Neuropeptide FF explained

NPFF Neuropeptide FF (FLFQPQRFa) is a mammalian amidated neuropeptide originally isolated from bovine brain and characterized as a pain-modulating peptide, with anti-opioid activity on morphine-induced analgesia.

In humans, Neuropeptide FF peptides are encoded by the NPFF gene. Two genes encoding two different receptors (NPFF1 and NPFF2) and two precursors (NPFFA and NPFFB) have been cloned in several mammalian species.^{[1] [2]}

Function

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and RFamide related peptides issued from two precursors interact with good affinity with two subtypes of G protein-coupled receptors, namely NPFF1 and NPFF2 subtypes and are involved in several physiological functions such as cardiovascular regulation, hormonal control, macrophage activation, body temperature homeostasis and pain modulation.^[2]

Processing of the NPFFA precursor at basic proteolytic sites should generate a NPFF-containing peptide with three additional N-terminal amino acids different between species, and a NPSF (SLAAPQRFa)-containing peptide, the length of which depends on the species. NPFFB, identified as a precursor for RFamide-related peptides (RFRPs, also called GnIH for gonadotropin inhibitory hormone), contains a LPLRFa-containing peptide and a peptide sharing with NPFF the same C-terminal PQRFamide motif, such as NPVF (VPNLPQRFa) in human.

NPFF and opioid systems have been shown to interact at several levels, from animal behavior to receptor molecules. Nociception is the physiological function in which this interaction has been the most extensively studied but reward, locomotion, feeding and intestinal motility are also affected. Endogenous opioids are necessary for the analgesic properties of spinally injected NPFF while endogenous NPFF peptides are involved in the process of analgesic tolerance/hyperalgesia induced by chronic opioid treatment.

NPFF also controls the number and metabolic effects of adipose tissue macrophages, and NPFF is necessary for adipose tissue health.^[3]

See also

• Neuropeptide VF precursor

References

Further reading

• Panula P, Aarnisalo AA, Wasowicz K . Neuropeptide FF, a mammalian neuropeptide with multiple functions . Progress in Neurobiology . 48 . 4–5 . 461–87 . 1996 . 8804117 . 10.1016/0301-0082(96)00001-9 . 5985620 .
• Sundblom DM, Panula P, Fyhrquist F . Neuropeptide FF-like immunoreactivity in human plasma . Peptides . 16 . 2 . 347–50 . 1995 . 7784266 . 10.1016/0196-9781(94)00163-4 . 27839755 .
• Sundblom DM, Hyrkkö A, Fyhrquist F . Pulsatile secretion of neuropeptide FF into human blood . Peptides . 19 . 7 . 1165–70 . 1998 . 9786165 . 10.1016/S0196-9781(98)00060-6 . 25714310 .
• Elshourbagy NA, Ames RS, Fitzgerald LR, Foley JJ, Chambers JK, Szekeres PG, Evans NA, Schmidt DB, Buckley PT, Dytko GM, Murdock PR, Milligan G, Groarke DA, Tan KB, Shabon U, Nuthulaganti P, Wang DY, Wilson S, Bergsma DJ, Sarau HM . Receptor for the pain modulatory neuropeptides FF and AF is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 275 . 34 . 25965–71 . August 2000 . 10851242 . 10.1074/jbc.M004515200 . free .
• Bonini JA, Jones KA, Adham N, Forray C, Artymyshyn R, Durkin MM, Smith KE, Tamm JA, Boteju LW, Lakhlani PP, Raddatz R, Yao WJ, Ogozalek KL, Boyle N, Kouranova EV, Quan Y, Vaysse PJ, Wetzel JM, Branchek TA, Gerald C, Borowsky B . Identification and characterization of two G protein-coupled receptors for neuropeptide FF . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 275 . 50 . 39324–31 . December 2000 . 11024015 . 10.1074/jbc.M004385200 . free .
• Mollereau C, Gouardères C, Dumont Y, Kotani M, Detheux M, Doods H, Parmentier M, Quirion R, Zajac JM . Agonist and antagonist activities on human NPFF(2) receptors of the NPY ligands GR231118 and BIBP3226 . British Journal of Pharmacology . 133 . 1 . 1–4 . May 2001 . 11325787 . 1572765 . 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704049 .
• Catarsi S, Babinski K, Séguéla P . Selective modulation of heteromeric ASIC proton-gated channels by neuropeptide FF . Neuropharmacology . 41 . 5 . 592–600 . October 2001 . 11587714 . 10.1016/S0028-3908(01)00107-1 . 568441 .
• Lefrere I, De Coppet P, Camelin JC, Le Lay S, Mercier N, Elshourbagy N, Bril A, Berrebi-Bertrand I, Feve B, Krief S . Neuropeptide AF and FF modulation of adipocyte metabolism. Primary insights from functional genomics and effects on beta-adrenergic responsiveness . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 277 . 42 . 39169–78 . October 2002 . 12149260 . 10.1074/jbc.M205084200 . free .
• Laemmle B, Schindler M, Beilmann M, Hamilton BS, Doods HN, Wieland HA . Characterization of the NPGP receptor and identification of a novel short mRNA isoform in human hypothalamus . Regulatory Peptides . 111 . 1–3 . 21–9 . March 2003 . 12609745 . 10.1016/S0167-0115(02)00220-3 . 24049458 .
• Ankö ML, Panula P . Regulation of endogenous human NPFF2 receptor by neuropeptide FF in SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cell line . Journal of Neurochemistry . 96 . 2 . 573–84 . January 2006 . 16336216 . 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03581.x . 26460239 . free .
• Roumy M, Lorenzo C, Mazères S, Bouchet S, Zajac JM, Mollereau C . Physical association between neuropeptide FF and micro-opioid receptors as a possible molecular basis for anti-opioid activity . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 282 . 11 . 8332–42 . March 2007 . 17224450 . 10.1074/jbc.M606946200 . free .

Notes and References

1. Perry SJ, Yi-Kung Huang E, Cronk D, Bagust J, Sharma R, Walker RJ, Wilson S, Burke JF . A human gene encoding morphine modulating peptides related to NPFF and FMRFamide . FEBS Letters . 409 . 3 . 426–30 . June 1997 . 9224703 . 10.1016/S0014-5793(97)00557-7 . 40412541 . free .
2. Web site: Entrez Gene: NPFF neuropeptide FF-amide peptide precursor.
3. Waqas SF, Hoang AC, Lin YT, Ampem G, Azegrouz H, Balogh L, Thuróczy J, Chen JC, Gerling IC, Nam S, Lim JS, Martinez-Ibañez J, Real JT, Paschke S, Quillet R, Ayachi S, Simonin F, Schneider EM, Brinkman JA, Lamming DW, Seroogy CM, Röszer T . Neuropeptide FF increases M2 activation and self-renewal of adipose tissue macrophages . The Journal of Clinical Investigation . 127 . 7 . June 2017 . 28581443 . 10.1172/JCI90152 . 5490745 . 2842–2854.