Investigating the physiological and pharmacological effects of the gut hormone peptide YY (PYY)

The obesity epidemic is a critical and global public health burden. Drugs that safely promote weight loss are urgently needed to halt the rising prevalence of obesity and its associated complications, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). Gut hormones are important regulators in metabolism and have therapeutic potential as treatments for obesity and T2D. The gut hormone peptide YY (PYY) is released from the intestine after a meal. Exogenous PYY3–36 suppresses food intake in both rodents and humans, including in the obese state. PYY3–36 suppresses appetite by acting on its receptor, the Y2R. Y2R is expressed in brain appetite centres but also in the afferent vagus nerve, the main neuroanatomical link carrying information from the gut to the brain. However, the relevant contribution of the afferent vagus to the overall effects of PYY3–36 is unknown. Chemogenetic activation of vagal afferent neurones results in reduced food intake (surpassing the effects of PYY) and might have altered the immune landscape of the gastrointestinal tract. To dissect the role of the Y2R expressed in the afferent vagus, we have developed a novel microsurgical technique in the mouse. Our work suggests that vagal Y2R mediates the anorectic effect of low dose and endogenous PYY3–36 and that this vagal signalling pathway regulates short-term feeding. This anorectic effect was not caused by an aversive response. In vitro calcium imaging confirmed that PYY3–36 directly activates vagal afferents. Chronic treatment of diet-induced obese (DIO) mice with a long-acting PYY3–36 analogue, Y242, did not cause a significant body weight loss. Longitudinal tracking of individual islet function using a novel imaging platform allowed to study the effect of diet and Y242 treatment. Chronic Y242 did not improve or worsen islet function in obese mice. Therefore, PYY-based treatments might not be suitable as a single agent but have potential in combination with other gut-hormones. Vagus nerve neuromodulation has shown potential as an anti-obesity therapy and the work in this thesis adds to a better understanding of vagal afferent function which will help optimise therapeutic interventions.Open Acces

Adiponectin reduces glomerular endothelial glycocalyx disruption and restores glomerular barrier function in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes

Adiponectin has vascular anti-inflammatory and protective effects. Although adiponectin protects against the development of albuminuria, historically, the focus has been on podocyte protection within the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB). The first barrier to albumin in the GFB is the endothelial glycocalyx (eGlx), a surface gel-like barrier covering glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs). In diabetes, eGlx dysfunction occurs before podocyte damage; hence, we hypothesized that adiponectin could protect from eGlx damage to prevent early vascular damage in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Globular adiponectin (gAd) activated AMPK signaling in human GEnCs through AdipoR1. It significantly reduced eGlx shedding and the TNF-α–mediated increase in syndecan-4 (SDC4) and MMP2 mRNA expression in GEnCs in vitro. It protected against increased TNF-α mRNA expression in glomeruli isolated from db/db mice and against expression of genes associated with glycocalyx shedding (namely, SDC4, MMP2, and MMP9). In addition, gAd protected against increased glomerular albumin permeability (Ps’alb) in glomeruli isolated from db/db mice when administered intraperitoneally and when applied directly to glomeruli (ex vivo). Ps’alb was inversely correlated with eGlx depth in vivo. In summary, adiponectin restored eGlx depth, which was correlated with improved glomerular barrier function, in diabetes

The vagus nerve mediates the physiological but not pharmacological effects of PYY3-36 on food intake.

Peptide YY (PYY3-36) is a post-prandially released gut hormone with potent appetite-reducing activity, the mechanism of action of which is not fully understood. Unravelling how this system physiologically regulates food intake may help unlock its therapeutic potential, whilst minimising unwanted effects. Here we demonstrate that germline and post-natal targeted knockdown of the PYY3-36 preferring receptor (neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 receptor (Y2R)) in the afferent vagus nerve is required for the appetite inhibitory effects of physiologically-released PYY3-36, but not peripherally administered pharmacological doses. Post-natal knockdown of the Y2R results in a transient body weight phenotype that is not evident in the germline model. Loss of vagal Y2R signalling also results in altered meal patterning associated with accelerated gastric emptying. These results are important for the design of PYY-based anti-obesity agents

The vagus nerve mediates the physiological but not pharmacological effects of PYY3-36 on food intake

Peptide YY (PYY3-36) is a post-prandially released gut hormone with potent appetite-reducing activity, the mechanism of action of which is not fully understood. Unravelling how this system physiologically regulates food intake may help unlock its therapeutic potential, whilst minimising unwanted effects. Here we demonstrate that germline and post-natal targeted knockdown of the PYY3-36 preferring receptor (neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 receptor (Y2R)) in the afferent vagus nerve is required for the appetite inhibitory effects of physiologically-released PYY3-36, but not peripherally administered pharmacological doses. Post-natal knockdown of the Y2R results in a transient body weight phenotype that is not evident in the germline model. Loss of vagal Y2R signalling also results in altered meal patterning associated with accelerated gastric emptying. These results are important for the design of PYY-based anti-obesity agents.</p