Abstract
Brain - gut peptide hormones are well known modulators of brain functions such as eating and emotional behaviors. Alterations of both central and peripheral peptide signaling have thus been supposed to participate in several psychiatric diseases including eating disorders and depression. The origin of such alteration is often referred as multifactorial but the main common pathophysiological factors have not been determined. Recently, clinical and experimental evidence has emerged supporting a role of plasma immunoglobulins to regulate peptide signaling via direct binding of corresponding peptides. Variability in production and properties of such immunoglobulins or autoantibodies appears to be responsible for the variability of biological effects mediated by corresponding brain - gut peptides. For instance, affinity maturation of a peptide autoantibody was associated with changing of its property from peptide transporting to peptide neutralizing molecule. In the symposium, recent work was presented revealing potential roles of autoantibodies directed against several brain- gut peptide hormones including melanocortin, ACTH, ghrelin and neuropeptide Y in the origin of anorexia nervosa, obesity and depression as well as aggressive behavior. A role of gut inflammation, gut microbiota and nutrition in the regulation of peptide autoantibodies production were also discussed.
