Role of VGF-Derived Peptides in the Control of Food Intake, Body Weight and Reproduction (original) (raw)

selection of this clone from plate V of an NGF-induced PC12 cell cDNA library [1] and should not be confused with VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). Unlike other gene products induced by NGF, such as c-fos , VGF is unusual in that it is induced robustly and relatively selectively by neurotropic growth factors, and is synthesized exclusively in neuronal and neuroendocrine cells . VGF is processed into a number of smaller peptides by neuroendocrine specific prohormone convertases PC1/3 and PC2 . VGF mRNA is widely expressed throughout the brain, particularly the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Immunohistochemical studies have shown that VGF immunoreactive peptides are also produced in peripheral tissues including the pituitary, adrenal, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. VGF-derived peptides were first implicated in the regulation of energy balance following the development of mice lacking a functional copy of the vgf gene (VGF -/-) [8] . These mice are lean and small, with reduced abdominal fat stores and low leptin levels, and correspondingly high levels of activity and metabolic rate . Subsequently, a number of studies have demonstrated changes in VGF gene expression in states of altered energy balance, and have demonstrated effects of VGF-derived peptides on caloric intake and energy expenditure. Here we review the role of VGF and the processed peptides in the control of food intake and body weight as well as reproduction.