The novel mechanism of recombinant human ciliary neurotrophic factor on the anti-diabetes activity

In a previous study, the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) were demonstrated to lead to weight-loss partly by up-regulating the energy metabolism and the expression of uncoupling protein-1, mitochondrial transcription factor A and nuclear respiratory factor-1 in adipose tissues or muscle. To investigate the up-stream regulators of the expression, recombinant human CNTF (rhCNTF) (0.1, 0.3 and 0.9 mg/kg/day subcutaneously) were administered to KK-Ay mice for 30 days, resulting in reduction of perirenal fat mass, serum free fatty acids and islet triacylglycerol; furthermore, the values of oral glucose tolerance test were found improved. In brown adipose tissues, the gene expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1alpha) were found to be up-regulated by rhCNTF. To the best of our knowledge, the changes of gene expression of PPARalpha and PGC-1alpha represent new insights into the mechanisms of anti-diabetes by rhCNTF. In addition, the activity of mitochondrial complexII was found to be increased by rhCNTF. Stimulation of PPARalpha, PGC-1alpha, uncoupling protein-1 and enhanced activity of mitochondrial complex II may be associated with the effects of anti-diabetes. The present study indicates new mechanisms of the activity and mechanisms on anti-diabetes of rhCNTF, which may be a novel anti-diabetes reagent partly acting by enhancing energy metabolism.