Nesfatin-1 stimulates glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide secretion from STC-1 cells in vitro

Nesfatin-1 is an 82 amino acid peptide encoded in a secreted precursor, nucleobindin 2. It is an anorexigenic and insulinotropic peptide found abundantly in the hypothalamus, pancreas and gastric oxyntic mucosa. NUCB2 mRNA expression is 10 fold higher in the gastric mucosa than in brain, suggesting gastrointestinal tract as a main source of nesfatin-1. Meal responsive insulin secretion is regulated by incretins glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Since both nesfatin-1 and incretins modulate insulin secretion, we hypothesized that nesfatin-1 is present in the enteroendocrine cells, and that it regulates incretin secretion. RT-PCR analysis found NUCB2 mRNA expression, and immunofluorescence microscopy determined nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity in STC-1, an enteroendocrine cell line. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is co-localized with GLP-1 and GIP in mouse small intestinal cells. Static incubation of STC-1 cells with nesfatin-1 upregulated preproglucagon (GLP-1 precursor) mRNA (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 nM) and GLP-1 secretion (0.1, 1 and 10 nM). Nesfatin-1 also enhanced GIP mRNA (0.1, 1 and 10 nM) and GIP secretion (1 and 10 nM). Together, our data support the hypothesis that nesfatin-1 is present in enteroendocrine cells and that it stimulates incretin secretion. Future studies should aim for nesfatin-1 and incretin interactions in vivo.