scholarly journals Ghrelin reverses ductular reaction and hepatic fibrosis in a rodent model of cholestasis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anca D. Petrescu ◽  
Stephanie Grant ◽  
Elaina Williams ◽  
Gabriel Frampton ◽  
Evan H. Reinhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Hepatic Fibrosis ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Ductular Reaction ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Orexigenic Peptide ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Membrane Bound

Abstract The orexigenic peptide ghrelin (Ghr) stimulates hunger signals in the hypothalamus via growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). Gastric Ghr is synthetized as a preprohormone which is proteolytically cleaved, and acylated by a membrane-bound acyl transferase (MBOAT). Circulating Ghr is reduced in cholestatic injuries, however Ghr’s role in cholestasis is poorly understood. We investigated Ghr’s effects on biliary hyperplasia and hepatic fibrosis in Mdr2-knockout (Mdr2KO) mice, a recognized model of cholestasis. Serum, stomach and liver were collected from Mdr2KO and FVBN control mice treated with Ghr, des-octanoyl-ghrelin (DG) or vehicle. Mdr2KO mice had lower expression of Ghr and MBOAT in the stomach, and lower levels of circulating Ghr compared to WT-controls. Treatment of Mdr2KO mice with Ghr improved plasma transaminases, reduced biliary and fibrosis markers. In the liver, GHS-R1a mRNA was expressed predominantly in cholangiocytes. Ghr but not DG, decreased cell proliferation via AMPK activation in cholangiocytes in vitro. AMPK inhibitors prevented Ghr-induced FOXO1 nuclear translocation and negative regulation of cell proliferation. Ghr treatment reduced ductular reaction and hepatic fibrosis in Mdr2KO mice, regulating cholangiocyte proliferation via GHS-R1a, a G-protein coupled receptor which causes increased intracellular Ca2+ and activation of AMPK and FOXO1, maintaining a low rate of cholangiocyte proliferation.

scholarly journals Characterization of ghrelin receptor activity in a rat pituitary cell line RC-4B/C

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Douglas Falls ◽  
Brian D Dayton ◽  
Dennis G Fry ◽  
Christopher A Ogiela ◽  
Verlyn G Schaefer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Line ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Ghrelin Receptor ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Recombinant Cell

Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid, octanoylated peptide, is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). In addition to various endocrine functions, including stimulation of GH release, ghrelin has been characterized as an important regulator of energy homeostasis. Ghrelin administration has been shown to increase adiposity in rodents and stimulate food intake in humans. Studies suggest that these orexigenic effects are mediated primarily through GHS-R expression in hypothalamic and pituitary neuronal pathways. In this context, GHS-R has been recognized as a potential target for the treatment of GH deficiency and body weight disorders. Cell lines provide convenient in vitro systems to identify and characterize potential pharmacophores and to analyze GHS-R functional activity. While recombinant cell lines that overexpress GHS-R have served as effective research tools for these studies, such cell lines may differ in signaling response to ghrelin compared with hypothalamic or pituitary cells expressing GHS-R. We show here that a cell line derived from a rat anterior pituitary adenoma, RC-4B/C, expresses endogenous GHS-R as judged by reverse transcriptase-PCR. In a Ca2+mobilization assay, RC-4B/C cells demonstrate a dose-dependent increase in intracellular [Ca2+] on stimulation with rat ghrelin and a related peptide agonist, hexarelin (EC50, 1.0 nM and 1.7 nM respectively), but are unresponsive to treatment with inactive des-octanoyl rat ghrelin. A subclone, RC-4B/C.40, with a more robust and stable ghrelin response, was isolated from the parental population of cells to allow further analysis of GHS-R signal transduction. Using pertussis toxin and the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122, we show that ghrelin signals through the Gq pathway in the RC-4B/C.40 cells. We also demonstrate that the ghrelin-induced rise of intracellular [Ca2+] in RC-4B/C.40 cells involves initial Ca2+release from intracellular stores followed by a sustained elevation that occurs via influx of extracellular Ca2+ through ion channels. In addition, unlike observations reported in recombinant cell systems, the RC-4B/C.40 cells do not exhibit a high level of GHS-R constitutive activity as determined in a phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis assay. Overall, the data presented here suggest that the RC-4B/C parental and RC-4B/C.40 cells provide novel in vitro systems for the characterization of GHS-R pharmacophores and ghrelin signaling.

scholarly journals Evidence Supporting a Role for Constitutive Ghrelin Receptor Signaling in Fasting-Induced Hyperphagia in Male Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 159 (2) ◽  
pp. 1021-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gimena Fernandez ◽  
Agustina Cabral ◽  
María F Andreoli ◽  
Alexandra Labarthe ◽  
Céline M'Kadmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Peptide Hormone ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Ghrelin Receptor ◽  
Orexigenic Peptide ◽  
Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus

Abstract Ghrelin is a potent orexigenic peptide hormone that acts through the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), a G protein–coupled receptor highly expressed in the hypothalamus. In vitro studies have shown that GHSR displays a high constitutive activity, whose physiological relevance is uncertain. As GHSR gene expression in the hypothalamus is known to increase in fasting conditions, we tested the hypothesis that constitutive GHSR activity at the hypothalamic level drives the fasting-induced hyperphagia. We found that refed wild-type (WT) mice displayed a robust hyperphagia that continued for 5 days after refeeding and changed their food intake daily pattern. Fasted WT mice showed an increase in plasma ghrelin levels, as well as in GHSR expression levels and ghrelin binding sites in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. When fasting-refeeding responses were evaluated in ghrelin- or GHSR-deficient mice, only the latter displayed an ∼15% smaller hyperphagia, compared with WT mice. Finally, fasting-induced hyperphagia of WT mice was significantly smaller in mice centrally treated with the GHSR inverse agonist K-(D-1-Nal)-FwLL-NH2, compared with mice treated with vehicle, whereas it was unaffected in mice centrally treated with the GHSR antagonists D-Lys3-growth hormone–releasing peptide 6 or JMV2959. Taken together, genetic models and pharmacological results support the notion that constitutive GHSR activity modulates the magnitude of the compensatory hyperphagia triggered by fasting. Thus, the hypothalamic GHSR signaling system could affect the set point of daily food intake, independently of plasma ghrelin levels, in situations of negative energy balance.

scholarly journals Cortistatin Is Not a Somatostatin Analogue but Stimulates Prolactin Release and Inhibits GH and ACTH in a Gender-Dependent Fashion: Potential Role of Ghrelin

Endocrinology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 152 (12) ◽  
pp. 4800-4812 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Córdoba-Chacón ◽  
Manuel D. Gahete ◽  
Ana I. Pozo-Salas ◽  
Antonio J. Martínez-Fuentes ◽  
Luis de Lecea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Phenotype ◽  
Somatostatin Analogue ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Ancestral Gene ◽  
Ghrelin Receptor ◽  
Physiological Relevance

Cortistatin (CST) and somatostatin (SST) evolve from a common ancestral gene and share remarkable structural, pharmacological, and functional homologies. Although CST has been considered as a natural SST-analogue acting through their shared receptors (SST receptors 1–5), emerging evidence indicates that these peptides might in fact exert unique roles via selective receptors [e.g. CST, not SST, binds ghrelin receptor growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a)]. To determine whether the role of endogenous CST is different from SST, we characterized the endocrine-metabolic phenotype of male/female CST null mice (cort−/−) at hypothalamic-pituitary-systemic (pancreas-stomach-adrenal-liver) levels. Also, CST effects on hormone expression/secretion were evaluated in primary pituitary cell cultures from male/female mice and female primates (baboons). Specifically, CST exerted an unexpected stimulatory role on prolactin (PRL) secretion, because both male/female cort−/− mice had reduced PRL levels, and CST treatment (in vivo and in vitro) increased PRL secretion, which could be blocked by a GHS-R1a antagonist in vitro and likely relates to the decreased success of female cort−/− in first-litter pup care at weaning. In contrast, CST inhibited GH and adrenocorticotropin-hormone axes in a gender-dependent fashion. In addition, a rise in acylated ghrelin levels was observed in female cort−/− mice, which were associated with an increase in stomach ghrelin/ghrelin O-acyl transferase expression. Finally, CST deficit uncovered a gender-dependent role of this peptide in the regulation of glucose-insulin homeostasis, because male, but not female, cort−/− mice developed insulin resistance. The fact that these actions are not mimicked by SST and are strongly gender dependent offers new grounds to investigate the hitherto underestimated physiological relevance of CST in the regulation of physiological/metabolic processes.

scholarly journals Ghrelin Amplifies Dopamine Signaling by Cross Talk Involving Formation of Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor/Dopamine Receptor Subtype 1 Heterodimers

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1772-1785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Jiang ◽  
Lorena Betancourt ◽  
Roy G. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Dopamine Receptor ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Green Fluorescent Protein Fluorescence ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Protein Fluorescence ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Ghrelin Receptor ◽  
Dopamine Signaling

Abstract Our objective is to determine the neuromodulatory role of ghrelin in the brain. To identify neurons that express the ghrelin receptor [GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)], we generated GHS-R-IRES-tauGFP mice by gene targeting. Neurons expressing the GHS-R exhibit green fluorescence and are clearly evident in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, cortex, and midbrain. Using immunohistochemistry in combination with green fluorescent protein fluorescence, we identified neurons that coexpress the dopamine receptor subtype 1 (D1R) and GHS-R. The potential physiological relevance of coexpression of these two receptors and the direct effect of ghrelin on dopamine signaling was investigated in vitro. Activation of GHS-R by ghrelin amplifies dopamine/D1R-induced cAMP accumulation. Intriguingly, amplification involves a switch in G protein coupling of the GHS-R from Gα11/q to Gαi/o by a mechanism consistent with agonist-dependent formation of GHS-R/D1R heterodimers. Most importantly, these results indicate that ghrelin has the potential to amplify dopamine signaling selectively in neurons that coexpress D1R and GHS-R.

scholarly journals Membrane-Bound Protein Kinase A Inhibits Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation In Vitro and In Vivo by Amplifying cAMP–Protein Kinase A Signals

2001 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciro Indolfi ◽  
Eugenio Stabile ◽  
Carmela Coppola ◽  
Adriana Gallo ◽  
Cinzia Perrino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cell ◽  
Protein Kinase A ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Proliferation In Vitro ◽  
Kinase A

scholarly journals Regulation of cell proliferation by ERK and signal-dependent nuclear translocation of ERK is dependent on Tm5NM1-containing actin filaments

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 2475-2490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Schevzov ◽  
Anthony J. Kee ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Vanessa B. Sequeira ◽  
Jeff Hook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Proximity Ligation ◽  
Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts ◽  
Wild Type Mefs

ERK-regulated cell proliferation requires multiple phosphorylation events catalyzed first by MEK and then by casein kinase 2 (CK2), followed by interaction with importin7 and subsequent nuclear translocation of pERK. We report that genetic manipulation of a core component of the actin filaments of cancer cells, the tropomyosin Tm5NM1, regulates the proliferation of normal cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking Tm5NM1, which have reduced proliferative capacity, are insensitive to inhibition of ERK by peptide and small-molecule inhibitors, indicating that ERK is unable to regulate proliferation of these knockout (KO) cells. Treatment of wild-type MEFs with a CK2 inhibitor to block phosphorylation of the nuclear translocation signal in pERK resulted in greatly decreased cell proliferation and a significant reduction in the nuclear translocation of pERK. In contrast, Tm5NM1 KO MEFs, which show reduced nuclear translocation of pERK, were unaffected by inhibition of CK2. This suggested that it is nuclear translocation of CK2-phosphorylated pERK that regulates cell proliferation and this capacity is absent in Tm5NM1 KO cells. Proximity ligation assays confirmed a growth factor–stimulated interaction of pERK with Tm5NM1 and that the interaction of pERK with importin7 is greatly reduced in the Tm5NM1 KO cells.

scholarly journals Ghrelin and Des-Acyl Ghrelin Promote Differentiation and Fusion of C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 986-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Filigheddu ◽  
Viola F. Gnocchi ◽  
Marco Coscia ◽  
Miriam Cappelli ◽  
Paolo E. Porporato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
C2c12 Cells ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Endocrine Activity ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Inhibition Of Proliferation ◽  
Acyl Ghrelin

Ghrelin is an acylated peptidyl gastric hormone acting on the pituitary and hypothalamus to stimulate appetite, adiposity, and growth hormone release, through activation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR)-1a receptor. Moreover, ghrelin features several activities such as inhibition of apoptosis, regulation of differentiation, and stimulation or inhibition of proliferation of several cell types. Ghrelin acylation is absolutely required for both GHSR-1a binding and its central endocrine activities. However, the unacylated ghrelin form, des-acyl ghrelin, which does not bind GHSR-1a and is devoid of any endocrine activity, is far more abundant than ghrelin in plasma, and it shares with ghrelin some of its cellular activities. Inhere we show that both ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin stimulate proliferating C2C12 skeletal myoblasts to differentiate and to fuse into multinucleated myotubes in vitro through activation of p38. Consistently, both ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin inhibit C2C12 proliferation in growth medium. Moreover, the ectopic expression of ghrelin in C2C12 enhances differentiation and fusion of these myoblasts in differentiation medium. Finally, we show that C2C12 cells do not express GHSR-1a, but they do contain a common high-affinity binding site recognized by both acylated and des-acylated ghrelin, suggesting that the described activities on C2C12 are likely mediated by this novel, yet unidentified receptor for both ghrelin forms.

scholarly journals CD137 agonist induces gastric cancer cell apoptosis by enhancing the functions of CD8+ T cells via NF-κB signaling

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben-Shun Hu ◽  
Tian Tang ◽  
Jun-Li Jia ◽  
Bi-Chen Xie ◽  
Tie-Long Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Granzyme B ◽  
T Cell Proliferation ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Background CD137 is a target for tumor immunotherapy. However, the role of CD137 in gastric cancer (GC), especially in inducing GC cell apoptosis, has not been studied. Methods Foxp3+ and CD8+ T cells in GCs were investigated using immunohistochemistry (IHC). CD137 expression in GCs was detected using flow cytometry, IHC and immunofluorescence (IF). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD8+ T cells isolated from peripheral blood were stimulated with a CD137 agonist in vitro. CD8+ T cell proliferation and p65 expression was examined using flow cytometry. P65 nuclear translocation was analyzed using IF. IL-10, TGF-β, IFN-γ, perforin and granzyme B were detected using real-time quantitative PCR (real-time PCR). PBMCs and primary GC cells were cocultured and stimulated with a CD137 agonist in vitro. Apoptosis of primary GC cells was detected using flow cytometry. Results Our data demonstrated that GC tumors showed characteristics of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. CD137 was predominantly expressed in CD8+ T cells in GCs and had a positive correlation with tumor cell differentiation. The CD137 agonist promoted CD8+ T cell proliferation and increased the secretion of IFN-γ, perforin and granzyme B, which induced primary GC cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, this study found that the CD137 agonist induced NF-κB nuclear translocation in CD8+ T cells. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that a CD137 agonist induced primary GC cell apoptosis by enhancing CD8+ T cells via activation of NF-κB signaling.

scholarly journals Ghrelin in rat pancreatic islets decreases islet blood flow

2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (1) ◽  
pp. E139-E146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Johan Drott ◽  
Petra Franzén ◽  
Per-Ola Carlsson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Insulin Response ◽  
Physiological Mechanism ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Growth Hormone Secretagogue ◽  
Islet Blood Flow ◽  
Fasted Rats

The peptide ghrelin is mainly produced in some of the epithelial cells in the stomach, but also, during starvation, by the ε-cells in the endocrine pancreas. Ghrelin, as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1α), exerts a variety of metabolic functions including stimulation of appetite and weight gain. Its complete role is not yet fully understood, including whether it has any vascular functions. The present study evaluated if ghrelin affects pancreatic and islet blood flow. Ghrelin and the GHS-R1α receptor antagonist GHRP-6 were injected intravenously in rats followed by blood flow measurements using a microsphere technique. Ghrelin decreased, while GHRP-6 in fasted, but not fed, rats selectively increased islet blood flow fourfold. GHS-R1α was identified not only on glucagon-producing cells but also seemed to be present in the islet arterioles. GHRP-6 in fasted rats, only, also improved the peak insulin response to glucose in vivo, thereby substantially blunting the hyperglycemia. GHRP-6 doubled glucose-stimulated insulin release in vitro of both islets obtained from fed and fasted rats. Our results indicate a novel role for endogenous ghrelin acting directly or indirectly as a local vasoconstrictor in the islets during fasting, thereby restricting the insulin response to hyperglycemia. This is to the best of our knowledge the first report that shows this physiological mechanism to restrict insulin delivery from the islets by acting on the vasculature; a mode of action that can be envisaged to complement the previously well-described mechanisms of ghrelin acting directly on the islet endocrine cells.

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