《自然》权威报道：长胖“元凶”现真身！牛津团队发现食欲中枢神经肽Y还能激活棕色脂肪抗肥胖

Core Insights - The article discusses the dual role of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in regulating appetite and energy expenditure, revealing its complex functions in both the brain and peripheral fat tissues [7][12][16]. Group 1: NPY's Role in Appetite Regulation - NPY is known to stimulate appetite in the brain, but its absence does not significantly affect daily food intake in mice [11]. - Mutations in the NPY gene are associated with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) in humans, indicating a link between NPY and obesity that is not solely dependent on food consumption [11][17]. Group 2: NPY's Role in Energy Expenditure - In peripheral fat tissues, NPY helps maintain the thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and promotes energy expenditure [7][12]. - Research shows that knocking out NPY in the sympathetic nerves of mice leads to a reduction in brown fat, decreased thermogenic ability, and increased susceptibility to weight gain, even without changes in food intake or exercise [14][16]. Group 3: Mechanisms of Action - Approximately 40% of sympathetic neurons in white adipose tissue express NPY, which is involved in regulating blood vessel stability and the differentiation of thermogenic fat cells [14]. - NPY promotes the proliferation of perivascular cells, which are crucial for the development of blood vessels and can generate thermogenic fat cells [14][16].