NUCB2/Nesfatin-1: A Potent Meal Regulatory Hormone and its Role in Diabetes

BackgroundNesfatin-1, a newly discovered calcium and DNA binding peptide, originate from nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) precursors and expressed by central and peripheral nervous system, and peripheral tissues such as digestive organs and adipose tissues. It has the astonishingly large number of chemical messengers for full appetite and introduced as a potential anorectic factor with ability to modulate body weight and probably, energy homeostasis.Nesfatin-1/NUCB2 level in the circulation is elevated after meal intake and decreased during a fast. Its food intake suppression effect is independent from the leptin pathway, and act via the melanocortin signaling. On the other hand, Nesfatin-1 colocalizes with insulin in pancreatic beta islet cells and has been shown to increase insulin secretion.MethodologyPubMed databases were searched for “NUCB2 or nesfatin-1 or nucleobindin” with the combination of “diabetes mellitus”. Included papers were further searched manually for additional studies. The databases were searched up to 2015. Fifty one articles were selected for full text review.ResultCentrally controlled Nesfatin-1 was stated to raise peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity by reducing gluconeogenesis and stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in vivo.ConclusionNesfatin-1 has gain attention as a new target to generate, drug for treatment of endocrine nutritional and metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.