Neuromedin U (NMU) is a highly conserved neuropeptide with a variety of physiological functions mediated by two receptors, peripheral NMUR1 and central nervous system NMUR2. Here we report the generation and phenotypic characterization of mice deficient in the central nervous system receptor NMUR2. We show that behavioral effects, such as suppression of food intake, enhanced pain response, and ...

Neuromedin U (NMU) has been shown driving the progression of various tumor entities, including breast cancer. However, the expression pattern of NMU and its receptors in breast cancer tissues as well as systematic insight into mechanisms and downstream targets of the NMU-driven signaling pathways are still elusive. Here, NMU expression was found up-regulated in all breast cancer subtypes when c...

Neuromedin U (NMU), through its cognate receptor NMUR2 in the central nervous system, regulates several important physiological functions, including energy balance, stress response, and nociception. By random screening of our corporate compound collection with a ligand binding assay, we discovered (R)-5'-(phenylaminocarbonylamino)spiro[1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-3,2'(3'H)-furo[2,3-b]pyridine] (R...

The neuromedin U (NMU) system is composed of NMU, neuromedin S (NMS) and their receptors NMUR1 and NMUR2. This system is involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine functions, immune response, circadian rhythm and spermatogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the possible role of the NMU system in regulating functions of cultured rat calvarial osteoblast-like (ROB...

Neuromedin U (NMU) activates two G protein-coupled receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2; this signaling not only controls many physiological responses but also promotes tumorigenesis in diverse tissues. We recently identified a novel truncated NMUR2 derived by alternative splicing, namely NMUR2S, from human ovarian cancer cDNA. Sequence analysis, cell surface ELISA and immunocytochemical staining using 2...

OBJECTIVES Neuroprotective effects of female gonadal steroids are mediated through several pathways involving multiple peptides and receptors after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Two of these peptides are including the regulatory peptides neuromedin U (NMU) and neuromedin S (NMS), and their common receptor neuromedin U2 receptor (NMUR2). This study investigates the effects of physiological doses...

Neuromedin U (NMU) is known to have potent actions on appetite and energy expenditure. Deletion of the NMU gene in mice leads to an obese phenotype, characterized by hyperphagia and decreased energy expenditure. Conversely, transgenic mice that overexpress proNMU exhibit reduced body weight and fat storage. Here, we show that central administration of NMU or the related peptide neuromedin S (NM...

We reviewed neuromedin U (NMU) and neuromedin S (NMS) involvement in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. NMU and NMS are structurally related and highly conserved neuropeptides. They exert biological effects via two GPCR receptors designated as NMUR1 and NMUR2 which show differential expression. NMUR1 is expressed predominantly at the periphery, while NMUR2 ...

Neuromedin S (NMS) and neuromedin U (NMU) are regulatory peptides that share the C-terminal amino-acid sequence and act via common G protein-coupled receptors called NMUR1 and NMUR2. Semiquantitative real time-PCR showed that in the rat hypothalamus and testis NMS gene expression was markedly higher than that of the NMU gene, while the reverse occurred in the anterior pituitary and thyroid glan...

To investigate the role of the central neuromedin U (NMU) signaling system in body weight and energy balance regulation, we examined the effects of long-term intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of NMU in C57Bl/6 mice and in mice lacking the gene encoding NMU receptor 2. In diet-induced obese male and female C57BL/6 mice, icv infusion of NMU (8 microg x day(-1) x mouse(-1)) for 7 days decreas...