective molecular mechanisms are subjects of the ongoing investigations.

Understanding these molecular mechanisms could provide the foundation for discovering less intrusive therapies for obesity. I will keep you posted.