Genetic dissection of serum pro-neurotensin suggests potential causal impact on brain structure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pro-neurotensin (pro-NT) is the stable circulating precursor of neurotensin (NT), a neuropeptide expressed mainly in the central nervous system and small intestine that regulates key physiological processes like fatty acid absorption in the gut and suppresses appetite via central mechanisms. Studies in NT-deficient mice and humans implicate NT in obesity and insulin resistance, highlighting its role in metabolic regulation.

Methods

To explore the genetic determinants of circulating pro-NT and its causal relationships with obesity and brain phenotypes, we conducted a genome-wide meta-analysis of serum pro-NT levels in 10,096 individuals of European ancestry across four independent cohorts. We further examined causal effects of pro-NT on brain structures and functio

SUBMITTER: Breitfeld J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12818281 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature