The octanoylated energy regulating hormone ghrelin: An expanded view of ghrelin’s biological interactions and avenues for controlling ghrelin signaling

Ghrelin is a small peptide hormone that requires a unique post-translational modification, serine octanoylation, to bind and activate the GHS-R1a receptor. Initially demonstrated to stimulate hunger and appetite, ghrelin-dependent signaling is implicated in a variety of neurological and physiological processes influencing diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and Prader-Willi syndrome. In addition to its cognate receptor, recent studies have revealed ghrelin interacts with a range of binding partners within the bloodstream. Defining the scope of ghrelin’s interactions within the body, understanding how these interactions work in concert to modulate ghrelin signaling, and developing molecular tools for controlling ghrelin signaling are essential for exploiting ghrelin for therapeutic effect. In this review, we discuss recent findings regarding the biological effects of ghrelin signaling, outline binding partners that control ghrelin trafficking and stability in circulation, and summarize the current landscape of inhibitors targeting ghrelin octanoylation.     

Minireview: Metabolic control of the reproductive physiology: Insights from genetic mouse models

This article is part of a Special Issue Energy Balance.     

乳酸菌素片联合标准四联疗法对社区消化性溃疡患者胃电图及肠道菌群的影响

目的探讨乳酸菌素片结合标准四联疗法对社区消化性溃疡(PU)患者胃电图及肠道菌群的影响,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。方法选取2018年1月至2020年3月社区PU患者128例,随机分为对照组和试验组,各64例。对照组患者给予标准四联疗法,试验组在对照组基础上给予乳酸菌素片,两组患者均治疗14 d。观察两组患者H.pylori根除率、治疗效果、再生黏膜组织学成熟度、不良反应及治疗前后胃电图(胃肠电节律紊乱、平均频率)、胃肠激素[胃蛋白原Ⅰ(PGⅠ)、生长抑素(SS)、生长激素释放多肽(Ghrelin)]、肠道菌群(革兰阳性球菌、革兰阴性球菌、革兰阳性杆菌)水平,并于治疗后3个月随访PU复发率。结果试验组患者治疗总有效率(95.31%)、H.pylori根除率(87.50%)及再生黏膜组织学成熟度均高于对照组(均P0.05)。胃电图检测显示,治疗后试验组患者餐前、餐后平均频率及胃肠电节律紊乱均低于对照组(均P0.05)。治疗后试验组患者血清SS水平高于对照组,PGⅠ、Ghrelin水平低于对照组(均P0.05)。治疗后试验组患者肠道革兰阴性球菌数量高于对照组,革兰阳性杆菌数量低于对照组(均P0.05)。两组患者不良反应发生率及PU复发率比较差异无统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论乳酸菌素片结合标准四联疗法治疗社区PU患者的疗效确切,可有效调控患者胃肠激素,提高H.pylori根除率,安全性较高。     

Ago-Allosteric Modulation and Other Types of Allostery in Dimeric 7TM Receptors

Conventionally, an allosteric modulator is neutral in respect of efficacy and binds to a receptor site distant from the orthosteric site of the endogenous agonist. However, recently compounds being ago-allosteric modulators have been described i.e., compounds acting both as agonists on their own and as enhancers for the endogenous agonists in both increasing agonist potency and providing additive efficacy—superagonism. The additive efficacy can also be observed with agonists, which are neutral or even negative modulators of the potency of the endogenous ligand. Based on the prevailing dimeric concept for 7TM receptors, it is proposed that the ago-allosteric modulators bind in the orthosteric binding site, but–importantly–in the “other” or allosteric protomer of the dimer. Hereby, they can act both as additive co-agonists, and through intermolecular cooperative effects between the protomers, they may influence the potency of the endogenous agonist. It is of interest that at least some endogenous agonists can only occupy one protomer of a dimeric 7TM receptor complex at a time and thereby they leave the orthosteric binding site in the allosteric protomer free, potentially for binding of exogenous, allosteric modulators. If the allosteric modulator is an agonist, it is an ago-allosteric modulator; if it is neutral, it is a classical enhancer. Molecular mapping in hetero-dimeric class-C receptors, where the endogenous agonist clearly binds only in one protomer, supports the notion that allosteric modulators can act through binding in the “other” protomer. It is suggested that for the in vivo, clinical setting a positive ago-allosteric modulator should be the preferred agonist drug.     

Ghrelin amplifies the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the rat striatum

The orexigenic peptide ghrelin plays a prominent role in the regulation of energy balance and in the mediation of reward mechanisms and reinforcement for addictive drugs, such as nicotine. Nicotine is the principal psychoactive component in tobacco, which is responsible for addiction and relapse of smokers. Nicotine activates the mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchR). Ghrelin stimulates the dopaminergic neurons via growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-R1A) in the ventral tegmental area and the substantia nigra pars compacta resulting in the release of dopamine in the ventral and dorsal striatum, respectively. In the present study an in vitro superfusion of rat striatal slices was performed, in order to investigate the direct action of ghrelin on the striatal dopamine release and the interaction of ghrelin with nicotine through this neurotransmitter release. Ghrelin increased significantly the dopamine release from the rat striatum following electrical stimulation. This stimulatory effect was reversed by both the selective nAchR antagonist mecamylamine and the selective GHS-R1A antagonist GHRP-6. Nicotine also increased significantly the dopamine release under the same conditions. This stimulatory effect was antagonized by mecamylamine, but not by GHRP-6. Ghrelin further stimulated the nicotine-induced dopamine release and this effect was abolished by mecamylamine and was partially inhibited by GHRP-6. The present results demonstrate that ghrelin stimulates directly the dopamine release and amplifies the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the rat striatum. We presume that striatal cholinergic interneurons also express GHS-R1A, through which ghrelin can amplify the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the striatum. This study provides further evidence of the impact of ghrelin on the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways. It also suggests that ghrelin signaling may serve as a novel pharmacological target for treatment of addictive and neurodegenerative disorders.     

In vivo characterization of the effects of ghrelin on the modulation of acute pain at the supraspinal level in mice

Ghrelin, an acylated peptide produced in the stomach, increases food intake and growth hormone secretion, inhibits pro-inflammatory cascade, etc. Ghrelin and its receptor (GHS-R1a) mRNA were found in the area related to the regions for controlling pain transmission, such as the hypothalamus, the midbrain, the spinal cord, etc. Ghrelin has been shown to have antinociceptive activity and also anti-inflammatory properties in inflammatory pain and chronic neuropathic pain. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ghrelin for the first time in the acute pain modulation at the supraspinal level, using the tail withdrawal test and hot-plate test in mice. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of ghrelin (mouse, 0.1–3 nmol) produced a dose- and time-related antinociceptive effect in the tail withdrawal test and hot-plate test, respectively. Antinociceptive effect elicited by ghrelin (i.c.v., 1 nmol) was significantly antagonized by opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (i.c.v., 10 nmol co-injection or i.p., 10 mg/kg, 10 min prior to ghrelin) in both tail withdrawal test and hot-plate test. At these doses, naloxone significantly antagonized the antinociceptive effect induced by morphine (i.c.v., 3 nmol). Ghrelin (i.c.v., 1 nmol)-induced antinociception was significantly antagonized by co-injection with 10 nmol [d-Lys3]-GHRP-6, the selective antagonist of GHS-R1a identified more recently, while [d-Lys3]-GHRP-6 (10 nmol) alone induced neither hyperalgesia nor antinociception. Overall this data indicate that ghrelin could produce antinociception through an interaction with GHS-R1a and with the central opioid system. Thus ghrelin may be a promising peptide for developing new analgesic drugs.     

Ghrelin治疗脑出血大鼠脑水肿及MMP-9表达的影响

目的:研究Ghrelin对大鼠脑出血后脑水肿及脑组织中基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)表达的影响。方法:选取雄性SD大鼠80只,随机分为对照组(NC组)20只、假手术组(SHAM组)20只、脑出血组(ICH组)20只、Ghrelin治疗组(Ghrelin组)20只。利用自体动脉血注入法建立大鼠脑出血模型;Ghrelin组于建立脑出血模型后经股静脉注射Ghrelin 10 nmol/Kg·d。分别于12 h、24 h、3d、5 d、7 d时间点根据Berderson评分法评估各组大鼠神经系统功能;利用干湿重法测定各组大鼠脑组织含水量;利用蛋白质免疫印迹法(WB)检测脑组织中MMP-9表达情况。结果:在12 h、24 h、3 d、5 d、7 d,ICH组、Ghrelin组大鼠Berderson评分及脑组织含水量高于NC组、SHAM组(P0.05);在5 d、7 d,ICH组大鼠Berderson评分及脑组织含水量高于Ghrelin组(P0.05)。WB结果表明在12 h、24 h、3 d、5 d、7 d,ICH组大鼠脑组织中MMP-9的表达均高于NC组、SHAM组(P0.05);Ghrelin组MMP-9的表达在12 h、24 h、3 d高于NC组、SHAM组(P0.05),在5 d、7 d,与NC组、SHAM组无明显差异(P0.05);在5 d、7 d,ICH组MMP-9表达高于Ghrelin组(P0.05)。结论:在本研究中,Ghrelin可以在5 d后降低脑出血大鼠脑组织中MMP-9的表达程度,从而减轻脑水肿,改善脑出血大鼠神经功能。     

Somatostatin suppresses ghrelin secretion from the rat stomach

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide that stimulates food intake and the secretion of growth hormone. While ghrelin is predominantly synthesized in a subset of endocrine cells in the oxyntic gland of the human and rat stomach, the mechanism regulating ghrelin secretion remains unknown. Somatostatin, a peptide produced in the gastric oxyntic mucosa, is known to suppress secretion of several gastrointestinal peptides in a paracrine fashion. By double immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that somatostatin-immunoreactive cells contact ghrelin-immunoreactive cells. A single intravenous injection of somatostatin reduced the systemic plasma concentration of ghrelin in rats. Continuous infusion of somatostatin into the gastric artery of the vascularly perfused rat stomach suppressed ghrelin secretion in both dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings indicate that ghrelin secretion from the stomach is regulated by gastric somatostatin.     

糖尿病大鼠ghrelin和nesfatin-1表达动力学及其调控

目的:探讨STZ诱导糖尿病大鼠ghrelin和nesfatin-1动力学及分泌调节变化。方法:STZ诱导糖尿病大鼠模型;采用葡糖糖脱氢酶分析法测量血浆葡萄糖水平;免疫放射分析检测血浆ghrelin、nesfatin-1、胰岛素、胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF-1)、生长激素(GH)含量;采用real-time PCR检测ghrelin m RNA水平变化;免疫组化观察ghrelin和nesfatin-1免疫活性细胞数量。结果:糖尿病大鼠体重显著降低(t=23.16,P<0.01),血糖水平显著升高(t=22.55,P<0.01),血浆胰岛素和IGF-1水平显著降低(t=6.50,t=24.13,P<0.01),但GH水平显著升高(t=3.30,P<0.05)。糖尿病大鼠血浆总ghrelin(t=7.03,P<0.01)和活性ghrelin(t=3.33,P<0.05)水平均显著升高,血浆nesfatin-1水平则显著降低(t=6.24,P<0.01);糖尿病大鼠血浆总ghrelin与GH(r=0.81,P<0.01)和IGF-1水平(r=-0.58,P<0.01)呈显著相关性;与对照组大鼠相比,糖尿病大鼠胃总ghrelin(t=16.86,P<0.01)和活性ghrelin(t=3.30,P<0.05)水平均显著降低;而胃nesfatin-1(t=7.93,P<0.01)水平则显著升高。胃总ghrelin水平与血浆IGF-1水平呈明显相关性(r=0.65,P<0.01);与对照组大鼠相比,糖尿病大鼠胃ghrelin m RNA表达水平显著升高(t=16.8,P<0.01),胃底ghrelin免疫活性细胞数量显著减少(t=3.98,P<0.01);实验中给予大鼠自由饮食,糖尿病大鼠血浆总ghrelin水平显著增加(t=7.53,P<0.01),nesfatin-1水平显著降低(t=5.46,P<0.01)。糖尿病大鼠注射胰岛素后,可使增加的ghrelin水平(t=1.76,P=0.11)和降低的nesfatin-1水平接近正常(t=1.96,P=0.06);且胰岛素可显著反转糖尿病大鼠胃总ghrelin(t=8.54,P<0.01)和nesfatin-1水平(t=2.42,P<0.05);以及注射胰岛素后,糖尿病大鼠胃底ghrelin细胞显著增加,nesfatin-1细胞明显减少(t=3.21,t=2.59,P<0.05)。结论:Ghrelin或nesfatin-1参与糖尿病大鼠能量平衡调控。