scholarly journals AgRP(83–132) Acts as an Inverse Agonist on the Human-Melanocortin-4 Receptor

2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter A. J. Nijenhuis ◽  
Julia Oosterom ◽  
Roger A. H. Adan
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclase ◽  
Inverse Agonist ◽  
Constitutive Activity ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Melanocortin System ◽  
Receptor Level ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

Abstract The central melanocortin (MC) system has been demonstrated to act downstream of leptin in the regulation of body weight. The system comprises α-MSH, which acts as agonist, and agouti-related protein (AgRP), which acts as antagonist at the MC3 and MC4 receptors (MC3R and MC4R). This property suggests that MCR activity is tightly regulated and that opposing signals are integrated at the receptor level. We here propose another level of regulation within the melanocortin system by showing that the human (h) MC4R displays constitutive activity in vitro as assayed by adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity. Furthermore, human AgRP(83–132) acts as an inverse agonist for the hMC4R since it was able to suppress constitutive activity of the hMC4R both in intact B16/G4F melanoma cells and membrane preparations. The effect of AgRP(83–132) on the hMC4R was blocked by the MC4R ligand SHU9119. Also the hMC3R and the mouse(m)MC5R were shown to be constitutively active. AgRP(83–132) acted as an inverse agonist on the hMC3R but not on the mMC5R. Thus, AgRP is able to regulate MCR activity independently of α-MSH. These findings form a basis to further investigate the relevance of constitutive activity of the MC4R and of inverse agonism of AgRP for the regulation of body weight.

scholarly journals Regulation of adipose tissue leptin secretion by alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and agouti-related protein: further evidence of an interaction between leptin and the melanocortin signalling system

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Hoggard ◽  
L Hunter ◽  
JS Duncan ◽  
DV Rayner
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Melanocortin System ◽  
Rat Adipocytes ◽  
Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Agouti Related Protein ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

The central role of the melanocortin system in the regulation of energy balance has been studied in great detail. However, the functions of circulating melanocortins and the roles of their peripheral receptors remain to be elucidated. There is increasing evidence of a peripheral action of melanocortins in the regulation of leptin production by adipocytes. Here we investigate the interaction of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) in the regulation of leptin secretion from cultured rat adipocytes and examine the changes in circulating alpha-MSH and AgRP in lean and obese rodents after hormonal and energetic challenge. Leptin secretion (measured by ELISA) and gene expression (by real-time quantitative PCR) of differentiated rat adipocytes cultured in vitro were inhibited by the administration of alpha-MSH (EC50=0.24 nM), and this effect was antagonised by antagonists of the melanocortin receptors MC4R and MC3R (AgRP and SHU9119). The presence of MC4R in rat adipocytes (RT-PCR and restriction digest) supports the involvement of this receptor subtype in this interaction. Leptin administered to ob/ob mice in turn increases the release of alpha-MSH into the circulation, suggesting a possible feedback loop between the site of alpha-MSH release and the release of leptin from the adipose tissue. However, the physiological significance of this putative feedback probably depends upon the underlying state of energy balance, since in the fasting state low plasma alpha-MSH is paralleled by low plasma leptin.

scholarly journals Neither Agouti-Related Protein nor Neuropeptide Y Is Critically Required for the Regulation of Energy Homeostasis in Mice

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 5027-5035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Qian ◽  
Howard Chen ◽  
Drew Weingarth ◽  
Myrna E. Trumbauer ◽  
Dawn E. Novi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Orexigenic Peptide ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

ABSTRACT Agouti-related protein (AgRP), a neuropeptide abundantly expressed in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, potently stimulates feeding and body weight gain in rodents. AgRP is believed to exert its effects through the blockade of signaling by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone at central nervous system (CNS) melanocortin-3 receptor (Mc3r) and Mc4r. We generated AgRP-deficient (Agrp−/− ) mice to examine the physiological role of AgRP. Agrp−/− mice are viable and exhibit normal locomotor activity, growth rates, body composition, and food intake. Additionally, Agrp−/− mice display normal responses to starvation, diet-induced obesity, and the administration of exogenous leptin or neuropeptide Y (NPY). In situ hybridization failed to detect altered CNS expression levels for proopiomelanocortin, Mc3r, Mc4r, or NPY mRNAs in Agrp−/− mice. As AgRP and the orexigenic peptide NPY are coexpressed in neurons of the arcuate nucleus, we generated AgRP and NPY double-knockout (Agrp−/− ;Npy−/− ) mice to determine whether NPY or AgRP plays a compensatory role in Agrp−/− or NPY-deficient (Npy−/− ) mice, respectively. Similarly to mice deficient in either AgRP or NPY, Agrp−/− ;Npy−/− mice suffer no obvious feeding or body weight deficits and maintain a normal response to starvation. Our results demonstrate that neither AgRP nor NPY is a critically required orexigenic factor, suggesting that other pathways capable of regulating energy homeostasis can compensate for the loss of both AgRP and NPY.

scholarly journals Ghrelin Receptor (GHS-R1a) and Its Constitutive Activity in Somatotroph Adenomas: A New Co-targeting Therapy Using GHS-R1a Inverse Agonists and Somatostatin Analogs

2014 ◽  
Vol 99 (12) ◽  
pp. E2463-E2471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Mear ◽  
Marie-Pierre Blanchard ◽  
Céline Defilles ◽  
Thierry Brue ◽  
Dominique Figarella-Branger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatostatin Receptor ◽  
Somatostatin Analogs ◽  
Inverse Agonist ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Constitutive Activity ◽  
Targeting Therapy ◽  
Ghrelin Receptor ◽  
Gh Secretion

Context: The ghrelin receptor GHS-R1a is highly expressed in human somatotroph adenomas and exhibits unusually high basal signaling activity. In humans, the suppression of this constitutive activity by mutation induces a short stature. Objective: Using a GHS-R1a inverse agonist, modified substance P (MSP), we explored the role of GHS-R1a constitutive activity in GH hypersecretion from somatotroph adenomas and as a putative therapeutic target. Design: The effects of MSP were assessed on GH secretion from 19 human somatotroph tumors in vitro. Moreover, these effects were compared with those of octreotide (somatostatin receptor subtype 2 [sst2] agonist) and with the combination of both drugs. Expression and localization of GHS-R1a and sst2 were studied. Results: For all tumors, MSP inhibited GH secretion in a dose-dependent manner from 13 to 64%. Moreover, MSP enhanced octreotide-induced GH inhibition. For five tumors, the effects of combined MSP plus octreotide treatment were significantly higher than the sum of effects of each drug alone. MSP increased the membrane localization of GHS-R1a and of microdomains colocalizing sst2-GHS-R1a, highlighting the cooperation between the two drugs. Conclusions: The GHS-R1a inverse agonist could open new therapeutic options for acromegalic patients, particularly patients partially sensitive to octreotide whose GH secretion is not completely controlled by the sst2 agonist.

scholarly journals Agouti-related protein (83-132) is a competitive antagonist at the human melanocortin-4 receptor: no evidence for differential interactions with pro-opiomelanocortin-derived ligands

2004 ◽  
Vol 180 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
LE Pritchard ◽  
D Armstrong ◽  
N Davies ◽  
RL Oliver ◽  
CA Schmitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Intracellular Camp ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Dissociation Kinetics ◽  
Competitive Antagonist ◽  
Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Natural Ligand ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

Interactions between pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, agouti-related protein (AGRP) and the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R) are central to energy homeostasis. In this study we have undertaken comprehensive pharmacological analysis of these interactions using a CHOK1 cell line stably transfected with human MC4-R. Our main objectives were (1) to compare the relative affinities and potencies of POMC-derived peptides endogenously secreted within the hypothalamus, (2) to investigate the potency of AGRP(83-132) antagonism with respect to each POMC-derived peptide and (3) to determine whether AGRP(83-132) and POMC-derived peptides act allosterically or orthosterically. We have found that beta melanocyte-stimulating hormone (betaMSH), desacetyl alpha MSH (da-alphaMSH) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone all have very similar affinities and potencies at the MC4-R compared with the presumed natural ligand, alphaMSH. Moreover, even MSH precursors, such as beta lipotrophic hormone, showed significant binding and functional activity. Therefore, many POMC-derived peptides could have important roles in appetite regulation and it seems unlikely that alphaMSH is the sole physiological ligand. We have shown that AGRP(83-132) acts as a competitive antagonist. There was no significant difference in the potency of inhibition by AGRP(83-132) or agouti(87-132) at the MC4-R, regardless of which POMC peptide was used as an agonist. Furthermore, we have found that AGRP(83-132) has no effect on the dissociation kinetics of radiolabelled Nle4,D-Phe7 MSH from the MC4-R, indicating an absence of allosteric effects. This provides strong pharmacological evidence that AGRP(83-132) acts orthosterically at the MC4-R to inhibit Gs-coupled accumulation of intracellular cAMP.

Inverse agonist activity of agouti and agouti-related protein

Peptides ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biao-Xin Chai ◽  
Richard R. Neubig ◽  
Glenn L. Millhauser ◽  
Darren A. Thompson ◽  
Pilgrim J. Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inverse Agonist ◽  
Agonist Activity ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

scholarly journals Effect of Agouti-Related Protein in Regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis in the Melanocortin 4 Receptor Knockout Mouse

Endocrinology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 145 (11) ◽  
pp. 4816-4821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Fekete ◽  
Daniel L. Marks ◽  
Sumit Sarkar ◽  
Charles H. Emerson ◽  
William M. Rand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mouse ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽  
Receptor Knockout Mouse ◽  
Pituitary Thyroid Axis ◽  
Thyroid Axis ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

The role of agouti-related protein in regulating body weight

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 250-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent D. Wilson ◽  
Michael M. Ollmann ◽  
Gregory S. Barsh
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Agouti Related Protein
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