神经介素U及其受体生理功能研究进展

Progress on Physiological Function of Neuromedin U and it's Receptors

神经介素U(neuromedin U,NMU)属于平滑肌收缩多肽,广泛分布于外周器官及中枢神经系统。不同种动物的NMU在长期的进化压力下仍具有高度的保守结构,表明NMU具有重要的生理功能。NMU的两个特异性的内源受体NMU1R和NMU2R广泛分布于动物体内,并具有不同的分布模式,显示出NMU生理功能的多样性。已证实NMU在调节平滑肌收缩、血压与局部血流、肠胃离子转运、应激、能量代谢、摄食行为、胃酸分泌与胃排空、痛觉、癌症及免疫等方面具有重要的生理功能。本文主要概述了NMU及其受体近年来生理功能的研究进展。

Neuromedin U belongs to the group of smooth muscle-contracting peptides, and has been shown to be widely distributed in the peripheral organs and the central nervous system （CNS）. Amino acid alignment of NMU from different species reveals a high level of conservation, which points to its physiological significance. Recent studies have demonstrated that NMUIR and NMU2R are the specific receptors of NMU, which are widespread throughout the body but differential distributions, suggesting diverse roles for the receptor subtypes. Although the precise physiological and indeed pathophysiological roles of NMU have remained elusive,it has been documented that NMU plays very important and implicated roles in the regulation of smooth-muscle contraction,blood pressure and local blood flow, ion transport in the gut, stress responses, cancer, immunity, gastric acid secretion, pronociception,and feeding behavior. This paper summarizes mainly the recent advances on physiological functions of NMU and it＇ s receptors.