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Kovács A, Szabó E, László K, Kertes E, Zagorácz O, Mintál K, Tóth A, Gálosi R, Berta B, Lénárd L, Hormay E, László B, Zelena D, Tóth ZE. Brain RFamide Neuropeptides in Stress-Related Psychopathologies. Cells 2024; 13:1097. [PMID: 38994950 PMCID: PMC11240450 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The RFamide peptide family is a group of proteins that share a common C-terminal arginine-phenylalanine-amide motif. To date, the family comprises five groups in mammals: neuropeptide FF, LPXRFamides/RFamide-related peptides, prolactin releasing peptide, QRFP, and kisspeptins. Different RFamide peptides have their own cognate receptors and are produced by different cell populations, although they all can also bind to neuropeptide FF receptors with different affinities. RFamide peptides function in the brain as neuropeptides regulating key aspects of homeostasis such as energy balance, reproduction, and cardiovascular function. Furthermore, they are involved in the organization of the stress response including modulation of pain. Considering the interaction between stress and various parameters of homeostasis, the role of RFamide peptides may be critical in the development of stress-related neuropathologies. This review will therefore focus on the role of RFamide peptides as possible key hubs in stress and stress-related psychopathologies. The neurotransmitter coexpression profile of RFamide-producing cells is also discussed, highlighting its potential functional significance. The development of novel pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of stress-related disorders is an ongoing need. Thus, the importance of RFamide research is underlined by the emergence of peptidergic and G-protein coupled receptor-based therapeutic targets in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Kovács
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Evelin Szabó
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Kristóf László
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Erika Kertes
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Olga Zagorácz
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Kitti Mintál
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Attila Tóth
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Rita Gálosi
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Bea Berta
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - László Lénárd
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Edina Hormay
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Bettina László
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Dóra Zelena
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, H7624 Pécs, Hungary; (A.K.); (E.S.); (K.L.); (E.K.); (O.Z.); (K.M.); (A.T.); (R.G.); (B.B.); (L.L.); (E.H.); (B.L.)
| | - Zsuzsanna E. Tóth
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, H1094 Budapest, Hungary
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2
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Bentefour Y, Bakker J. Kisspeptin signaling and nNOS neurons in the VMHvl modulate lordosis behavior but not mate preference in female mice. Neuropharmacology 2021; 198:108762. [PMID: 34437905 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It was recently shown that kisspeptin neurons in the anteroventral periventricular area (AVPV) orchestrate female sexual behavior, including lordosis behavior and mate preference. A potential target of AVPV kisspeptin signaling could be neurons expressing the neuronal form of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl). Therefore, in the present study, we further refined the role of the VHMvl in female sexual behavior. Adult female mice received a bilateral cannula aimed at the VMHvl. A single injection with kisspeptin (Kp-10) or SNAP/BAY, a nitric oxide donor, significantly increased lordosis, whereas the nNOS inhibitor l-NAME decreased it. None of these drugs affected mate preference. Interestingly, administration of GnRH into the VMHvl had no effect on lordosis or mate preference. To determine whether the stimulatory effect of Kp-10 on lordosis was specific to the VMHvl, an additional group of females received Kp-10 directly into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). No effect was found on lordosis and mate preference. These results suggest that kisspeptin most likely modulates lordosis behavior through nNOS neurons in the VMHvl whereas mate preference is modulated by kisspeptin through a separate neuronal circuit not including the VMHvl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassine Bentefour
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Julie Bakker
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
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Delli V, Silva MSB, Prévot V, Chachlaki K. The KiNG of reproduction: Kisspeptin/ nNOS interactions shaping hypothalamic GnRH release. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 532:111302. [PMID: 33964320 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the master regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and therefore of fertility and reproduction. The release pattern of GnRH by the hypothalamus includes both pulses and surges. However, despite a considerable body of evidence in support of a determinant role for kisspeptin, the mechanisms regulating a GnRH pulse and surge remain a topic of debate. In this review we challenge the view of kisspeptin as an absolute "monarch", and instead present the idea of a Kisspeptin-nNOS-GnRH or "KiNG" network that is responsible for generating the "GnRH pulse" and "GnRH surge". In particular, the neuromodulator nitric oxide (NO) has opposite effects to kisspeptin on GnRH secretion in many respects, acting as the Yin to kisspeptin's Yang and creating a dynamic system in which kisspeptin provides the "ON" signal, promoting GnRH release, while NO mediates the "OFF" signal, acting as a tonic brake on GnRH secretion. This interplay between an activator and an inhibitor, which is in turn fine-tuned by the gonadal steroid environment, thus leads to the generation of GnRH pulses and surges and is crucial for the proper development and function of the reproductive axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Delli
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR-S 1172, F-59000, Lille, France; FHU, 1000 Days for Health, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Mauro S B Silva
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR-S 1172, F-59000, Lille, France; FHU, 1000 Days for Health, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Vincent Prévot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR-S 1172, F-59000, Lille, France; FHU, 1000 Days for Health, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Konstantina Chachlaki
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, UMR-S 1172, F-59000, Lille, France; FHU, 1000 Days for Health, F-59000, Lille, France; University Research Institute of Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
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Constantin S, Pizano K, Matson K, Shan Y, Reynolds D, Wray S. An Inhibitory Circuit From Brainstem to GnRH Neurons in Male Mice: A New Role for the RFRP Receptor. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6132086. [PMID: 33564881 PMCID: PMC8016070 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
RFamide-related peptides (RFRPs, mammalian orthologs of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone) convey circadian, seasonal, and social cues to the reproductive system. They regulate gonadotropin secretion by modulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons via the RFRP receptor. Mice lacking this receptor are fertile but exhibit abnormal gonadotropin responses during metabolic challenges, such as acute fasting, when the normal drop in gonadotropin levels is delayed. Although it is known that these food intake signals to the reproductive circuit originate in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in the brainstem, the phenotype of the neurons conveying the signal remains unknown. Given that neuropeptide FF (NPFF), another RFamide peptide, resides in the NTS and can bind to the RFRP receptor, we hypothesized that NPFF may regulate GnRH neurons. To address this question, we used a combination of techniques: cell-attached electrophysiology on GnRH-driven green fluorescent protein-tagged neurons in acute brain slices; calcium imaging on cultured GnRH neurons; and immunostaining on adult brain tissue. We found (1) NPFF inhibits GnRH neuron excitability via the RFRP receptor and its canonical signaling pathway (Gi/o protein and G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels), (2) NPFF-like fibers in the vicinity of GnRH neurons coexpress neuropeptide Y, (3) the majority of NPFF-like cell bodies in the NTS also coexpress neuropeptide Y, and (4) acute fasting increased NPFF-like immunoreactivity in the NTS. Together these data indicate that NPFF neurons within the NTS inhibit GnRH neurons, and thus reproduction, during fasting but prior to the energy deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Constantin
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-3703, USA
| | - Katherine Pizano
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-3703, USA
| | - Kaya Matson
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-3703, USA
| | - Yufei Shan
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-3703, USA
| | - Daniel Reynolds
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-3703, USA
| | - Susan Wray
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-3703, USA
- Correspondence: Dr. Susan Wray, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 35 Convent Drive MSC 3703, Building 35, Room 3A1012, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Mills EG, Izzi-Engbeaya C, Abbara A, Comninos AN, Dhillo WS. Functions of galanin, spexin and kisspeptin in metabolism, mood and behaviour. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:97-113. [PMID: 33273729 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-020-00438-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The bioactive peptides galanin, spexin and kisspeptin have a common ancestral origin and their pathophysiological roles are increasingly the subject of investigation. Evidence suggests that these bioactive peptides play a role in the regulation of metabolism, pancreatic β-cell function, energy homeostasis, mood and behaviour in several species, including zebrafish, rodents and humans. Galanin signalling suppresses insulin secretion in animal models (but not in humans), is potently obesogenic and plays putative roles governing certain evolutionary behaviours and mood modulation. Spexin decreases insulin secretion and has potent anorectic, analgesic, anxiolytic and antidepressive-like effects in animal models. Kisspeptin modulates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, food intake and/or energy expenditure in animal models and humans. Furthermore, kisspeptin is implicated in the control of reproductive behaviour in animals, modulation of human sexual and emotional brain processing, and has antidepressive and fear-suppressing effects. In addition, galanin-like peptide is a further member of the galaninergic family that plays emerging key roles in metabolism and behaviour. Therapeutic interventions targeting galanin, spexin and/or kisspeptin signalling pathways could therefore contribute to the treatment of conditions ranging from obesity to mood disorders. However, many gaps and controversies exist, which must be addressed before the therapeutic potential of these bioactive peptides can be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard G Mills
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Ali Abbara
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Alexander N Comninos
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
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Liu X, Yeo SH, McQuillan HJ, Herde MK, Hessler S, Cheong I, Porteous R, Herbison AE. Highly redundant neuropeptide volume co-transmission underlying episodic activation of the GnRH neuron dendron. eLife 2021; 10:62455. [PMID: 33464205 PMCID: PMC7847305 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The necessity and functional significance of neurotransmitter co-transmission remains unclear. The glutamatergic 'KNDy' neurons co-express kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin and exhibit a highly stereotyped synchronized behavior that reads out to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron dendrons to drive episodic hormone secretion. Using expansion microscopy, we show that KNDy neurons make abundant close, non-synaptic appositions with the GnRH neuron dendron. Electrophysiology and confocal GCaMP6 imaging demonstrated that, despite all three neuropeptides being released from KNDy terminals, only kisspeptin was able to activate the GnRH neuron dendron. Mice with a selective deletion of kisspeptin from KNDy neurons failed to exhibit pulsatile hormone secretion but maintained synchronized episodic KNDy neuron behavior that is thought to depend on recurrent NKB and dynorphin transmission. This indicates that KNDy neurons drive episodic hormone secretion through highly redundant neuropeptide co-transmission orchestrated by differential post-synaptic neuropeptide receptor expression at the GnRH neuron dendron and KNDy neuron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhuai Liu
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Shel-Hwa Yeo
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - H James McQuillan
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michel K Herde
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sabine Hessler
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Isaiah Cheong
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Robert Porteous
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Allan E Herbison
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Abstract
The significance of KISS1 goes beyond its original discovery as a metastasis suppressor. Its function as a neuropeptide involved in diverse physiologic processes is more well studied. Enthusiasm regarding KISS1 has cumulated in clinical trials in multiple fields related to reproduction and metabolism. But its cancer therapeutic space is unsettled. This review focuses on collating data from cancer and non-cancer fields in order to understand shared and disparate signaling that might inform clinical development in the cancer therapeutic and biomarker space. Research has focused on amino acid residues 68-121 (kisspeptin 54), binding to the KISS1 receptor and cellular responses. Evidence and counterevidence regarding this canonical pathway require closer look at the covariates so that the incredible potential of KISS1 can be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuc Ly
- Department of Cancer Biology, Kansas University Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd. - MS1071, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Sitaram Harihar
- Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Danny R Welch
- Department of Cancer Biology, Kansas University Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd. - MS1071, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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Soundarapandian MM, Juliana CA, Chai J, Haslett PA, Fitzgerald K, De León DD. Activation of Protein Kinase A (PKA) signaling mitigates congenital hyperinsulinism associated hypoglycemia in the Sur1-/- mouse model. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236892. [PMID: 32735622 PMCID: PMC7394442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a significant unmet need for a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of children with congenital hyperinsulinism. We hypothesized that amplification of the glucagon signaling pathway could ameliorate hyperinsulinism associated hypoglycemia. In order to test this we evaluated the effects of loss of Prkar1a, a negative regulator of Protein Kinase A in the context of hyperinsulinemic conditions. With reduction of Prkar1a expression, we observed a significant upregulation of hepatic gluconeogenic genes. In wild type mice receiving a continuous infusion of insulin by mini-osmotic pump, we observed a 2-fold increase in the level of circulating ketones and a more than 40-fold increase in Kiss1 expression with reduction of Prkar1a. Loss of Prkar1a in the Sur1-/- mouse model of KATP hyperinsulinism significantly attenuated fasting induced hypoglycemia, decreased the insulin/glucose ratio, and also increased the hepatic expression of Kiss1 by more than 10-fold. Together these data demonstrate that amplification of the hepatic glucagon signaling pathway is able to rescue hypoglycemia caused by hyperinsulinism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine A. Juliana
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jinghua Chai
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Patrick A. Haslett
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kevin Fitzgerald
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Diva D. De León
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MMS); (DDDL)
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Aquino NSS, Kokay IC, Perez CT, Ladyman SR, Henriques PC, Silva JF, Broberger C, Grattan DR, Szawka RE. Kisspeptin Stimulation of Prolactin Secretion Requires Kiss1 Receptor but Not in Tuberoinfundibular Dopaminergic Neurons. Endocrinology 2019; 160:522-533. [PMID: 30668693 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Kisspeptin has been shown to stimulate prolactin secretion. We investigated whether kisspeptin acts through the Kiss1 receptor (Kiss1r) to regulate dopamine and prolactin. Initially, we evaluated prolactin response in a Kiss1r-deficient mouse line, in which Kiss1r had been knocked into GnRH neurons (Kiss1r-/-R). Intracerebroventricular kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) increased prolactin release in wild-type but not in Kiss1r-/-R female mice. In ovariectomized, estradiol-treated rats, the Kiss1r antagonist kisspeptin-234 abolished the Kp-10-induced increase in prolactin release but failed to prevent the concomitant reduction in the activity of tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons, as determined by the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine ratio in the median eminence. Using whole-cell patch clamp recordings in juvenile male rats, we found no direct effect of Kp-10 on the electrical activity of TIDA neurons. In addition, dual-label in situ hybridization in the hypothalamus of female rats showed that Kiss1r is expressed in the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (Pe) and arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) but not in tyrosine hydroxylase (Th)-expressing neurons. Kisspeptin also has affinity for the neuropeptide FF receptor 1 (Npffr1), which was expressed in the majority of Pe dopaminergic neurons but only in a low proportion of TIDA neurons in the ARC. Our findings demonstrate that Kiss1r is necessary to the effect of kisspeptin on prolactin secretion, although TIDA neurons lack Kiss1r and are electrically unresponsive to kisspeptin. Thus, kisspeptin is likely to stimulate prolactin secretion via Kiss1r in nondopaminergic neurons, whereas the colocalization of Npffr1 and Th suggests that Pe dopaminergic neurons may play a role in the kisspeptin-induced inhibition of dopamine release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara S S Aquino
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ilona C Kokay
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Sharon R Ladyman
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Patricia C Henriques
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Juneo F Silva
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | | | - David R Grattan
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Raphael E Szawka
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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10
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Diet-induced adaptive thermogenesis requires neuropeptide FF receptor-2 signalling. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4722. [PMID: 30413707 PMCID: PMC6226433 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06462-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Excess caloric intake results in increased fat accumulation and an increase in energy expenditure via diet-induced adaptive thermogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms controlling these processes are unclear. Here we identify the neuropeptide FF receptor-2 (NPFFR2) as a critical regulator of diet-induced thermogenesis and bone homoeostasis. Npffr2−/− mice exhibit a stronger bone phenotype and when fed a HFD display exacerbated obesity associated with a failure in activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic response to energy excess, whereas the activation of cold-induced BAT thermogenesis is unaffected. NPFFR2 signalling is required to maintain basal arcuate nucleus NPY mRNA expression. Lack of NPFFR2 signalling leads to a decrease in BAT thermogenesis under HFD conditions with significantly lower UCP-1 and PGC-1α levels in the BAT. Together, these data demonstrate that NPFFR2 signalling promotes diet-induced thermogenesis via a novel hypothalamic NPY-dependent circuitry thereby coupling energy homoeostasis with energy partitioning to adipose and bone tissue. Excess caloric intake leads to increased thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue, to limit weight gain. Here, the authors show that neuropeptide FF receptor-2 signalling promotes thermogenesis via control of NPY expression in the arcuate nucleus, and that it absence in mice leads to a failure of activation of diet-induced thermogenesis and the development of exacerbated obesity.
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11
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Comninos AN, Demetriou L, Wall MB, Shah AJ, Clarke SA, Narayanaswamy S, Nesbitt A, Izzi-Engbeaya C, Prague JK, Abbara A, Ratnasabapathy R, Yang L, Salem V, Nijher GM, Jayasena CN, Tanner M, Bassett P, Mehta A, McGonigle J, Rabiner EA, Bloom SR, Dhillo WS. Modulations of human resting brain connectivity by kisspeptin enhance sexual and emotional functions. JCI Insight 2018; 3:121958. [PMID: 30333302 PMCID: PMC6237465 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.121958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resting brain connectivity is a crucial component of human behavior demonstrated by disruptions in psychosexual and emotional disorders. Kisspeptin, a recently identified critical reproductive hormone, can alter activity in certain brain structures but its effects on resting brain connectivity and networks in humans remain elusive. METHODS We determined the effects of kisspeptin on resting brain connectivity (using functional neuroimaging) and behavior (using psychometric analyses) in healthy men, in a randomized double-blinded 2-way placebo-controlled study. RESULTS Kisspeptin's modulation of the default mode network (DMN) correlated with increased limbic activity in response to sexual stimuli (globus pallidus r = 0.500, P = 0.005; cingulate r = 0.475, P = 0.009). Furthermore, kisspeptin's DMN modulation was greater in men with less reward drive (r = -0.489, P = 0.008) and predicted reduced sexual aversion (r = -0.499, P = 0.006), providing key functional significance. Kisspeptin also enhanced key mood connections including between the amygdala-cingulate, hippocampus-cingulate, and hippocampus-globus pallidus (all P < 0.05). Consistent with this, kisspeptin's enhancement of hippocampus-globus pallidus connectivity predicted increased responses to negative stimuli in limbic structures (including the thalamus and cingulate [all P < 0.01]). CONCLUSION Taken together, our data demonstrate a previously unknown role for kisspeptin in the modulation of functional brain connectivity and networks, integrating these with reproductive hormones and behaviors. Our findings that kisspeptin modulates resting brain connectivity to enhance sexual and emotional processing and decrease sexual aversion, provide foundation for kisspeptin-based therapies for associated disorders of body and mind. FUNDING NIHR, MRC, and Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N Comninos
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.,Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lysia Demetriou
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.,Imanova Centre for Imaging Sciences, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew B Wall
- Imanova Centre for Imaging Sciences, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.,Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Amar J Shah
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie A Clarke
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Julia K Prague
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Abbara
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lisa Yang
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Salem
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Mark Tanner
- Imanova Centre for Imaging Sciences, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Amrish Mehta
- Department of Neuroradiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - John McGonigle
- Imanova Centre for Imaging Sciences, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugenii A Rabiner
- Imanova Centre for Imaging Sciences, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R Bloom
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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12
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Abstract
Reproduction is fundamental for the survival of all species and requires meticulous synchronisation of a diverse complement of neural, endocrine and related behaviours. The reproductive hormone kisspeptin (encoded by the KISS1/Kiss1 gene) is now a well-established orchestrator of reproductive hormones, acting upstream of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) at the apex of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) reproductive axis. Beyond the hypothalamus, kisspeptin is also expressed in limbic and paralimbic brain regions, which are areas of the neurobiological network implicated in sexual and emotional behaviours. We are now forming a more comprehensive appreciation of extra-hypothalamic kisspeptin signalling and the complex role of kisspeptin as an upstream mediator of reproductive behaviours, including olfactory-driven partner preference, copulatory behaviour, audition, mood and emotion. An increasing body of research from zebrafish to humans has implicated kisspeptin in the integration of reproductive hormones with an overall positive influence on these reproductive behaviours. In this review, we critically appraise the current literature regarding kisspeptin and its control of reproductive behaviour. Collectively, these data significantly enhance our understanding of the integration of reproductive hormones and behaviour and provide the foundation for kisspeptin-based therapies to treat related disorders of body and mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard G A Mills
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Alexander N Comninos
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
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13
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Moore AM, Coolen LM, Porter DT, Goodman RL, Lehman MN. KNDy Cells Revisited. Endocrinology 2018; 159:3219-3234. [PMID: 30010844 PMCID: PMC6098225 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade since kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) cells were first identified in the mammalian hypothalamus, a plethora of new research has emerged adding insights into the role of this neuronal population in reproductive neuroendocrine function, including the basis for GnRH pulse generation and the mechanisms underlying the steroid feedback control of GnRH secretion. In this mini-review, we provide an update of evidence regarding the roles of KNDy peptides and their postsynaptic receptors in producing episodic GnRH release and assess the relative contribution of KNDy neurons to the "GnRH pulse generator." In addition, we examine recent work investigating the role of KNDy neurons as mediators of steroid hormone negative feedback and review evidence for their involvement in the preovulatory GnRH/LH surge, taking into account species differences that exist among rodents, ruminants, and primates. Finally, we summarize emerging roles of KNDy neurons in other aspects of reproductive function and in nonreproductive functions and discuss critical unresolved questions in our understanding of KNDy neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleisha M Moore
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Lique M Coolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Danielle T Porter
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Robert L Goodman
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Michael N Lehman
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
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14
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Franssen D, Tena-Sempere M. The kisspeptin receptor: A key G-protein-coupled receptor in the control of the reproductive axis. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018; 32:107-123. [PMID: 29678280 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The kisspeptin receptor, Kiss1R, also known as Gpr54, is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), deorphanized in 2001, when it was recognized as canonical receptor for the Kiss1-derived peptides, kisspeptins. In 2003, inactivating mutations of Kiss1R gene were first associated to lack of pubertal maturation and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in humans and rodents. These seminal findings pointed out the previously unsuspected, essential role of Kiss1R and its ligands in control of reproductive maturation and function. This contention has been fully substantiated during the last decade by a wealth of clinical and experimental data, which has documented a fundamental function of the so-called Kiss1/Kiss1R system in the regulation of puberty onset, gonadotropin secretion and ovulation, as well as the metabolic and environmental modulation of fertility. In this review, we provide a succinct summary of some of the most salient facets of Kiss1R, as essential GPCR for the proper maturation and function of the reproductive axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Franssen
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004, Cordoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004, Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, 14004, Cordoba, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 14004, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Tena-Sempere
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004, Cordoba, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004, Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, 14004, Cordoba, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 14004, Cordoba, Spain; FiDiPro Program, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, FIN-20520, Turku, Finland.
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15
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Hellier V, Brock O, Candlish M, Desroziers E, Aoki M, Mayer C, Piet R, Herbison A, Colledge WH, Prévot V, Boehm U, Bakker J. Female sexual behavior in mice is controlled by kisspeptin neurons. Nat Commun 2018; 9:400. [PMID: 29374161 PMCID: PMC5786055 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02797-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual behavior is essential for the survival of many species. In female rodents, mate preference and copulatory behavior depend on pheromones and are synchronized with ovulation to ensure reproductive success. The neural circuits driving this orchestration in the brain have, however, remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that neurons controlling ovulation in the mammalian brain are at the core of a branching neural circuit governing both mate preference and copulatory behavior. We show that male odors detected in the vomeronasal organ activate kisspeptin neurons in female mice. Classical kisspeptin/Kiss1R signaling subsequently triggers olfactory-driven mate preference. In contrast, copulatory behavior is elicited by kisspeptin neurons in a parallel circuit independent of Kiss1R involving nitric oxide signaling. Consistent with this, we find that kisspeptin neurons impinge onto nitric oxide-synthesizing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Our data establish kisspeptin neurons as a central regulatory hub orchestrating sexual behavior in the female mouse brain. Mate preference and copulatory behavior in female rodents are coordinated with the ovulation cycles of the animal. This study shows that hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons control both mate choice and copulation, and therefore, that sexual behavior and ovulation may be synchronized by the same neuropeptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Hellier
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | - Olivier Brock
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Candlish
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Elodie Desroziers
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | - Mari Aoki
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Richard Piet
- Center for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Allan Herbison
- Center for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - William Henry Colledge
- Reproductive Physiology Group, Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Vincent Prévot
- Laboratory of Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Inserm U1172, F- 59000, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University School of Medicine, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Julie Bakker
- GIGA Neurosciences, Neuroendocrinology, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium. .,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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16
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Yeo SH, Colledge WH. The Role of Kiss1 Neurons As Integrators of Endocrine, Metabolic, and Environmental Factors in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:188. [PMID: 29755406 PMCID: PMC5932150 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Kisspeptin-GPR54 signaling in the hypothalamus is required for reproduction and fertility in mammals. Kiss1 neurons are key regulators of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release and modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Arcuate Kiss1 neurons project to GnRH nerve terminals in the median eminence, orchestrating the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) through the intricate interaction between GnRH pulse frequency and the pituitary gonadotrophs. Arcuate Kiss1 neurons, also known as KNDy neurons in rodents and ruminants because of their co-expression of neurokinin B and dynorphin represent an ideal hub to receive afferent inputs from other brain regions in response to physiological and environmental changes, which can regulate the HPG axis. This review will focus on studies performed primarily in rodent and ruminant species to explore potential afferent inputs to Kiss1 neurons with emphasis on the arcuate region but also considering the rostral periventricular region of the third ventricle (RP3V). Specifically, we will discuss how these inputs can be modulated by hormonal, metabolic, and environmental factors to control gonadotropin secretion and fertility. We also summarize the methods and techniques that can be used to study functional inputs into Kiss1 neurons.
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17
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Aquino NSS, Araujo-Lopes R, Henriques PC, Lopes FEF, Gusmao DO, Coimbra CC, Franci CR, Reis AM, Szawka RE. α-Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors Modulate Kisspeptin Effects on Prolactin: Role in Estradiol-Induced Prolactin Surge in Female Rats. Endocrinology 2017; 158:1812-1826. [PMID: 28387824 DOI: 10.1210/en.2016-1855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Kisspeptin (Kp) regulates prolactin (PRL) in an estradiol-dependent manner. We investigated the interaction between ovarian steroid receptors and Kp in the control of PRL secretion. Intracerebroventricular injections of Kp-10 or Kp-234 were performed in ovariectomized (OVX) rats under different hormonal treatments. Kp-10 increased PRL release and decreased 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels in the median eminence (ME) of OVX rats treated with estradiol (OVX+E), which was prevented by tamoxifen. Whereas these effects of Kp-10 were absent in OVX rats, they were replicated in OVX rats treated with selective agonist of estrogen receptor (ER)α, propylpyrazole triol, but not of ERβ, diarylpropionitrile. Furthermore, the Kp-10-induced increase in PRL was two times higher in OVX+E rats also treated with progesterone (OVX+EP), which was associated with a reduced expression of both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Ser40-phosphorylated TH in the ME. Kp-10 also reduced dopamine levels in the ME of OVX+EP rats, an effect blocked by the progesterone receptor (PR) antagonist RU486. We also determined the effect of Kp antagonism with Kp-234 on the estradiol-induced surges of PRL and luteinizing hormone (LH), using tail-tip blood sampling combined with ultrasensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Kp-234 impaired the early phase of the PRL surge and prevented the LH surge in OVX+E rats. Thus, we provide evidence that Kp stimulation of PRL release requires ERα and is potentiated by progesterone via PR activation. Moreover, alongside its essential role in the LH surge, Kp seems to play a role in the peak phase of the estradiol-induced PRL surge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara S S Aquino
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Roberta Araujo-Lopes
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Patricia C Henriques
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Felipe E F Lopes
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniela O Gusmao
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Candido C Coimbra
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Celso R Franci
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adelina M Reis
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Raphael E Szawka
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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18
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Higo S, Iijima N, Ozawa H. Characterisation of Kiss1r (Gpr54)-Expressing Neurones in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Female Rat Hypothalamus. J Neuroendocrinol 2017; 29. [PMID: 27981646 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 11/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Kisspeptin is essential in reproduction and acts by stimulating neurones expressing gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Recent studies suggest that kisspeptin has multiple roles in the modulation of neuronal circuits in systems outside the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Our recent research using in situ hybridisation (ISH) clarified the histological distribution of Kiss1r (Gpr54)-expressing neurones in the rat brain that were presumed to be putative targets of kisspeptin. The arcuate nucleus (ARN) of the hypothalamus is one of the brain regions in which Kiss1r expression in non-GnRH neurones is prominent. However, the characteristics of Kiss1r-expressing neurones in the ARN remain unclear. The present study aimed to determine the neurochemical characteristics of Kiss1r-expressing neurones in the ARN using ISH and immunofluorescence. We revealed that the majority (approximately 63%) of Kiss1r-expressing neurones in the ARN were pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurones, which have an anorexic effect in mammals. Additionally, a few Kiss1r-expressing neurones in the dorsal ARN are tuberoinfundibular dopamine (TIDA) neurones, which control milk production by inhibiting prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary. TIDA neurones showed a relatively weak Kiss1r ISH signal compared to POMC neurones, as well as low co-expression of Kiss1r (approximately 15%). We also examined the expression of Kiss1r in neuropeptide Y and kisspeptin neurones, which are reported to arise from POMC-expressing progenitor cells during development. However, the vast majority of neuropeptide Y and kisspeptin neurones in the ARN did not express Kiss1r. These results suggest that kisspeptin may directly regulate energy homeostasis and milk production by modulating the activity of POMC and TIDA neurones, respectively. Our results provide an insight into the wide variety of roles that kisspeptin plays in homeostatic and neuroendocrine functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Higo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - N Iijima
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - H Ozawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
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19
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The mechanism of puberty initiation remains an enigma, despite extensive research in the field. Pulsatile pituitary gonadotropin secretion under the guidance of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) constitutes a sine qua non for pubertal onset. In turn, the secretion of GnRH in the human hypothalamus is regulated by kisspeptin and its receptor as well as by permissive or opposing signals mediated by neurokinin B and dynorphin acting on their respective receptors. These three supra-GnRH regulators compose the Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B and Dynorhin neurons (KNDy) system, a key player in pubertal onset and progression. RECENT FINDINGS The recent discovery that makorin ring finger protein 3 is also involved in puberty initiation provided further insights into the regulation of the KNDy pathway. In fact, the inhibitory (γ-amino butyric acid, neuropeptide Y, and RFamide-related peptide-3) and stimulatory signals (glutamate) acting upstream of KNDy called into question the role of makorin ring finger protein 3 as the gatekeeper of puberty. Meanwhile, the findings that 'neuroestradiol' produced locally and endocrine disruptors from the environment may influence GnRH secretion is intriguing. Finally, epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in pubertal onset through recently discovered mechanisms. SUMMARY The exact molecular machinery underlying puberty initiation in humans is under intensive investigation. In this review, we summarize research evidence in the field, while emphasizing the areas of uncertainty and underlining the impact of current information on the evolving theory regarding this fascinating phenomenon.
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20
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Abstract
Successfully rearing young places multiple demands on the mammalian female. These are met by a wide array of alterations in maternal physiology and behavior that are coordinated with the needs of the developing young, and include adaptations in neuroendocrine systems not directly involved in maternal behavior or lactation. In this article, attenuations in the behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to stressors, the alterations in metabolic pathways facilitating both increased food intake and conservation of energy, and the changes in fertility that occur postpartum are described. The mechanisms underlying these processes as well as the factors that contribute to them and the relative contributions of these stimuli at different times postpartum are also reviewed. The induction and maintenance of the adaptations observed in the postpartum maternal brain are dependent on mother-young interaction and, in most cases, on suckling stimulation and its consequences for the hormonal profile of the mother. The peptide hormone prolactin acting on receptors within the brain makes a major contribution to changes in metabolic pathways, suppression of fertility and the attenuation of the neuroendocrine response to stress during lactation. Oxytocin is also released, both into the circulation and in some hypothalamic nuclei, in response to suckling stimulation and this hormone has been implicated in the decrease in anxiety behavior seen in the early postpartum period. The relative importance of these hormones changes across lactation and it is becoming increasingly clear that many of the adaptations to motherhood reviewed here reflect the outcome of multiple influences. © 2016 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 6:1493-1518, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Woodside
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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21
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Liu X, Herbison AE. Kisspeptin Regulation of Neuronal Activity throughout the Central Nervous System. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2016; 31:193-205. [PMID: 27246282 PMCID: PMC4923402 DOI: 10.3803/enm.2016.31.2.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Kisspeptin signaling at the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron is now relatively well characterized and established as being critical for the neural control of fertility. However, kisspeptin fibers and the kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R) are detected throughout the brain suggesting that kisspeptin is involved in regulating the activity of multiple neuronal circuits. We provide here a review of kisspeptin actions on neuronal populations throughout the brain including the magnocellular oxytocin and vasopressin neurons, and cells within the arcuate nucleus, hippocampus, and amygdala. The actions of kisspeptin in these brain regions are compared to its effects upon GnRH neurons. Two major themes arise from this analysis. First, it is apparent that kisspeptin signaling through KISS1R at the GnRH neuron is a unique, extremely potent form or neurotransmission whereas kisspeptin actions through KISS1R in other brain regions exhibit neuromodulatory actions typical of other neuropeptides. Second, it is becoming increasingly likely that kisspeptin acts as a neuromodulator not only through KISS1R but also through other RFamide receptors such as the neuropeptide FF receptors (NPFFRs). We suggest likely locations of kisspeptin signaling through NPFFRs but note that only limited tools are presently available for examining kisspeptin cross-signaling within the RFamide family of neuropeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhuai Liu
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Medical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Allan E Herbison
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Physiology, University of Otago School of Medical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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22
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A synthetic kisspeptin analog that triggers ovulation and advances puberty. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26908. [PMID: 27245315 PMCID: PMC4887910 DOI: 10.1038/srep26908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide kisspeptin and its receptor, KiSS1R, govern the reproductive timeline of mammals by triggering puberty onset and promoting ovulation by stimulating gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. To overcome the drawback of kisspeptin short half-life we designed kisspeptin analogs combining original modifications, triazole peptidomimetic and albumin binding motif, to reduce proteolytic degradation and to slow down renal clearance, respectively. These analogs showed improved in vitro potency and dramatically enhanced pharmacodynamics. When injected intramuscularly into ewes (15 nmol/ewe) primed with a progestogen, the best analog (compound 6, C6) induced synchronized ovulations in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Ovulations were fertile as demonstrated by the delivery of lambs at term. C6 was also fully active in both female and male mice but was completely inactive in KiSS1R KO mice. Electrophysiological recordings of GnRH neurons from brain slices of GnRH-GFP mice indicated that C6 exerted a direct excitatory action on GnRH neurons. Finally, in prepubertal female mice daily injections (0.3 nmol/mouse) for five days significantly advanced puberty. C6 ability to trigger ovulation and advance puberty demonstrates that kisspeptin analogs may find application in the management of livestock reproduction and opens new possibilities for the treatment of reproductive disorders in humans.
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Min L, Leon S, Li H, Pinilla L, Carroll RS, Tena-Sempere M, Kaiser UB. RF9 Acts as a KISS1R Agonist In Vivo and In Vitro. Endocrinology 2015; 156:4639-48. [PMID: 26418326 PMCID: PMC4655216 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RF9, a reported antagonist of the mammalian gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone receptor, stimulates gonadotropin secretion in mammals. Recent studies have suggested that the stimulatory effect of RF9 on gonadotropin secretion relies on intact kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R) signaling, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Using Chinese Hamster Ovary cells stably transfected with KISS1R, we show that RF9 binds specifically to KISS1R, with a Kd of 1.6 × 10(-5)M, and stimulates an increase in intracellular calcium and inositol phosphate accumulation in a KISS1R-dependent manner, with EC50 values of 3.0 × 10(-6)M and 1.6 × 10(-7)M, respectively. RF9 also stimulated ERK phosphorylation, with a time course similar to that of kisspeptin-10. RFRP-3, the putative endogenous ligand for NPFFR1, did not stimulate inositol phosphate accumulation or pERK, nor did it alter responses to of kisspeptin-10 or RF9. In agreement with these in vitro data, we found that RF9 stimulated a robust LH increase in Npffr1(-/-) mice, similar to that in wild-type littermates, whereas the stimulatory effect of RF9 was markedly reduced in Kiss1r(-/-) and double Kiss1r(-/-)/Npfrr1(-/-) mice. The stimulatory effect of RF9 on LH secretion was restored by the selective rescue of Kiss1r expression in GnRH neurons, in Kiss1r(-/-T) mice. Taken together, our study demonstrates that RF9 acts primarily as a KISS1R agonist, but not as an allosteric modulator, to stimulate LH secretion. Our findings raise questions regarding the utility of RF9 for assessing NPFF1R function and de-emphasize a predominant role of this signaling system in central regulation of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Min
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension (L.M., H.L., R.S.C., U.B.K.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology (S.L., L.P., M.T.-S.), University of Córdoba; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, 14004 Spain; and FiDiPro Program, Department of Physiology (M.T.-S.), University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Silvia Leon
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension (L.M., H.L., R.S.C., U.B.K.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology (S.L., L.P., M.T.-S.), University of Córdoba; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, 14004 Spain; and FiDiPro Program, Department of Physiology (M.T.-S.), University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Huan Li
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension (L.M., H.L., R.S.C., U.B.K.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology (S.L., L.P., M.T.-S.), University of Córdoba; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, 14004 Spain; and FiDiPro Program, Department of Physiology (M.T.-S.), University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Leonor Pinilla
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension (L.M., H.L., R.S.C., U.B.K.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology (S.L., L.P., M.T.-S.), University of Córdoba; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, 14004 Spain; and FiDiPro Program, Department of Physiology (M.T.-S.), University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Rona S Carroll
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension (L.M., H.L., R.S.C., U.B.K.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology (S.L., L.P., M.T.-S.), University of Córdoba; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, 14004 Spain; and FiDiPro Program, Department of Physiology (M.T.-S.), University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Manuel Tena-Sempere
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension (L.M., H.L., R.S.C., U.B.K.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology (S.L., L.P., M.T.-S.), University of Córdoba; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, 14004 Spain; and FiDiPro Program, Department of Physiology (M.T.-S.), University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Ursula B Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension (L.M., H.L., R.S.C., U.B.K.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology (S.L., L.P., M.T.-S.), University of Córdoba; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, 14004 Spain; and FiDiPro Program, Department of Physiology (M.T.-S.), University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
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Hussain MA, Song WJ, Wolfe A. There is Kisspeptin - And Then There is Kisspeptin. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2015; 26:564-572. [PMID: 26412157 PMCID: PMC4587393 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
While kisspeptin was initially found to function as a metastasis suppressor, after identification of its receptor KISS1R and their expression profiles in tissues such as the hypothalamus and adrenals, kisspeptin and KISS1R were predominantly assigned endocrine functions, including regulating puberty and fertility through their actions on hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone production. More recently, an alter ego for kisspeptin has emerged, with a significant role in regulating glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, as well as food intake and body composition, and deficient kisspeptin signaling results in reduced locomotor activity and increased adiposity. This review highlights these recent observations on the role of kisspeptin in metabolism as well as several key questions that need to be addressed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehboob A Hussain
- Divisions of Metabolism and Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biological Chemistry and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Woo-Jin Song
- Divisions of Metabolism and Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biological Chemistry and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew Wolfe
- Divisions of Metabolism and Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biological Chemistry and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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