Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) was applied to catalyze hydrolysis of Nociceptin/Orphanin 1-16 (OFQ/N) to show the involvement of the enzyme in degradation of neuropeptides engaged in pain transmission. Moreover, IDE degradative action towards insulin (Ins) was inhibited by the OFQ/N fragments, suggesting a possible regulatory mechanism in the central nervous system. It has been found that OFQ/N and Ins aect each other degradation by IDE, although in a dierent manner. Indeed, while the digestion of OFQ/N is significantly aected by the presence of Ins, the kinetic profile of the Ins hydrolysis is not aected by the presence of OFQ/N. However, the main hydrolytic fragments of OFQ/N produced by IDE exert inhibitory activity towards the IDE-mediated Ins degradation. Here, we present the results indicating that, besides Ins, IDE cleaves neuropeptides and their released fragments act as inhibitors of IDE activity toward Ins. Having in mind that IDE is present in the brain, which also contains Ins receptors, it cannot be excluded that this enzyme indirectly participates in neural communication of pain signals and that neuropeptides involved in pain transmission may contribute to the regulation of IDE activity. Finally, preliminary results on the metabolism of OFQ/N, carried out in the rat spinal cord homogenate in the presence of various inhibitors specific for dierent classes of proteases, show that OFQ/N proteolysis in rat spinal cord could be due, besides IDE, also to a cysteine protease not yet identified.

IDE Degrades Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ through an Insulin Regulated Mechanism

G. Grasso
2019-01-01

Abstract

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) was applied to catalyze hydrolysis of Nociceptin/Orphanin 1-16 (OFQ/N) to show the involvement of the enzyme in degradation of neuropeptides engaged in pain transmission. Moreover, IDE degradative action towards insulin (Ins) was inhibited by the OFQ/N fragments, suggesting a possible regulatory mechanism in the central nervous system. It has been found that OFQ/N and Ins aect each other degradation by IDE, although in a dierent manner. Indeed, while the digestion of OFQ/N is significantly aected by the presence of Ins, the kinetic profile of the Ins hydrolysis is not aected by the presence of OFQ/N. However, the main hydrolytic fragments of OFQ/N produced by IDE exert inhibitory activity towards the IDE-mediated Ins degradation. Here, we present the results indicating that, besides Ins, IDE cleaves neuropeptides and their released fragments act as inhibitors of IDE activity toward Ins. Having in mind that IDE is present in the brain, which also contains Ins receptors, it cannot be excluded that this enzyme indirectly participates in neural communication of pain signals and that neuropeptides involved in pain transmission may contribute to the regulation of IDE activity. Finally, preliminary results on the metabolism of OFQ/N, carried out in the rat spinal cord homogenate in the presence of various inhibitors specific for dierent classes of proteases, show that OFQ/N proteolysis in rat spinal cord could be due, besides IDE, also to a cysteine protease not yet identified.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
ijms-20-04447.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Dimensione 1.3 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.3 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/369475
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 4
  • Scopus 9
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 7
social impact