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Leng RI, Leng G. A career in numbers: A citation network analysis of the work of RP Millar and his contribution to GnRH research. J Neuroendocrinol 2024:e13430. [PMID: 39004427 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Here, we reflect on the long career in neuroendocrinology of a single, highly productive scientist ('Bob' Millar), by analysing his oeuvre of published papers through the lens of citation metrics. We use citation network analysis in a novel manner to identify the specific topics to which his papers have made a particular contribution, allowing us to compare the citations of his papers with those of contemporary papers on the same topic, rather than on the same broad field as generally used to normalise citations. It appears that citation rates are highest for topics on which Bob has published a relatively large number of papers that have become core to a tightly-knit community of authors that cite each other. This analysis shows that an author's impact depends on the existence of a receptive community that is alert to the potential utility of papers from that author, and which uses, amplifies, extends and qualifies the contents of their papers-activities that entail reciprocal citation between authors. The obvious conclusion is that a scientist's impact depends on the use that his or her contemporaries make of his or her contributions, rather than on the contributions in themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhodri I Leng
- School of Social Science and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gareth Leng
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Yilmaz N, Yildiz A. Intracerebroventricular PROK2 infusion could increase the secretion of male reproductive hormones by stimulating the HPG axis. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:656. [PMID: 38740671 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09604-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prokineticin 2 (PROK2), an important neuropeptide that plays a key role in the neuronal migration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus, is known to have regulatory effects on the gonads. In the present study, the impact of intracerebroventricular (icv) PROK2 infusion on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) hormones, testicular tissues, and sperm concentration was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS Rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham, PROK2 1.5 and PROK2 4.5. Rats in the PROK2 1.5 and PROK2 4.5 groups were administered 1.5 nmol and 4.5 nmol PROK2 intracerebroventricularly for 7 days via an osmotic mini pump (1 µl/h), respectively. Rat blood serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone hormone levels were determined with the ELISA method in the blood samples after 7 days of infusion. GnRH mRNA expression was determined with the RT-PCR in hypothalamus tissues. analyze Sperm concentration was determined, and testicular tissue was examined histologically with the hematoxylin-eosin staining method. It was observed that GnRH mRNA expression increased in both PROK2 infusion groups. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone hormone levels also increased in these groups. Although sperm concentration increased in PROK2 infusion groups when compared to the control and sham, the differences were not statistically significant. Testicular tissue seminiferous epithelial thickness was higher in the PROK2 groups when compared to the control and sham groups. CONCLUSION The present study findings demonstrated that icv PROK2 infusion induced the HPG axis. It could be suggested that PROK2 could be a potential agent in the treatment of male infertility induced by endocrinological defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesibe Yilmaz
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey.
| | - Azibe Yildiz
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
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Kardelen AD, Najaflı A, Baş F, Karaman B, Toksoy G, Poyrazoğlu Ş, Avcı Ş, Altunoğlu U, Yavaş Abalı Z, Öztürk AP, Karakılıç Özturan E, Başaran S, Darendeliler F, Uyguner ZO. PROKR2 Mutations in Patients with Short Stature Who Have Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency and Multiple Pituitary Hormone Deficiency. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol 2023; 15:338-347. [PMID: 37338295 PMCID: PMC10683534 DOI: 10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2023.2023-4-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Recent reports have indicated the role of the prokineticin receptor 2 gene (PROKR2) in the etiology of pituitary hormone deficiencies, suggesting a potential role for the PROK2 pathway in pituitary development, in addition to its role in gonadotropin releasing hormone-expressing neuron development. Here, we present the clinical and molecular findings of four patients with PROKR2 mutations. Methods Next-generation targeted sequencing was used to screen 25 genes in 59 unrelated patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD), isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency, or idiopathic short stature. Results Two different, very rare PROKR2 missense alterations classified as pathogenic (NM_144773.4:c.518T>G; NP_658986.1:p. (Leu173Arg)) and likely pathogenic (NM_144773.4:c.254G>A; NP_658986.1:p.(Arg85His)) were identified in four patients in heterozygous form. Patient 1 and Patient 2 presented with short stature and were diagnosed as GH deficiency. Patient 3 and Patient 4 presented with central hypothyroidism and cryptorchidism and were diagnosed as MPHD. No other pathogenic alterations were detected in the remaining 24 genes related to short stature, MPHD, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Segregation analysis revealed asymptomatic or mildly affected carriers in the families. Conclusion PROKR2 dominance should be kept in mind as a very rare cause of GH deficiency and MPHD. Expressional variation or lack of penetrance may imply oligogenic inheritance or other environmental modifiers in individuals who are heterozygous carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslı Derya Kardelen
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Adam Najaflı
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Firdevs Baş
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Birsen Karaman
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
- İstanbul University, Institute of Child Health, Department of Pediatric Basic Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Güven Toksoy
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Şükran Poyrazoğlu
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Şahin Avcı
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
- Koç University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Umut Altunoğlu
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
- Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Zehra Yavaş Abalı
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
- Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayşe Pınar Öztürk
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Esin Karakılıç Özturan
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Seher Başaran
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Feyza Darendeliler
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Z. Oya Uyguner
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
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Vincenzi M, Kremić A, Jouve A, Lattanzi R, Miele R, Benharouga M, Alfaidy N, Migrenne-Li S, Kanthasamy AG, Porcionatto M, Ferrara N, Tetko IV, Désaubry L, Nebigil CG. Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Prokineticin Receptors in Diseases. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:1167-1199. [PMID: 37684054 PMCID: PMC10595023 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The prokineticins (PKs) were discovered approximately 20 years ago as small peptides inducing gut contractility. Today, they are established as angiogenic, anorectic, and proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, hormones, and neuropeptides involved in variety of physiologic and pathophysiological pathways. Their altered expression or mutations implicated in several diseases make them a potential biomarker. Their G-protein coupled receptors, PKR1 and PKR2, have divergent roles that can be therapeutic target for treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neural diseases as well as pain and cancer. This article reviews and summarizes our current knowledge of PK family functions from development of heart and brain to regulation of homeostasis in health and diseases. Finally, the review summarizes the established roles of the endogenous peptides, synthetic peptides and the selective ligands of PKR1 and PKR2, and nonpeptide orthostatic and allosteric modulator of the receptors in preclinical disease models. The present review emphasizes the ambiguous aspects and gaps in our knowledge of functions of PKR ligands and elucidates future perspectives for PK research. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review provides an in-depth view of the prokineticin family and PK receptors that can be active without their endogenous ligand and exhibits "constitutive" activity in diseases. Their non- peptide ligands display promising effects in several preclinical disease models. PKs can be the diagnostic biomarker of several diseases. A thorough understanding of the role of prokineticin family and their receptor types in health and diseases is critical to develop novel therapeutic strategies with safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Vincenzi
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Amin Kremić
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Appoline Jouve
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Roberta Lattanzi
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Rossella Miele
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Mohamed Benharouga
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Nadia Alfaidy
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Stephanie Migrenne-Li
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Anumantha G Kanthasamy
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Marimelia Porcionatto
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Napoleone Ferrara
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Igor V Tetko
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Laurent Désaubry
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
| | - Canan G Nebigil
- Regenerative Nanomedicine (UMR 1260), INSERM, University of Strasbourg, Center of Research in Biomedicine of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (M.V., A.K., A.J., L.D., C.G.N.); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (M.V., R.L.), and Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli" (R.M.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France (M.B., N.A.); Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France (S.M.); Department of Physiology and Pharamacology, Center for Neurologic Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (A.G.K.); Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.A.P.); Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California (N.F.); and Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany (I.V.T.); and BIGCHEM GmbH, Valerystr. 49, Unterschleissheim, Germany (I.V.T.)
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Hu S, Jing Y, Li T, Wang YG, Liu Z, Gao J, Tian YC. Inferring circadian gene regulatory relationships from gene expression data with a hybrid framework. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:362. [PMID: 37752445 PMCID: PMC10521455 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05458-y] [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: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The central biological clock governs numerous facets of mammalian physiology, including sleep, metabolism, and immune system regulation. Understanding gene regulatory relationships is crucial for unravelling the mechanisms that underlie various cellular biological processes. While it is possible to infer circadian gene regulatory relationships from time-series gene expression data, relying solely on correlation-based inference may not provide sufficient information about causation. Moreover, gene expression data often have high dimensions but a limited number of observations, posing challenges in their analysis. METHODS In this paper, we introduce a new hybrid framework, referred to as Circadian Gene Regulatory Framework (CGRF), to infer circadian gene regulatory relationships from gene expression data of rats. The framework addresses the challenges of high-dimensional data by combining the fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm with dynamic time warping distance. Through this approach, we efficiently identify the clusters of genes related to the target gene. To determine the significance of genes within a specific cluster, we employ the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Subsequently, we use a dynamic vector autoregressive method to analyze the selected significant gene expression profiles and reveal directed causal regulatory relationships based on partial correlation. CONCLUSION The proposed CGRF framework offers a comprehensive and efficient solution for understanding circadian gene regulation. Circadian gene regulatory relationships are inferred from the gene expression data of rats based on the Aanat target gene. The results show that genes Pde10a, Atp7b, Prok2, Per1, Rhobtb3 and Dclk1 stand out, which have been known to be essential for the regulation of circadian activity. The potential relationships between genes Tspan15, Eprs, Eml5 and Fsbp with a circadian rhythm need further experimental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuwen Hu
- School of Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Yi Jing
- Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Tao Li
- School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - You-Gan Wang
- Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- School of Computer and Information Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Jing Gao
- School of Computer and Information Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Hohhot, 010018, China.
| | - Yu-Chu Tian
- School of Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
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6
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Cisneros-Larios B, Elias CF. Sex differences in the coexpression of prokineticin receptor 2 and gonadal steroids receptors in mice. Front Neuroanat 2023; 16:1057727. [PMID: 36686573 PMCID: PMC9853983 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.1057727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in prokineticin 2 (PROK2) and the cognate receptor prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2) genes have been implicated in reproductive deficits characteristic of Kallmann Syndrome (KS). Knock out of Prokr2 gene produces the KS-like phenotype in mice resulting in impaired migration of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, olfactory bulb dysgenesis, and infertility. Beyond a developmental role, pharmacological and genetic studies have implicated PROKR2 in the control of the estrous cycle in mice. However, PROKR2 is expressed in several reproductive control sites but the brain nuclei associated with reproductive control in adult mice have not been defined. We set out to determine if ProkR2 neurons in both male and female mouse brains directly sense changes in the gonadal steroids milieu. We focused on estrogen receptor α (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR) due to their well-described function in reproductive control via actions in the brain. We found that the ProkR2-Cre neurons in the posterior nucleus of the amygdala have the highest colocalization with ERα and AR in a sex-specific manner. Few colocalization was found in the lateral septum and in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and virtually no colocalization was observed in the medial amygdala. Our findings indicate that the posterior nucleus of the amygdala is the main site where PROKR2 neurons may regulate aspects of the reproductive function and social behavior in adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Cisneros-Larios
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Elizabeth W. Caswell Diabetes Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Carol Fuzeti Elias
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Elizabeth W. Caswell Diabetes Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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7
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Suzuki E, Miyado M, Kuroki Y, Fukami M. Genetic variants of G-protein coupled receptors associated with pubertal disorders. Reprod Med Biol 2023; 22:e12515. [PMID: 37122876 PMCID: PMC10134480 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The human hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is the regulatory center for pubertal development. This axis involves six G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) encoded by KISS1R, TACR3, PROKR2, GNRHR, LHCGR, and FSHR. Methods Previous studies have identified several rare variants of the six GPCR genes in patients with pubertal disorders. In vitro assays and animal studies have provided information on the function of wild-type and variant GPCRs. Main Findings Of the six GPCRs, those encoded by KISS1R and TACR3 are likely to reside at the top of the HPG axis. Several loss-of-function variants in the six genes were shown to cause late/absent puberty. In particular, variants in KISS1R, TACR3, PROKR2, and GNRHR lead to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in autosomal dominant, recessive, and oligogenic manners. Furthermore, a few gain-of-function variants of KISS1R, PROKR2, and LHCGR have been implicated in precocious puberty. The human HPG axis may contain additional GPCRs. Conclusion The six GPCRs in the HPG axis govern pubertal development through fine-tuning of hormone secretion. Rare sequence variants in these genes jointly account for a certain percentage of genetic causes of pubertal disorders. Still, much remains to be clarified about the molecular network involving the six GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erina Suzuki
- Department of Molecular EndocrinologyNational Research Institute for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
| | - Mami Miyado
- Department of Molecular EndocrinologyNational Research Institute for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
- Department of Food and NutritionBeppu UniversityOitaJapan
| | - Yoko Kuroki
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
- Division of Collaborative Research, National Center for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
- Division of Diversity ResearchNational Research Institute for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
| | - Maki Fukami
- Department of Molecular EndocrinologyNational Research Institute for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
- Division of Diversity ResearchNational Research Institute for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
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8
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Martinez-Mayer J, Perez-Millan MI. Phenotypic and genotypic landscape of PROKR2 in neuroendocrine disorders. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1132787. [PMID: 36843573 PMCID: PMC9945519 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1132787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2) encodes for a G-protein-coupled receptor that can bind PROK1 and PROK2. Mice lacking Prokr2 have been shown to present abnormal olfactory bulb formation as well as defects in GnRH neuron migration. Patients carrying mutations in PROKR2 typically present hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, anosmia/hyposmia or Kallmann Syndrome. More recently variants in PROKR2 have been linked to several other endocrine disorders. In particular, several patients with pituitary disorders have been reported, ranging from mild phenotypes, such as isolated growth hormone deficiency, to more severe ones, such as septo-optic dysplasia. Here we summarize the changing landscape of PROKR2-related disease, the variants reported to date, and discuss their origin, classification and functional assessment.
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9
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Winters SJ. Hypogonadism in Males With Genetic Neurodevelopmental Syndromes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e3974-e3989. [PMID: 35913018 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Genetic syndromes that affect the nervous system may also disrupt testicular function, and the mechanisms for these effects may be interrelated. Most often neurological signs and symptoms predominate and hypogonadism remains undetected and untreated, while in other cases, a thorough evaluation of a hypogonadal male reveals previously unrecognized ataxia, movement disorder, muscle weakness, tremor, or seizures, leading to a syndromic diagnosis. Androgen deficiency in patients with neurological diseases may aggravate muscle weakness and fatigue and predispose patients to osteoporosis and obesity. The purpose of this mini review is to provide a current understanding of the clinical, biochemical, histologic, and genetic features of syndromes in which male hypogonadism and neurological dysfunction may coexist and may be encountered by the clinical endocrinologist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Winters
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
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10
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Prokineticin 2/PROK2 and Male Infertility. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102389. [PMID: 36289651 PMCID: PMC9598863 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Male infertility represents about 50% of the causes of infertility in couples. The diagnosis process represents an important procedure for defining, when possible, the causes and approaching treatments (pharmacological, surgical) aimed at overcoming the problem. Several scientific studies have set out to discover early and indicative markers capable of providing information on the biological origin of infertility and increase current knowledge in the context of new potential therapeutic approaches. The prokineticin system (PROK) consists of the prokineticin 1 (PROK1) and prokineticin 2 (PROK2) proteins. Through the activation of two G-protein receptors (PROKR1 and PROKR2) regulate a wide range of biological functions, including gastrointestinal motility, circadian rhythm regulation, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, pain perception, and mood regulation. Several studies have highlighted the crucial role of the PROK system in the development and maturation of both male and female human reproductive organs. Particularly in men, the PROK system represents a new system useful to clarify some aspects of testicular pathophysiology and provide new potential hypotheses for therapeutic intervention. This narrative review aims to illustrate the state of the art regarding, in particular, the role of PROK2 in male infertility.
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11
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Sugisawa C, Taniyama M, Sato T, Takahashi Y, Hasegawa T, Narumi S. Biallelic PROKR2 variants and congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a case report and a literature review. Endocr J 2022; 69:831-838. [PMID: 35236788 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej21-0779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare disorder that causes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency and sexual immaturity. CHH may accompany an abnormal sense of smell (Kallmann syndrome, KS) or no such manifestation (normosmic-CHH). This unusual combination of manifestations is explained by the fact that GnRH neurons originate in the olfactory placode and migrate to the forebrain during embryogenesis. We describe the case of a 31-year-old man with normosmic-CHH, who also had obesity, type 2 diabetes and intellectual disability. He was noticed to have sexual immaturity (small testes with no pubic hair) at age 20 years, when diabetic ketoacidosis developed. Basal and GnRH-stimulated levels of LH (1.0→12.0 IU/L) and FSH (1.9→6.1 IU/L) were detectable but low. The results of the T&T olfactometer and the Alinamin test were definitely normal, with an anatomically normal olfactory system on MRI. Sequencing of 22 CHH-related genes was performed, and compound heterozygous PROKR2 variants were identified: one was a previously known loss-of-function variant (p.Trp178Ser) and the other was a nonsense variant (p.Trp212*). Through a literature review, we found 22 patients (including our patient) with CHH due to biallelic PROKR2 variants, which led us to recognize that most of the patients (86%) were diagnosed with KS. Clinical observations in this study indicate that, even though they have CHH, biallelic PROKR2 variant carriers may have a normal olfactory system as well as presumably normal migration of GnRH neurons. This suggests that the PROK2-PROKR2 pathway affects the function of GnRH neurons after their migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiho Sugisawa
- Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Kanagawa 227-8501, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Matsuo Taniyama
- Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Kanagawa 227-8501, Japan
- Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan
| | - Takeshi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yasuyoshi Takahashi
- Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan
| | - Tomonobu Hasegawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Satoshi Narumi
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
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12
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Yang Y, Qiao X, Song X, Zhang D, Yu S, Dong M, Liu X, Wang L, Song L. CgATP synthase β subunit involved in the regulation of haemocytes proliferation as a CgAstakine receptor in Crassostrea gigas. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 123:85-93. [PMID: 35245670 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.02.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Astakine is considered as an endogenous cytokine-like factor of prokineticin homologue in invertebrate. Recently, an astakine homologue (CgAstakine) has been identified and characterized in oyster Crassostrea gigas. In the present study, a CgATP synthase β subunit was identified as the receptor of CgAstakine in C. gigas. There was an ATP-synt_ab_N domain and an AAA domain in the CgATP synthase β subunit protein. The mRNA transcripts of CgATP synthase β subunit were detected in all tested tissues, with the highest expression level in hepatopancreas and gills, which was 109.11-fold (p < 0.01) and 97.21-fold (p < 0.01) of that in labial palps, respectively. After rCgAstakine stimulation, the mRNA transcripts of CgATP synthase β subunit in agranulocytes and semi-granulocytes were significantly increased at 24 h (2.44-fold, and 9.01-fold of that in control group, p < 0.01), and those in granulocytes were significantly increased at 6 h (1.83-fold, p < 0.01), 12 h (1.92-fold, p < 0.01) and 24 h (3.47-fold, p < 0.01). The expression level of CgATP synthase β subunit protein in agranulocytes and granulocytes was also significantly increased after rCgAstakine stimulation, which was 1.64-fold (p < 0.05) and 1.85-fold (p < 0.05) of that in control group, respectively, while there were no significant changes in semi-granulocytes. The immunofluorescence assay showed that CgATP synthase β subunit positive signals were mainly located on the membrane of haemocytes. The number of haemocytes with EdU positive signals was significantly increased after rCgAstakine stimulation (2.04-fold of seawater group, p < 0.01), while significantly decreased after the RNA interference (RNAi) of CgATP synthase β subunit, which was 0.28-fold of that in NC group (p < 0.01). Bio-layer interferometry (BLI) assay confirmed in vitro interaction between rCgAstakine and rCgATP synthase β subunit. There results suggested that CgATP synthase β subunit acts as the receptor of CgAstakine and plays important roles in CgAstakine induced renewal of haemocytes in C. gigas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xue Qiao
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Functional Laboratory of Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Xiaorui Song
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Simiao Yu
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Miren Dong
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xiyang Liu
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Functional Laboratory of Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Linsheng Song
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, 519000, China; Functional Laboratory of Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
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13
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Trafficking-defective mutant PROKR2 cycles between endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi to attenuate endoplasmic reticulum stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2102248119. [PMID: 35173048 PMCID: PMC8872787 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102248119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) possesses a quality control system that prevents misfolded proteins from leaving the ER for routing to the ER-associated degradation pathway. Some misfolded proteins can escape the ER to reach the Golgi, where they are then retrieved from the Golgi back to the ER for degradation, but why this occurs needs to be clarified. Studying a mutant prokineticin receptor 2 identified in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a model, we find that the post-ER retrieval system provides another layer of quality control and also lowers the load of misfolded proteins in the ER to reduce ER stress. Our findings reveal the importance of a post-ER quality control mechanism in contributing to cellular homeostasis. G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) play crucial roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Mutations in GPCRs that result in loss of function or alterations in signaling can lead to inherited or acquired diseases. Herein, studying prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2), we initially identify distinct interactomes for wild-type (WT) versus a mutant (P290S) PROKR2 that causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. We then find that both the WT and mutant PROKR2 are targeted for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation, but the mutant is degraded to a greater extent. Further analysis revealed that both forms can also leave the ER to reach the Golgi. However, whereas most of the WT is further transported to the cell surface, most of the mutant is retrieved to the ER. Thus, the post-ER itinerary plays an important role in distinguishing the ultimate fate of the WT versus the mutant. We have further discovered that this post-ER itinerary reduces ER stress induced by the mutant PROKR2. Moreover, we extend the core findings to another model GPCR. Our findings advance the understanding of disease pathogenesis induced by a mutation at a key residue that is conserved across many GPCRs and thus contributes to a fundamental understanding of the diverse mechanisms used by cellular quality control to accommodate misfolded proteins.
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14
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Tajima T. Genetic causes of central precocious puberty. Clin Pediatr Endocrinol 2022; 31:101-109. [PMID: 35928377 PMCID: PMC9297165 DOI: 10.1297/cpe.2022-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a condition in which the
hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal system is activated earlier than the normal developmental
stage. The etiology includes organic lesions in the brain; however, in the case of
idiopathic diseases, environmental and/or genetic factors are involved in the development
of CPP. A genetic abnormality in KISS1R, that encodes the kisspeptin
receptor, was first reported in 2008 as a cause of idiopathic CPP. Furthermore, genetic
alterations in KISS1, MKRN3, DLK1, and
PROKR2 have been reported in idiopathic and/or familial CPP. Of these,
MKRN3 has the highest frequency of pathological variants associated
with CPP worldwide; but, abnormalities in MKRN3 are rare in patients in
East Asia, including Japan. MKRN3 and DLK1 are maternal
imprinting genes; thus, CPP develops when a pathological variant is inherited from the
father. The mechanism of CPP due to defects in MKRN3 and
DLK1 has not been completely clarified, but it is suggested that both
may negatively control the progression of puberty. CPP due to such a single gene
abnormality is extremely rare, but it is important to understand the mechanisms of puberty
and reproduction. A further development in the genetics of CPP is expected in the
future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Tajima
- Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University Tochigi Children’ Medical Center, Tochigi, Japan
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15
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Abstract
Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is a group of rare developmental disorders characterized by low gonadotropin levels in the face of low sex steroid hormone concentrations. IHH is practically divided into two major groups according to the olfactory function: normal sense of smell (normosmia) nIHH, and reduced sense of smell (hyposmia/anosmia) Kallmann syndrome (KS). Although mutations in more than 50 genes have been associated with IHH so far, only half of those cases were explained by gene mutations. Various combinations of deleterious variants in different genes as causes of IHH have been increasingly recognized (Oligogenic etiology). In addition to the complexity of inheritance patterns, the spontaneous or sex steroid-induced clinical recovery from IHH, which is seen in approximately 10–20% of cases, blurs further the phenotype/genotype relationship in IHH, and poses challenging steps in new IHH gene discovery. Beyond helping for clinical diagnostics, identification of the genetic mutations in the pathophysiology of IHH is hoped to shed light on the central governance of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis through life stages. This review aims to summarize the genetic etiology of IHH and discuss the clinical and physiological ramifications of the gene mutations.
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Fiore M, Tarani L, Radicioni A, Spaziani M, Ferraguti G, Putotto C, Gabanella F, Maftei D, Lattanzi R, Minni A, Greco A, Tarani F, Petrella C. Serum Prokineticin-2 in Prepubertal and Adult Klinefelter Individuals. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 100:151-157. [PMID: 34614364 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2021-0457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The prokineticin-2 (PROK2) is a small peptide belonging to the prokineticin family. In humans and rodents this chemokine is primarily involved in the control of central and peripheral reproductive processes. Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) is the first cause of male genetic infertility, due to an extra X chromosome, which may occur with a classical karyotype (47, XXY) or mosaic forms (46, XY/47, XXY). In affected subjects, pubertal maturation usually begins at an adequate chronological age, but when development is almost complete, they display a primary gonadal failure, with early spermatogenesis damage, and later onset of testosterone insufficiency. Thus, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the serum levels of PROK2 in prepubertal and adult KS patients, comparing them with healthy subjects. We showed for the first time the presence of PROK2 in the children serum but with significant changes in KS individuals. Indeed, compared to healthy subjects characterized by PROK2 serum elevation during the growth, KS individuals showed constant serum levels during the sexual maturation phase (higher during the prepubertal phase but lower during the adult age). In conclusion, these data indicate that in KS individuals PROK2 may be considered a biomarker for investigating the SK infertility process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fiore
- IBCN-CNR, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Roma, Italy;
| | - Luigi Tarani
- "Sapienza" University of Rome, Department of Pediatrics, Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonio Radicioni
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Experimental Medicine, Rome, Italy;
| | - Matteo Spaziani
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Experimental Medicine, Rome, Italy;
| | - Giampiero Ferraguti
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Rome, Italy;
| | - Carolina Putotto
- "Sapienza" University of Rome, Department of Pediatrics, rome, Italy;
| | - Francesca Gabanella
- IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM-CNR), Rome, Italy;
| | - Daniela Maftei
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Rome, Italy;
| | - Roberta Lattanzi
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonio Minni
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Sense Organs, Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonio Greco
- University of Rome La Sapienza, 9311, Rome, Lazio, Italy;
| | - Francesca Tarani
- "Sapienza" University of Rome, Department of Pediatrics, rome, Italy;
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17
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Mkaouar R, Abdallah LCB, Naouali C, Lahbib S, Turki Z, Elouej S, Bouyacoub Y, Somai M, Mcelreavey K, Bashamboo A, Abdelhak S, Messaoud O. Oligogenic Inheritance Underlying Incomplete Penetrance of PROKR2 Mutations in Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism. Front Genet 2021; 12:665174. [PMID: 34539727 PMCID: PMC8446458 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.665174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the prokineticin 2 pathway in human reproduction, olfactory bulb morphogenesis, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion is well established. Recent studies have highlighted the implication of di/oligogenic inheritance in this disorder. In the present study, we aimed to identify the genetic mechanisms that could explain incomplete penetrance in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). This study involved two unrelated Tunisian patients with HH, which was triggered by identifying a homozygous p.(Pro290Ser) mutation in the PROKR2 gene in a girl (HH1) with Kallmann syndrome (KS). The functional effect of this variant has previously been well demonstrated. Unexpectedly, her unaffected father (HH1P) and brother (HH1F) also carried this genetic variation at a homozygous state. In the second family, we identified a heterozygous p.(Lys205del) mutation in PROKR2, both in a male patient with normosmic idiopathic IHH (HH12) and his asymptomatic mother. Whole-exome sequencing in the three HH1 family members allowed the identification of additional variants in the prioritized genes. We then carried out digenic combination predictions using the oligogenic resource for variant analysis (ORVAL) software. For HH1, we found the highest number of disease-causing variant pairs. Notably, a CCDC141 variant (c.2803C > T) was involved in 18 pathogenic digenic combinations. The CCDC141 variant acts in an autosomal recessive inheritance mode, based on the digenic effect prediction data. For the second patient (HH12), prediction by ORVAL allowed the identification of an interesting pathogenic digenic combination between DUSP6 and SEMA7A genes, predicted as “dual molecular diagnosis.” The SEMA7A variant p.(Glu436Lys) is novel and predicted as a VUS by Varsome. Sanger validation revealed the absence of this variant in the healthy mother. We hypothesize that disease expression in HH12 could be induced by the digenic transmission of the SEMA7A and DUSP6 variants or a monogenic inheritance involving only the SEMA7A VUS if further functional assays allow its reclassification into pathogenic. Our findings confirm that homozygous loss-of-function genetic variations are insufficient to cause KS, and that oligogenism is most likely the main transmission mode involved in Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahma Mkaouar
- Laboratoire de Génomique Biomédicale et Oncogénétique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculté des Sciences Mathématiques, Physiques et Naturelles de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Chokri Naouali
- Laboratoire de Génomique Biomédicale et Oncogénétique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Saida Lahbib
- Laboratoire de Génomique Biomédicale et Oncogénétique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Zinet Turki
- Département d'Endocrinologie et de Technologie Alimentaire, Institut de Nutrition, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sahar Elouej
- Laboratoire de Génomique Biomédicale et Oncogénétique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Yosra Bouyacoub
- Laboratoire de Génomique Biomédicale et Oncogénétique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Maali Somai
- Département d'Endocrinologie et de Technologie Alimentaire, Institut de Nutrition, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Anu Bashamboo
- Génétique du Développement Humain, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Sonia Abdelhak
- Laboratoire de Génomique Biomédicale et Oncogénétique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Olfa Messaoud
- Laboratoire de Génomique Biomédicale et Oncogénétique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
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18
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Louden ED, Poch A, Kim HG, Ben-Mahmoud A, Kim SH, Layman LC. Genetics of hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism-Human and mouse genes, inheritance, oligogenicity, and genetic counseling. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 534:111334. [PMID: 34062169 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, which may be normosmic (nHH) or anosmic/hyposmic, known as Kallmann syndrome (KS), is due to gonadotropin-releasing hormone deficiency, which results in absent puberty and infertility. Investigation of the genetic basis of nHH/KS over the past 35 years has yielded a substantial increase in our understanding, as variants in 44 genes in OMIM account for ~50% of cases. The first genes for KS (ANOS1) and nHH (GNRHR) were followed by the discovery that FGFR1 variants may cause either nHH or KS. Associated anomalies include midline facial defects, neurologic deficits, cardiac anomalies, and renal agenesis, among others. Mouse models for all but one gene (ANOS1) generally support findings in humans. About half of the known genes implicated in nHH/KS are inherited as autosomal dominant and half are autosomal recessive, whereas only 7% are X-linked recessive. Digenic and oligogenic inheritance has been reported in 2-20% of patients, most commonly with variants in genes that may result in either nHH or KS inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. In vitro analyses have only been conducted for both gene variants in eight cases and for one gene variant in 20 cases. Rigorous confirmation that two gene variants in the same individual cause the nHH/KS phenotype is lacking for most. Clinical diagnosis is probably best accomplished by targeted next generation sequencing of the known candidate genes with confirmation by Sanger sequencing. Elucidation of the genetic basis of nHH/KS has resulted in an enhanced understanding of this disorder, as well as normal puberty, which makes genetic diagnosis clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica D Louden
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, & Genetics, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Alexandra Poch
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, & Genetics, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Hyung-Goo Kim
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Afif Ben-Mahmoud
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Soo-Hyun Kim
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Lawrence C Layman
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, & Genetics, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
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19
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Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Spermatogenesis in CHH Patients Caused by PROKR2 and FGFR1 Mutations. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:3219-3227. [PMID: 33983622 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00609-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the effect of gonadotropin or pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) therapy on spermatogenesis in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) patients with PROKR2 (prokineticin receptor 2) or FGFR1 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 1) mutations. Clinical features, gonadotropin levels, testicular volume (TV), and sperm concentration in response to gonadotropin and pulsatile GnRH therapy were compared between groups with PROKR2 and FGFR1 mutations. Twelve patients with PROKR2 gene mutation and fourteen patients with FGFR1 gene mutation were included. The incidence of cryptorchidism in PROKR2 and FGFR1 groups was 16.7% and 50%, respectively (p = 0.110). The baseline TV in the PROKR2 group was larger than that in FGFR1 group (2.0 vs. 1.63, p = 0.047). The initial LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were similar between the two groups. Based on the analysis of achieving spermatogenesis using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests, the PROKR2 group demonstrated shorter period of seminal spermatozoa appearance than the FGFR1 group (χ2 = 8.297, p = 0.004); the median duration of achieving spermatogenesis in the PROKR2 and FGFR1 groups was 9 and 16 months, respectively. The PROKR2 mutation group exhibited shorter required time to achieve different sperm concentration thresholds (5, 10, and 15 million/mL) than the FGFR1 mutation group (p = 0.012, 0.024, and 0.040). In conclusion, the PROKR2 group achieved spermatogenesis easily than the FGFR1 group, possibly due to the lower prevalence of cryptorchidism and larger baseline testicular volume in the PROKR2 group.
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20
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Aiello F, Cirillo G, Cassio A, Di Mase R, Tornese G, Umano GR, Miraglia Del Giudice E, Grandone A. Molecular screening of PROKR2 gene in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty. Ital J Pediatr 2021; 47:5. [PMID: 33413516 PMCID: PMC7792053 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-020-00951-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2) loss of function mutations have been described as cause of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In 2017, a first case of central precocious puberty (CPP) caused by PROKR2 heterozygous gain of function mutation was described in a 3.5 years-old girl. No other cases have been reported yet. This study performs a molecular screening in girls with early onset CPP (breast budding before 6 years of age) to identify possible alterations in PROKR2. Methods We analysed DNA of 31 girls with idiopathic CPP diagnosed via basal LH levels > 0.3 IU/L or peak-LH > 5 IU/L after stimulation, without any MKRN3 mutations. The Fisher exact test was used to compare polymorphism allele frequency to corresponding ones in genome aggregation database (gnomAD). Results No rare variants were identified. Five polymorphisms were found (rs6076809, rs8116897, rS3746684, rs3746682, rs3746683). All except one (i.e. rs3746682) had a minor allele frequency (MAF) similar to that reported in literature. rs3746682 presented a MAF higher than that described in the gnomAD (0.84 in our cohort vs 0.25 from gnomAD). Conclusions As for other G protein-coupled receptors (i.e. GPR54), mutations in PROKR2 do not seem to be a frequent cause of CPP in girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Aiello
- Department of Child, Woman, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Grazia Cirillo
- Department of Child, Woman, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Raffaella Di Mase
- Pediatric Section-Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Tornese
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppina R Umano
- Department of Child, Woman, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Anna Grandone
- Department of Child, Woman, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
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21
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Babwah AV. The wonderful and masterful G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR): A focus on signaling mechanisms and the neuroendocrine control of fertility. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 515:110886. [PMID: 32574585 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Human GnRH deficiency, both clinically and genetically, is a heterogeneous disorder comprising of congenital GnRH deficiency with anosmia (Kallmann syndrome), or with normal olfaction [normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH)], and adult-onset hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying GnRH secretion and GnRH signaling continues to increase at a rapid rate and strikingly, the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors (GPCRs) continue to emerge as essential players in these processes. GPCRs were once viewed as binary on-off switches, where in the "on" state they are bound to their Gα protein, but now we understand that view is overly simplistic and does not adequately characterize GPCRs. Instead, GPCRs have emerged as masterful signaling molecules exploiting different physical conformational states of itself to elicit an array of downstream signaling events via their G proteins and the β-arrestins. The "one receptor-multiple signaling conformations" model is likely an evolved strategy that can be used to our advantage as researchers have shown that targeting specific receptor conformations via biased ligands is proving to be a powerful tool in the effective treatment of human diseases. Can biased ligands be used to selectively modulate signaling by GPCR regulators of the neuroendocrine axis in the treatment of IHH? As discussed in this review, the grand possibility exists. However, while we are still very far from developing these treatments, this exciting likelihood can happen through a much greater mechanistic understanding of how GPCRs signal within the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy V Babwah
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory of Human Growth and Reproductive Development, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States; Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.
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22
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Methane Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Orchitis by Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidative, and Antiapoptotic Effects via Regulation of the PK2/PKR1 Pathway. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:7075836. [PMID: 32922653 PMCID: PMC7453259 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7075836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective The present study is aimed at investigating the anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic effects of methane on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute orchitis and its potential mechanisms. Methods Adult male rats were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with methane-rich saline (MS, 20 mL/kg) following LPS (5 mg/kg, i.p.). The survival rate was assessed every 12 h until 72 h after LPS induction, and surviving rats were sacrificed for further detection. The wet/dry (W/D) ratio was determined, and testicular damage was histologically assessed. Inflammatory cytokines in the testes and serum, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were measured using ELISA and RT-qPCR. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Testicular apoptosis was detected via TUNEL staining. The expression of prokineticin 2 (PK2)/prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1) was also analyzed using RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Results It was found that methane significantly prolonged rat survival, decreased the W/D ratio, alleviated LPS-induced histological changes, and reduced apoptotic cells in the testes. Additionally, methane suppressed and promoted the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, respectively. Furthermore, methane significantly increased SOD levels, decreased MDA levels, and decreased testicular expression of PK2 and PKR1. Therefore, methane exerts therapeutic effects on acute orchitis and might be a new and convenient strategy for the treatment of inflammation-related testicular diseases.
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23
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Yang Z, Wang M, Zhang Y, Cai F, Jiang B, Zha W, Yu W. Metformin Ameliorates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Activating the PK2/PKR Pathway. Front Physiol 2020; 11:425. [PMID: 32508669 PMCID: PMC7252307 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a complication of diabetes that can cause damage to myocardial structure and function. Metformin (Met) is a widely used type 2 diabetes treatment drug that exerts cardioprotective effects through multiple pathways. Prokineticin 2 (PK2) is a small-molecule secreted protein that plays pivotal parts in cardiomyocyte survival and angiogenesis. However, the role of Met in regulating the PK2 signaling pathway in DCM remains unclear. This experiment explored the effects of Met on high glucose (HG)-induced injury through the PK2/PKR pathway in vivo and in vitro. Cardiomyocytes isolated from adult or AKT-knockout mice were treated with HG (33 mmol/L) and PK2 or AKT1/2 kinase inhibitor (AKT inhibitor). Heart contraction properties based on cell shortening were evaluated; these properties included the resting cell length, peak shortening (PS), maximum speed of shortening/relengthening (±dL/dt), time to 90% relengthening (TR90), and time to peak shortening (TPS). Mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with Met to evaluate cardiac function, myocardial structure, and the PK2/PKR and AKT/GSK3β pathways. Moreover, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to HG in the absence or presence of Met with or without the PK2 antagonist PKRA7 or the AKT inhibitor, and apoptotic proteins such as Bax and Bcl-2 and the PK2/PKR and AKT/GSK3β pathways were evaluated using western blot analysis. The prolongation of TR90 and decreases in PS and ±dL/dt caused by HG were ameliorated by PK2 in cardiomyocytes, but the effects of PK2 were ameliorated or negated by the AKT inhibitor and in AKT-knockout mice. Diabetic mice showed metabolic abnormalities, aberrant myocardial enzyme levels, declines in myocardial systolic and diastolic function associated with myocardial fibrosis, and pronounced apoptosis, but these effects were greatly rescued by Met treatment. Moreover, PK2, PKR1, and PKR2 expression and p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β ratios were decreased in diabetic mice, and these decreases were attenuated by Met. Likewise, H9c2 cells exposed to HG showed reduced PK2/PKR expression and decreased p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β ratios, and these effects were nullified by Met. In addition, the effects of Met on cardiomyocytes exposed to HG were abolished after intervention with PKRA7 or the AKT inhibitor. These results suggest that Met can activate the PK2/PKR-mediated AKT/GSK3β pathway, thus improving cardiac function and alleviating apoptosis in DM mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Fei Cai
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory on Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular, and Metabolic Disorders, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Botao Jiang
- Department of Urology, Xianning Central Hospital, Xianning, China
| | - Wenliang Zha
- Department of Surgery, Clinic Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental General Medicine Education, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
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Ma X, Chi X, Yuan L, Wang Y, Li Z, Xu W, Rajput ZI, Hu S. Immunomodulatory effect of ginseng stem-leaf saponins and selenium on Harderian gland in immunization of chickens to Newcastle disease vaccine. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2020; 225:110061. [PMID: 32422443 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2020.110061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Our previous study demonstrated that ginseng stem-leaf saponins (GSLS) in combination with selenium (GSLS-Se) have adjuvant effect on the live vaccine of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in intraocular-and-intranasal immunization in chickens. The present study was to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms involved in the immunomodulation of GSLS-Se on the Harderian gland (HG). It was found that the window allowing animals susceptible to infections due to low antibody titers became smaller or even completely closed because of increased NDV-specific HI titers when NDV vaccine and GSLS-Se were coadministered for immunization at early life in chickens. In addition, NDV-specific sIgA and the numbers of IgG+, IgA+, IgM+ plasma cells were significantly more in GSLS-Se group than the control in the HGs. Transcriptome analysis of HGs identified 1184 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between GSLS-Se treated and non-treated groups. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses identified 42 significantly enriched GO terms and 13 canonical immune pathways. These findings indicated that GSLS-Se might exert immunomodulatory effects through influencing the antioxidant regulation and modulating the activity of immune related enzymes. Besides, Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway might be involved primarily in the immunomodulation. Therefore, enhanced antibody responses in GSLS-Se group may be attributed to the immunomodulatory effects of GSLS-Se on the immune-related gene profile expressed in the immunocompetent cells of the HGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Ma
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310058, PR China.
| | - Xiaoqing Chi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310058, PR China.
| | - Lijia Yuan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310058, PR China.
| | - Yuemin Wang
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
| | - Zoushuyi Li
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310058, PR China.
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310058, PR China.
| | - Zahid Iqbal Rajput
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Pakistan.
| | - Songhua Hu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hang Zhou 310058, PR China; College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
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Knocking-down of the Prokineticin receptor 2 affects reveals its complex role in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis in the zebrafish model. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7632. [PMID: 32376893 PMCID: PMC7203128 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64077-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokineticin receptors (PROKR1 and PROKR2) are G protein-coupled receptors which control human central and peripheral reproductive processes. Importantly, allelic variants of PROKR2 in humans are associated with altered migration of GnRH neurons, resulting in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH), a heterogeneous disease characterized by delayed/absent puberty and/or infertility. Although this association is established in humans, murine models failed to fully recapitulate the reproductive and olfactory phenotypes observed in patients harboring PROKR2 mutations. Here, taking advantage of zebrafish model we investigated the role of prokr1b (ortholog of human PROKR2) during early stages of GnRH neuronal migration. Real-Time PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization assays indicate that prokr1b spatial-temporal expression is consistent with gnrh3. Moreover, knockdown and knockout of prokr1b altered the correct development of GnRH3 fibers, a phenotype that is rescued by injection of prokr1b mRNA. These results suggest that prokr1b regulates the development of the GnRH3 system in zebrafish. Analysis of gonads development and mating experiments indicate that prokr1b is not required for fertility in zebrafish, although its loss determine changes also at the testis level. Altogether, our results support the thesis of a divergent evolution in the control of vertebrate reproduction and provide a useful in vivo model for deciphering the mechanisms underlying the effect of PROKR2 allelic variants on CHH.
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26
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Haibe Y, Kreidieh M, El Hajj H, Khalifeh I, Mukherji D, Temraz S, Shamseddine A. Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-angiogenic Therapies in Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:221. [PMID: 32175278 PMCID: PMC7056882 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor growth and metastasis rely on tumor vascular network for the adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. Tumor angiogenesis relies on a highly complex program of growth factor signaling, endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and stromal cell interactions. Numerous pro-angiogenic drivers have been identified, the most important of which is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The importance of pro-angiogenic inducers in tumor growth, invasion and extravasation make them an excellent therapeutic target in several types of cancers. Hence, the number of anti-angiogenic agents developed for cancer treatment has risen over the past decade, with at least eighty drugs being investigated in preclinical studies and phase I-III clinical trials. To date, the most common approaches to the inhibition of the VEGF axis include the blockade of VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) or ligands by neutralizing antibodies, as well as the inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) enzymes. Despite promising preclinical results, anti-angiogenic monotherapies led only to mild clinical benefits. The minimal benefits could be secondary to primary or acquired resistance, through the activation of alternative mechanisms that sustain tumor vascularization and growth. Mechanisms of resistance are categorized into VEGF-dependent alterations, non-VEGF pathways and stromal cell interactions. Thus, complementary approaches such as the combination of these inhibitors with agents targeting alternative mechanisms of blood vessel formation are urgently needed. This review provides an updated overview on the pathophysiology of angiogenesis during tumor growth. It also sheds light on the different pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic agents that have been developed to date. Finally, it highlights the preclinical evidence for mechanisms of angiogenic resistance and suggests novel therapeutic approaches that might be exploited with the ultimate aim of overcoming resistance and improving clinical outcomes for patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolla Haibe
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Malek Kreidieh
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hiba El Hajj
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ibrahim Khalifeh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Deborah Mukherji
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sally Temraz
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali Shamseddine
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Anosmin-1 activates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and its related signaling pathway for olfactory bulb angiogenesis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:188. [PMID: 31932617 PMCID: PMC6957483 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57040-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Anosmin-1 is a secreted glycoprotein encoded by the ANOS1 gene, and its loss of function causes Kallmann syndrome (KS), which is characterized by anosmia and hypogonadism due to olfactory bulb (OB) dysfunction. However, the physiological function of anosmin-1 remains to be elucidated. In KS, disordered angiogenesis is observed in OB, resulting in its hypoplasia. In this study, we examined the involvement of anosmin-1 in angiogenic processes. Anosmin-1 was detected on the vessel-like structure in OB of chick embryos, and promoted the outgrowth of vascular sprouts as shown by assays of OB tissue culture. Cell migration, proliferation, and tube formation of endothelial cells were induced by treatment with anosmin-1 as well as vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and further enhanced by treatment with both of them. We newly identified that anosmin-1 activated VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) by binding directly to it, and its downstream signaling molecules, phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) and protein kinase C (PKC). These results suggest that anosmin-1 plays a key role in the angiogenesis of developing OB through the VEGFR2–PLCγ1–PKC axis by enhancing the VEGF function.
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Guo T, Liu G, Du H, Wen Y, Wei S, Li Z, Tao G, Shang Z, Song X, Zhang Z, Xu Z, You Y, Chen B, Rubenstein JL, Yang Z. Dlx1/2 are Central and Essential Components in the Transcriptional Code for Generating Olfactory Bulb Interneurons. Cereb Cortex 2019; 29:4831-4849. [PMID: 30796806 PMCID: PMC6917526 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of olfactory bulb (OB) interneurons requires neural stem/progenitor cell specification, proliferation, differentiation, and young interneuron migration and maturation. Here, we show that the homeobox transcription factors Dlx1/2 are central and essential components in the transcriptional code for generating OB interneurons. In Dlx1/2 constitutive null mutants, the differentiation of GSX2+ and ASCL1+ neural stem/progenitor cells in the dorsal lateral ganglionic eminence is blocked, resulting in a failure of OB interneuron generation. In Dlx1/2 conditional mutants (hGFAP-Cre; Dlx1/2F/- mice), GSX2+ and ASCL1+ neural stem/progenitor cells in the postnatal subventricular zone also fail to differentiate into OB interneurons. In contrast, overexpression of Dlx1&2 in embryonic mouse cortex led to ectopic production of OB-like interneurons that expressed Gad1, Sp8, Sp9, Arx, Pbx3, Etv1, Tshz1, and Prokr2. Pax6 mutants generate cortical ectopia with OB-like interneurons, but do not do so in compound Pax6; Dlx1/2 mutants. We propose that DLX1/2 promote OB interneuron development mainly through activating the expression of Sp8/9, which further promote Tshz1 and Prokr2 expression. Based on this study, in combination with earlier ones, we propose a transcriptional network for the process of OB interneuron development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Guoping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Heng Du
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Yan Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Song Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Zhenmeiyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Guangxu Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Zicong Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Xiaolei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Zhuangzhi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Zhejun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Yan You
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - John L Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Zhengang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Research Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
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Li J, Wang C, Zhang Z, Wen Y, An L, Liang Q, Xu Z, Wei S, Li W, Guo T, Liu G, Tao G, You Y, Du H, Fu Z, He M, Chen B, Campbell K, Alvarez-Buylla A, Rubenstein JL, Yang Z. Transcription Factors Sp8 and Sp9 Coordinately Regulate Olfactory Bulb Interneuron Development. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:3278-3294. [PMID: 28981617 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells in the postnatal telencephalic ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) generate new interneurons, which migrate tangentially through the rostral migratory stream (RMS) into the olfactory bulb (OB). The Sp8 and Sp9 transcription factors are expressed in neuroblasts, as well as in the immature and mature interneurons in the V-SVZ-RMS-OB system. Here we show that Sp8 and Sp9 coordinately regulate OB interneuron development: although Sp9 null mutants show no major OB interneuron defect, conditional deletion of both Sp8 and Sp9 resulted in a much more severe reduction of OB interneuron number than that observed in the Sp8 conditional mutant mice, due to defects in neuronal differentiation, tangential and radial migration, and increased cell death in the V-SVZ-RMS-OB system. RNA-Seq and RNA in situ hybridization reveal that, in Sp8/Sp9 double mutant mice, but not in Sp8 or Sp9 single mutant mice, newly born neuroblasts in the V-SVZ-RMS-OB system fail to express Prokr2 and Tshz1 expression, genes with known roles in promoting OB interneuron differentiation and migration, and that are involved in human Kallmann syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwen Li
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyang Wang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuangzhi Zhang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Wen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei An
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qifei Liang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhejun Xu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Song Wei
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiwei Li
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Teng Guo
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoping Liu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangxu Tao
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan You
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Heng Du
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuoning Fu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth Campbell
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John L Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zhengang Yang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Cho HJ, Shan Y, Whittington NC, Wray S. Nasal Placode Development, GnRH Neuronal Migration and Kallmann Syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:121. [PMID: 31355196 PMCID: PMC6637222 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of Gonadotropin releasing hormone-1 (GnRH) neurons is important for a functional reproduction system in vertebrates. Disruption of GnRH results in hypogonadism and if accompanied by anosmia is termed Kallmann Syndrome (KS). From their origin in the nasal placode, GnRH neurons migrate along the olfactory-derived vomeronasal axons to the nasal forebrain junction and then turn caudally into the developing forebrain. Although research on the origin of GnRH neurons, their migration and genes associated with KS has identified multiple factors that influence development of this system, several aspects still remain unclear. This review discusses development of the olfactory system, factors that regulate GnRH neuron formation and development of the olfactory system, migration of the GnRH neurons from the nose into the brain, and mutations in humans with KS that result from disruption of normal GnRH/olfactory systems development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ju Cho
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yufei Shan
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Niteace C Whittington
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Susan Wray
- Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Wen Y, Zhang Z, Li Z, Liu G, Tao G, Song X, Xu Z, Shang Z, Guo T, Su Z, Chen H, You Y, Li J, Yang Z. The PROK2/PROKR2 signaling pathway is required for the migration of most olfactory bulb interneurons. J Comp Neurol 2019; 527:2931-2947. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Zhuangzhi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Zhenmeiyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Guoping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Guangxu Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Xiaolei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Zhejun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Zicong Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Teng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Zihao Su
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Haotian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Yan You
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
| | - Jiada Li
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life SciencesCentral South University Changsha Hunan PR China
| | - Zhengang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan University Shanghai PR China
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Cox KH, Oliveira LMB, Plummer L, Corbin B, Gardella T, Balasubramanian R, Crowley WF. Modeling mutant/wild-type interactions to ascertain pathogenicity of PROKR2 missense variants in patients with isolated GnRH deficiency. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:338-350. [PMID: 29161432 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in human genetics is the validation of pathogenicity of heterozygous missense variants. This problem is well-illustrated by PROKR2 variants associated with Isolated GnRH Deficiency (IGD). Homozygous, loss of function variants in PROKR2 was initially implicated in autosomal recessive IGD; however, most IGD-associated PROKR2 variants are heterozygous. Moreover, while IGD patient cohorts are enriched for PROKR2 missense variants similar rare variants are also found in normal individuals. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms distinguishing IGD-associated PROKR2 variants from rare variants in controls, we assessed 59 variants using three approaches: (i) in silico prediction, (ii) traditional in vitro functional assays across three signaling pathways with mutant-alone transfections, and (iii) modified in vitro assays with mutant and wild-type expression constructs co-transfected to model in vivo heterozygosity. We found that neither in silico analyses nor traditional in vitro assessments of mutants transfected alone could distinguish IGD variants from control variants. However, in vitro co-transfections revealed that 15/34 IGD variants caused loss-of-function (LoF), including 3 novel dominant-negatives, while only 4/25 control variants caused LoF. Surprisingly, 19 IGD-associated variants were benign or exhibited LoF that could be rescued by WT co-transfection. Overall, variants that were LoF in ≥ 2 signaling assays under co-transfection conditions were more likely to be disease-associated than benign or 'rescuable' variants. Our findings suggest that in vitro modeling of WT/Mutant interactions increases the resolution for identifying causal variants, uncovers novel dominant negative mutations, and provides new insights into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying heterozygous PROKR2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly H Cox
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and The Reproductive Endocrine Unit of the Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Luciana M B Oliveira
- Department of Bioregulation, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Lacey Plummer
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and The Reproductive Endocrine Unit of the Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Braden Corbin
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Thomas Gardella
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ravikumar Balasubramanian
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and The Reproductive Endocrine Unit of the Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - William F Crowley
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and The Reproductive Endocrine Unit of the Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Zhao Y, Wu J, Jia H, Wang X, Zheng R, Jiang F, Chen DN, Chen Z, Li JD. PROKR2 mutations in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: selective disruption of the binding to a Gα-protein leads to biased signaling. FASEB J 2018; 33:4538-4546. [PMID: 30576231 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801575r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is a rare disorder caused by the deficient production, secretion, or action of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Prokineticin (PROK) receptor 2 ( PROKR2), a causative gene for IHH, encodes a GPCR PROKR2. When PROKR2 binds to its ligands PROKs, it may activate several signaling pathways, including IP3/Ca2+, MAPK, and cAMP pathways. However, the mutational spectrum of PROKR2 in Chinese patients with IHH has not been established. In the present study, we found that up to 13.3% (18/135) of patients with IHH in China carried mutations in PROKR2. Most of the variants in this study were private; however, a PROKR2 (c.533G > C; p.W178S) mutation was identified in 10 independent patients, implying a possible founder mutation. Functional studies indicated that 6 novel PROKR2 mutations led to decreased signaling to various extents. Two IHH-associated mutations (L218P and R270H) disrupted Gαq-dependent signaling but maintained normal Gαs and ERK1/2 signaling. A glutathione S-transferase pull-down experiment demonstrated that R270H mutation disrupted the interaction of intracellular loop 3 of PROKR2 to Gαq protein but not Gαs protein. Our results indicated that selective disruption of the interaction with a specific Gα-protein might underlie the biased signaling for certain IHH-associated PROKR2 mutations.-Zhao, Y., Wu, J., Jia, H., Wang, X., Zheng, R., Jiang, F., Chen, D.-N., Chen, Z., Li, J.-D. PROKR2 mutations in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: selective disruption of the binding to a Gα-protein leads to biased signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaguang Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiayu Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Jia
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinying Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ruizhi Zheng
- Department of Endocrinology, the People's Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fang Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan-Na Chen
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China; and
| | - Zhiheng Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jia-Da Li
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Negri L, Ferrara N. The Prokineticins: Neuromodulators and Mediators of Inflammation and Myeloid Cell-Dependent Angiogenesis. Physiol Rev 2018. [PMID: 29537336 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00012.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian prokineticins family comprises two conserved proteins, EG-VEGF/PROK1 and Bv8/PROK2, and their two highly related G protein-coupled receptors, PKR1 and PKR2. This signaling system has been linked to several important biological functions, including gastrointestinal tract motility, regulation of circadian rhythms, neurogenesis, angiogenesis and cancer progression, hematopoiesis, and nociception. Mutations in PKR2 or Bv8/PROK2 have been associated with Kallmann syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized by defective olfactory bulb neurogenesis, impaired development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons, and infertility. Also, Bv8/PROK2 is strongly upregulated in neutrophils and other inflammatory cells in response to granulocyte-colony stimulating factor or other myeloid growth factors and functions as a pronociceptive mediator in inflamed tissues as well as a regulator of myeloid cell-dependent tumor angiogenesis. Bv8/PROK2 has been also implicated in neuropathic pain. Anti-Bv8/PROK2 antibodies or small molecule PKR inhibitors ameliorate pain arising from tissue injury and inhibit angiogenesis and inflammation associated with tumors or some autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Negri
- Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy ; and University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Napoleone Ferrara
- Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy ; and University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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35
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Zhao Y, Wu J, Wang X, Jia H, Chen DN, Li JD. Prokineticins and their G protein-coupled receptors in health and disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 161:149-179. [PMID: 30711026 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prokineticins are two conserved small proteins (~8kDa), prokineticin 1 (PROK1; also called EG-VEGF) and prokineticin 2 (PROK2; also called Bv8), with an N-terminal AVITGA sequence and 10 cysteines forming 5 disulfide bridges. PROK1 and PROK2 bind to two highly related G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), prokineticin receptor 1 (PROKR1) and prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2). Prokineticins and their receptors are widely expressed. PROK1 is predominantly expressed in peripheral tissues, especially steroidogenic organs, whereas PROK2 is mainly expressed in the central nervous system and nonsteroidogenic cells of the testes. Prokineticins signaling has been implicated in several important physiological functions, including gastrointestinal smooth muscle contraction, circadian rhythm regulation, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, pain perception, mood regulation, and reproduction. Dysregulation of prokineticins signaling has been observed in a variety of diseases, such as cancer, ischemia, and neurodegeneration, in which prokineticins signaling seems to be a promising therapeutic target. Based on the phenotypes of knockout mice, PROKR2 and PROK2 have recently been identified as causative genes for idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a developmental disorder characterized by impaired development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons and infertility. In vitro functional studies with these disease-associated PROKR2 mutations uncovered some novel features for this receptor, such as biased signaling, which may be used to understand GPCR signaling regulation in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaguang Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiayu Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinying Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Jia
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan-Na Chen
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China.
| | - Jia-Da Li
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Kaprara A, Huhtaniemi IT. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis: Tales of mice and men. Metabolism 2018; 86:3-17. [PMID: 29223677 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2017.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Reproduction is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons play a central role in this axis through production of GnRH, which binds to a membrane receptor on pituitary gonadotrophs and stimulates the biosynthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Multiple factors affect GnRH neuron migration, GnRH gene expression, GnRH pulse generator, GnRH secretion, GnRH receptor expression, and gonadotropin synthesis and release. Among them anosmin is involved in the guidance of the GnRH neuron migration, and a loss-of-function mutation in its gene leads to a failure of their migration from the olfactory placode to the hypothalamus, with consequent anosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (Kallmann syndrome). There are also cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadim with normal sense of smell, due to mutations of other genes. Another protein, kisspeptin plays a crucial role in the regulation of GnRH pulse generator and the pubertal development. GnRH is the main hypothalamic regulator of the release of gonadotropins. Finally, FSH and LH are the essential hormonal regulators of testicular functions, acting through their receptors in Sertoli and Leydig cells, respectively. The main features of the male HPG axis will be described in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athina Kaprara
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Itatani Y, Kawada K, Yamamoto T, Sakai Y. Resistance to Anti-Angiogenic Therapy in Cancer-Alterations to Anti-VEGF Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19041232. [PMID: 29670046 PMCID: PMC5979390 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-angiogenic therapy is one of the promising strategies for many types of solid cancers. Bevacizumab (Avastin), a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, was approved for the first time as an anti-angiogenic drug for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004. In addition, the other VEGF pathway inhibitors including small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib), a soluble VEGF decoy receptor (aflibercept), and a humanized monoclonal antibody of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) (ramucirumab) have been approved for cancer therapy. Although many types of VEGF pathway inhibitors can improve survival in most cancer patients, some patients have little or no beneficial effect from them. The primary or acquired resistance towards many oncological drugs, including anti-VEGF inhibitors, is a common problem in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the proposed alternative mechanisms of angiogenesis other than the VEGF pathway. These mechanisms are involved in the development of resistance to anti-VEGF therapies in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiro Itatani
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Kenji Kawada
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Takamasa Yamamoto
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Yoshiharu Sakai
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
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Li Y, Wang J, Yu L, Zhao K, Chen B, Li C, Yang F, Yuan H, Zhang H. Effects of prokineticin 2 on testicular inflammation in rats. Am J Reprod Immunol 2018. [PMID: 29516577 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Prokineticin 2 (PK2), a pro-inflammatory peptide, is highly expressed in primary spermatocytes. However, systematic research on PK2 and testicular inflammation is lacking to date. METHOD OF STUDY An experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) model was established to detect the expression of PK2 and its receptor (prokineticin receptor 1, PKR1) 50 and 80 days after immunization. PK2 siRNA sequence was injected into the rat rete testis to downregulate the expression of PK2. PK2 was over-expressed in the testis by injecting PK2 protein through the rat rete testis at different concentrations. Testicular morphology and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were detected after the intervention. RESULTS Results showed that PK2 and PKR1 were upregulated in EAO at 50 days and downregulated at 80 days. PK2 over-expression contributed to the apoptosis of spermatogenic epithelial cells and increased infiltration of the inflammatory cells, whereas PK2 under-expression showed no change. Furthermore, iNOS expression was increased significantly when PK2 was over-expressed. CONCLUSION This finding demonstrated that the PK2/PKR1 signals may have an essential role in the regulation of testicular inflammation through iNOS. PK2 interference may represent a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of orchitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lili Yu
- Guangxi Maternal & Child Health Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Biao Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tongji Medical College, Huangzhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Cuiling Li
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Yang
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hongfang Yuan
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiping Zhang
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Maione L, Dwyer AA, Francou B, Guiochon-Mantel A, Binart N, Bouligand J, Young J. GENETICS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Genetic counseling for congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome: new challenges in the era of oligogenism and next-generation sequencing. Eur J Endocrinol 2018; 178:R55-R80. [PMID: 29330225 DOI: 10.1530/eje-17-0749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) and Kallmann syndrome (KS) are rare, related diseases that prevent normal pubertal development and cause infertility in affected men and women. However, the infertility carries a good prognosis as increasing numbers of patients with CHH/KS are now able to have children through medically assisted procreation. These are genetic diseases that can be transmitted to patients' offspring. Importantly, patients and their families should be informed of this risk and given genetic counseling. CHH and KS are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous diseases in which the risk of transmission largely depends on the gene(s) responsible(s). Inheritance may be classically Mendelian yet more complex; oligogenic modes of transmission have also been described. The prevalence of oligogenicity has risen dramatically since the advent of massively parallel next-generation sequencing (NGS) in which tens, hundreds or thousands of genes are sequenced at the same time. NGS is medically and economically more efficient and more rapid than traditional Sanger sequencing and is increasingly being used in medical practice. Thus, it seems plausible that oligogenic forms of CHH/KS will be increasingly identified making genetic counseling even more complex. In this context, the main challenge will be to differentiate true oligogenism from situations when several rare variants that do not have a clear phenotypic effect are identified by chance. This review aims to summarize the genetics of CHH/KS and to discuss the challenges of oligogenic transmission and also its role in incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity in a perspective of genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Maione
- University of Paris-Sud, Paris-Sud Medical School, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bicêtre, France
- INSERM U1185, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Andrew A Dwyer
- Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruno Francou
- University of Paris-Sud, Paris-Sud Medical School, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- INSERM U1185, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Hormonology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Anne Guiochon-Mantel
- University of Paris-Sud, Paris-Sud Medical School, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- INSERM U1185, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Hormonology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Nadine Binart
- University of Paris-Sud, Paris-Sud Medical School, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- INSERM U1185, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Jérôme Bouligand
- University of Paris-Sud, Paris-Sud Medical School, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- INSERM U1185, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Hormonology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Jacques Young
- University of Paris-Sud, Paris-Sud Medical School, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bicêtre, France
- INSERM U1185, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
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Mohsen Z, Sim H, Garcia-Galiano D, Han X, Bellefontaine N, Saunders TL, Elias CF. Sexually dimorphic distribution of Prokr2 neurons revealed by the Prokr2-Cre mouse model. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 222:4111-4129. [PMID: 28616754 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1456-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2) is predominantly expressed in the mammalian central nervous system. Loss-of-function mutations of PROKR2 in humans are associated with Kallmann syndrome due to the disruption of gonadotropin releasing hormone neuronal migration and deficient olfactory bulb morphogenesis. PROKR2 has been also implicated in the neuroendocrine control of GnRH neurons post-migration and other physiological systems. However, the brain circuitry and mechanisms associated with these actions have been difficult to investigate mainly due to the widespread distribution of Prokr2-expressing cells, and the lack of animal models and molecular tools. Here, we describe the generation, validation and characterization of a new mouse model that expresses Cre recombinase driven by the Prokr2 promoter, using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Cre expression was visualized using reporter genes, tdTomato and GFP, in males and females. Expression of Cre-induced reporter genes was found in brain sites previously described to express Prokr2, e.g., the paraventricular and the suprachiasmatic nuclei, and the area postrema. The Prokr2-Cre mouse model was further validated by colocalization of Cre-induced GFP and Prokr2 mRNA. No disruption of Prokr2 expression, GnRH neuronal migration or fertility was observed. Comparative analysis of Prokr2-Cre expression in male and female brains revealed a sexually dimorphic distribution confirmed by in situ hybridization. In females, higher Cre activity was found in the medial preoptic area, ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, arcuate nucleus, medial amygdala and lateral parabrachial nucleus. In males, Cre was higher in the amygdalo-hippocampal area. The sexually dimorphic pattern of Prokr2 expression indicates differential roles in reproductive function and, potentially, in other physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaid Mohsen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 1137 E. Catherine St., 7732B Med Sci II, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
| | - Hosung Sim
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 1137 E. Catherine St., 7732B Med Sci II, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
| | - David Garcia-Galiano
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 1137 E. Catherine St., 7732B Med Sci II, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
| | - Xingfa Han
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 1137 E. Catherine St., 7732B Med Sci II, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA.,Isotope Research Lab, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Nicole Bellefontaine
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 1137 E. Catherine St., 7732B Med Sci II, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
| | - Thomas L Saunders
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,University of Michigan Transgenic Animal Model Core, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Carol F Elias
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 1137 E. Catherine St., 7732B Med Sci II, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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41
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Fukami M, Suzuki E, Izumi Y, Torii T, Narumi S, Igarashi M, Miyado M, Katsumi M, Fujisawa Y, Nakabayashi K, Hata K, Umezawa A, Matsubara Y, Yamauchi J, Ogata T. Paradoxical gain-of-function mutant of the G-protein-coupled receptor PROKR2 promotes early puberty. J Cell Mol Med 2017; 21:2623-2626. [PMID: 28338294 PMCID: PMC5618689 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The human genome encodes ~750 G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs), including prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2) involved in the regulation of sexual maturation. Previously reported pathogenic gain‐of‐function mutations of GPCR genes invariably encoded aberrant receptors with excessive signal transduction activity. Although in vitro assays demonstrated that an artificially created inactive mutant of PROKR2 exerted paradoxical gain‐of‐function effects when co‐transfected with wild‐type proteins, such a phenomenon has not been observed in vivo. Here, we report a heterozygous frameshift mutation of PROKR2 identified in a 3.5‐year‐old girl with central precocious puberty. The mutant mRNA escaped nonsense‐mediated decay and generated a GPCR lacking two transmembrane domains and the carboxyl‐terminal tail. The mutant protein had no in vitro signal transduction activity; however, cells co‐expressing the mutant and wild‐type PROKR2 exhibited markedly exaggerated ligand‐induced Ca2+ responses. The results indicate that certain inactive PROKR2 mutants can cause early puberty by enhancing the functional property of coexisting wild‐type proteins. Considering the structural similarity among GPCRs, this paradoxical gain‐of‐function mechanism may underlie various human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Fukami
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Erina Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoko Izumi
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Torii
- Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Narumi
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maki Igarashi
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mami Miyado
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Momori Katsumi
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuko Fujisawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakabayashi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Hata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Umezawa
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Center for Regenerative Medicine, National Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichi Matsubara
- National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junji Yamauchi
- Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Ogata
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
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Chen B, Yu L, Wang J, Li C, Zhao K, Zhang H. Involvement of Prokineticin 2 and Prokineticin Receptor 1 in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Testitis in Rats. Inflammation 2017; 39:534-42. [PMID: 26490969 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-015-0277-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Prokineticin 2, a newly discovered proinflammatory peptide, has been amply evidenced to be involved in the occurrence and progress of local and systematical inflammation. Although the presence of Prokineticn 2 in mammal testis has been documented clearly, research targeting the involvement of prokineticin 2 in testicular pathology, especially testitis, is rather scarce. Employing a lipopolysaccharide-induced testitis rat model, we for the first time demonstrated the expression and upregulation of prokineticin 2 in orchitis at several levels. Our effort also addressed the differential expression patterns of prokineticin 2 and interleukin-1β, a key inflammation indicator, during testitis suggesting Prokineticn 2 serves more than a proinflammatory factor in the context of testitis. Given one of the cognate receptors of prokineticin 2, prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1) was also significantly upregulated in orchitis as discussed in the current study, it is very likely that PK2/PKR1 signaling contribute to the development of inflammation-related testicular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Chen
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lili Yu
- Department of obstetrics, The Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Cuiling Li
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huiping Zhang
- Institute of Family Planning Research, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. .,Institute of Family Planning Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, China, , 430030.
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43
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Gordon R, Neal ML, Luo J, Langley MR, Harischandra DS, Panicker N, Charli A, Jin H, Anantharam V, Woodruff TM, Zhou QY, Kanthasamy AG, Kanthasamy A. Prokineticin-2 upregulation during neuronal injury mediates a compensatory protective response against dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12932. [PMID: 27703142 PMCID: PMC5059486 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prokineticin-2 (PK2), a recently discovered secreted protein, regulates important physiological functions including olfactory biogenesis and circadian rhythms in the CNS. Interestingly, although PK2 expression is low in the nigral system, its receptors are constitutively expressed on nigrostriatal neurons. Herein, we demonstrate that PK2 expression is highly induced in nigral dopaminergic neurons during early stages of degeneration in multiple models of Parkinson's disease (PD), including PK2 reporter mice and MitoPark mice. Functional studies demonstrate that PK2 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and activates ERK and Akt survival signalling pathways, thereby driving neuroprotection. Importantly, PK2 overexpression is protective whereas PK2 receptor antagonism exacerbates dopaminergic degeneration in experimental PD. Furthermore, PK2 expression increased in surviving nigral dopaminergic neurons from PD brains, indicating that PK2 upregulation is clinically relevant to human PD. Collectively, our results identify a paradigm for compensatory neuroprotective PK2 signalling in nigral dopaminergic neurons that could have important therapeutic implications for PD. Prokineticin-2 (PK2) is a secreted protein involved in a number of physiological functions. Here, the authors find that PK2 expression increases in surviving DA neurons from Parkinson's disease patients, and show it protects against dopaminergic degeneration in PD mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Gordon
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew L Neal
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Jie Luo
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Monica R Langley
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Dilshan S Harischandra
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Nikhil Panicker
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Adhithiya Charli
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Huajun Jin
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Vellareddy Anantharam
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Trent M Woodruff
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Qun-Yong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, 363D Med Surge 2, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Anumantha G Kanthasamy
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Arthi Kanthasamy
- Parkinson Disorders Research Program, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
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Hadziselimovic F, Gegenschatz-Schmid K, Verkauskas G, Docampo-Garcia MJ, Demougin P, Bilius V, Malcius D, Dasevicius D, Stadtler MB. Gene Expression Changes Underlying Idiopathic Central Hypogonadism in Cryptorchidism with Defective Mini-Puberty. Sex Dev 2016; 10:136-46. [PMID: 27561106 DOI: 10.1159/000447762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The whole genome RNA profiling of testicular biopsies by DNA strand-specific RNA sequencing was examined to determine a potential causative role of isolated congenital cryptorchidism in azoospermia and/or infertility in the context of our previously published GeneChip data. Cryptorchid patients, aged 7 months to 5 years and otherwise healthy, were enrolled in this prospective study. During surgery, testicular tissue biopsies were obtained for histological examination and RNA sequencing. Fifteen patients were selected based on the histological results and were divided into 2 groups. Seven were classified as belonging to the high infertility risk (HIR) and 8 to the low infertility risk (LIR) group. Cryptorchid boys in the HIR group lacked transformation of gonocytes into Ad spermatogonia due to impaired mini-puberty. This group of patients will be infertile despite successful surgery. The new important finding was a decreased PROK2, CHD7, FGFR1, and SPRY4 gene expression in the HIR group. Furthermore, identification of multiple differences in gene expression between HIR and LIR groups underscores the importance of an intact hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis for fertility development. Our RNA profiling data strongly support the theory that in the HIR group of cryptorchid boys insufficient PROK2/CHD7/FGFR1/SPRY4 gene expression induces deficient LH secretion, resulting in impaired mini-puberty and infertility. We therefore recommend hormonal treatment for this cohort of cryptorchid boys with defective mini-puberty following a seemingly successful orchidopexy.
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PK2/PKR1 Signaling Regulates Bladder Function and Sensation in Rats with Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis. Mediators Inflamm 2015; 2015:289519. [PMID: 26798205 PMCID: PMC4700194 DOI: 10.1155/2015/289519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokineticin 2 (PK2) is a novel chemokine-like peptide with multiple proinflammatory and nociception-related activities. This study aimed to explore the potential role of PK2 in modulating bladder activity and sensation in rats with cyclophosphamide- (CYP-) induced cystitis. Changes of PK2 and prokineticin receptors (PKRs) in normal and inflamed urinary bladders were determined at several time points (4 h, 48 h, and 8 d) after CYP treatment. Combining a nonselective antagonist of prokineticin receptors (PKRA), we further evaluated the regulatory role of PK2 in modulating bladder function and visceral pain sensation via conscious cystometry and pain behavioral scoring. PK2 and prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1), but not prokineticin receptor 2, were detected in normal and upregulated in CYP-treated rat bladders at several levels. Immunohistochemistry staining localized PKR1 primarily in the urothelium. Blocking PKRs with PKRA showed no effect on micturition reflex activity and bladder sensation in control rats while it increased the voiding volume, prolonged voiding interval, and ameliorated visceral hyperalgesia in rats suffering from CYP-induced cystitis. In conclusion, PK2/PKR1 signaling pathway contributes to the modulation of inflammation-mediated voiding dysfunction and spontaneous visceral pain. Local blockade of PKRs may represent a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of inflammation-related bladder diseases.
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46
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Boehm U, Bouloux PM, Dattani MT, de Roux N, Dodé C, Dunkel L, Dwyer AA, Giacobini P, Hardelin JP, Juul A, Maghnie M, Pitteloud N, Prevot V, Raivio T, Tena-Sempere M, Quinton R, Young J. Expert consensus document: European Consensus Statement on congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism--pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2015; 11:547-64. [PMID: 26194704 DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2015.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 498] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare disorder caused by the deficient production, secretion or action of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is the master hormone regulating the reproductive axis. CHH is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, with >25 different causal genes identified to date. Clinically, the disorder is characterized by an absence of puberty and infertility. The association of CHH with a defective sense of smell (anosmia or hyposmia), which is found in ∼50% of patients with CHH is termed Kallmann syndrome and results from incomplete embryonic migration of GnRH-synthesizing neurons. CHH can be challenging to diagnose, particularly when attempting to differentiate it from constitutional delay of puberty. A timely diagnosis and treatment to induce puberty can be beneficial for sexual, bone and metabolic health, and might help minimize some of the psychological effects of CHH. In most cases, fertility can be induced using specialized treatment regimens and several predictors of outcome have been identified. Patients typically require lifelong treatment, yet ∼10-20% of patients exhibit a spontaneous recovery of reproductive function. This Consensus Statement summarizes approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of CHH and discusses important unanswered questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Boehm
- University of Saarland School of Medicine, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrew A Dwyer
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Sevice of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), du Bugnon 46, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | - Nelly Pitteloud
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Sevice of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), du Bugnon 46, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
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Novel FGFR1 and KISS1R Mutations in Chinese Kallmann Syndrome Males with Cleft Lip/Palate. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015. [PMID: 26199944 PMCID: PMC4496468 DOI: 10.1155/2015/649698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Kallmann syndrome (KS) is characterized by isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) with anosmia and is sometimes associated with cleft lip/palate (CLP). In order to describe the clinical features, genetic etiology, and treatment outcome of KS males with CLP, we performed genetic screening for 15 known causal IHH genes (KAL1, FGFR1, NELF, FGF8, CHD7, WDR11, SEMA3A, KISS1R, KISS1, PROKR2, PROK2, TAC3, TACR3, GNRH1, and GNRHR) in four KS with CLP patients and six IHH patients without CLP. Two novel heterozygous missense mutations in FGFR1, (NM_001174066): c.776G>A (p.G259E) and (NM_001174066): c.358C>T (p.R120C), were identified in a 23-year-old KS male with cleft lip and an 18-year-old KS patient with cleft lip and palate, dental agenesis, and high arched palate, respectively. These two mutations were not presented in their healthy parents and 200 normal controls. One novel heterozygous missense mutation in KISS1R, (NM_032551): c.587C>A (p.P196H), was identified in an 18-year-old KS male with cleft lip and dental agenesis who developed sperm after being treated with gonadotropin. This mutation was also presented in his healthy father and grandfather. These results have implications for the diagnosis, genetic counseling, and treatment of KS and CLP males with mutations in FGFR1 gene.
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Gu WJ, Zhang Q, Wang YQ, Yang GQ, Hong TP, Zhu DL, Yang JK, Ning G, Jin N, Chen K, Zang L, Wang AP, Du J, Wang XL, Yang LJ, Ba JM, Lv ZH, Dou JT, Mu YM. Mutation analyses in pedigrees and sporadic cases of ethnic Han Chinese Kallmann syndrome patients. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2015; 240:1480-9. [PMID: 26031747 DOI: 10.1177/1535370215587531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Kallmann syndrome, a form of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, is characterized by developmental abnormalities of the reproductive system and abnormal olfaction. Despite association of certain genes with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, the genetic inheritance and expression are complex and incompletely known. In the present study, seven Kallmann syndrome pedigrees in an ethnic Han Chinese population were screened for genetic mutations. The exons and intron-exon boundaries of 19 idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism)-related genes in seven Chinese Kallmann syndrome pedigrees were sequenced. Detected mutations were also tested in 70 sporadic Kallmann syndrome cases and 200 Chinese healthy controls. In pedigrees 1, 2, and 7, the secondary sex characteristics were poorly developed and the patients' sense of smell was severely or completely lost. We detected a genetic mutation in five of the seven pedigrees: homozygous KAL1 p.R191ter (pedigree 1); homozygous KAL1 p.C13ter (pedigree 2; a novel mutation); heterozygous FGFR1 p.R250W (pedigree 3); and homozygous PROKR2 p.Y113H (pedigrees 4 and 5). No genetic change of the assayed genes was detected in pedigrees 6 and 7. Among the 70 sporadic cases, we detected one homozygous and one heterozygous PROKR2 p.Y113H mutation. This mutation was also detected heterozygously in 2/200 normal controls and its pathogenicity is likely questionable. The genetics and genotype-phenotype relationships in Kallmann syndrome are complicated. Classical monogenic inheritance does not explain the full range of genetic inheritance of Kallmann syndrome patients. Because of stochastic nature of genetic mutations, exome analyses of Kallmann syndrome patients may provide novel insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Jun Gu
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Ying-Qian Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Guo-Qing Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Tian-Pei Hong
- Department of Endocrinology, Peking University the Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Da-Long Zhu
- Department of Endocrinology, Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated to Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jin-Kui Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Guang Ning
- Department of Endocrinology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Nan Jin
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Li Zang
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - An-Ping Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jin Du
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xian-Ling Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Li-Juan Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jian-Ming Ba
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Zhao-Hui Lv
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jing-Tao Dou
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Yi-Ming Mu
- Department of Endocrinology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
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Gasser A, Brogi S, Urayama K, Nishi T, Kurose H, Tafi A, Ribeiro N, Désaubry L, Nebigil CG. Discovery and cardioprotective effects of the first non-Peptide agonists of the G protein-coupled prokineticin receptor-1. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121027. [PMID: 25831128 PMCID: PMC4382091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokineticins are angiogenic hormones that activate two G protein-coupled receptors: PKR1 and PKR2. PKR1 has emerged as a critical mediator of cardiovascular homeostasis and cardioprotection. Identification of non-peptide PKR1 agonists that contribute to myocardial repair and collateral vessel growth hold promises for treatment of heart diseases. Through a combination of in silico studies, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacological profiling approaches, we designed, synthesized, and characterized the first PKR1 agonists, demonstrating their cardioprotective activity against myocardial infarction (MI) in mice. Based on high throughput docking protocol, 250,000 compounds were computationally screened for putative PKR1 agonistic activity, using a homology model, and 10 virtual hits were pharmacologically evaluated. One hit internalizes PKR1, increases calcium release and activates ERK and Akt kinases. Among the 30 derivatives of the hit compound, the most potent derivative, IS20, was confirmed for its selectivity and specificity through genetic gain- and loss-of-function of PKR1. Importantly, IS20 prevented cardiac lesion formation and improved cardiac function after MI in mice, promoting proliferation of cardiac progenitor cells and neovasculogenesis. The preclinical investigation of the first PKR1 agonists provides a novel approach to promote cardiac neovasculogenesis after MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Gasser
- Biotechnology and Cell Signaling Laboratory (UMR 7242), CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Simone Brogi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Departments of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Kyoji Urayama
- Biotechnology and Cell Signaling Laboratory (UMR 7242), CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Toshishide Nishi
- Biotechnology and Cell Signaling Laboratory (UMR 7242), CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812–8582, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kurose
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812–8582, Japan
| | - Andrea Tafi
- Departments of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Nigel Ribeiro
- Therapeutic Innovation Laboratory (UMR7200), CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Laurent Désaubry
- Therapeutic Innovation Laboratory (UMR7200), CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Canan G. Nebigil
- Biotechnology and Cell Signaling Laboratory (UMR 7242), CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
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Asakura Y, Muroya K, Hanakawa J, Sato T, Aida N, Narumi S, Hasegawa T, Adachi M. Combined pituitary hormone deficiency with unique pituitary dysplasia and morning glory syndrome related to a heterozygous PROKR2 mutation. Clin Pediatr Endocrinol 2015; 24:27-32. [PMID: 25678757 PMCID: PMC4322290 DOI: 10.1297/cpe.24.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent reports have indicated the role of the prokineticin receptor 2 gene
(PROKR2) in the etiology of congenital hypopituitarism, including
septo-optic dysplasia and Kallmann syndrome. In the present study, using next-generation
targeted sequencing, we identified a novel heterozygous PROKR2 variant
(c.742C>T; p.R248W) in a female patient who had combined pituitary hormone deficiency
(CPHD), morning glory syndrome and a severely malformed pituitary gland. No other mutation
was present in 27 genes related to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, pituitary hormone
deficiency and optic nerve malformation. The substituted amino acid was located on the
third intracellular loop of the PROKR2 protein, which is a G protein-coupled receptor.
Computational analyses with two programs (SIFT and PolyPhen-2) showed that the
substitution was deleterious to PROKR2 function. The p.R248W mutation was transmitted from
the patient’s mother, who had a slightly delayed menarche. Collectively, we provide
further genetic evidence linking heterozygous PROKR2 mutations and the
development of CPHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Asakura
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Koji Muroya
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Junko Hanakawa
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Sato
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan ; Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Aida
- Department of Radiology, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Narumi
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomonobu Hasegawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanori Adachi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
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