Importance of sulfation of gastrin or cholecystokinin (CCK) on affinity for gastrin and CCK receptors

We investigated the importance of sulfation of gastrin or cholecystokinin (CCK) on influencing their affinity for gastrin or CCK receptors by comparing the abilities of sulfated gastrin-17 (gastrin-17-II), desulfated gastrin-17 (gastrin-17-I), CCK-8 and desulfated CCK-8 [des(SO3)CCK-8] to interact with CCK or gastrin receptors on guinea pig pancreatic acini. For inhibiting binding of 125I-gastrin to gastrin receptors, gastrin-17-II (Kd 0.08 nM) greater than CCK-8 (Kd 0.4 nM) greater than gastrin-17-I (Kd 1.5 nM) greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 (Kd 28 nM). For inhibiting binding of 125I-Bolton Hunter-labeled CCK-8 to CCK receptors the relative potencies were: CCK-8 much greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 = gastrin-17-II greater than gastrin-17-I. Each peptide interacted with both high and low affinity CCK binding sites. The relative abilities of each peptide to interact with high affinity CCK receptors showed a close correlation with their abilities to cause half-maximal stimulation of enzyme secretion. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to older studies, sulfation of both CCK and gastrin increase their affinities for both gastrin and CCK receptors. Moreover, the gastrin receptor is relatively insensitive to the position of the sulfate moiety, whereas the CCK receptor is extremely sensitive to both the presence and exact position of the sulfate moiety.     

New satiety hormone nesfatin-1 protects gastric mucosa against stress-induced injury: Mechanistic roles of prostaglandins,nitric oxide,sensory nerves and vanilloid receptors

Nesfatin-1 belongs to a family of anorexigenic peptides, which are responsible for satiety and are identified in the neurons and endocrine cells within the gut. These peptides have been implicated in the control of food intake; however, very little is known concerning its contribution to gastric secretion and gastric mucosal integrity. In this study the effects of nesfatin-1 on gastric secretion and gastric lesions induced in rats by 3.5 h of water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) were determined. Exogenous nesfatin-1 (5–40 μg/kg i.p.) significantly decreased gastric acid secretion and attenuated gastric lesions induced by WRS, and this was accompanied by a significant rise in plasma NUCB2/nefatin-1 levels, the gastric mucosal blood flow (GBF), luminal NO concentration, generation of PGE₂ in the gastric mucosa, an overexpression of mRNA for NUBC2 and cNOS, as well as a suppression of iNOS and proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and TNF-α mRNAs. Nesfatin-1-induced protection was attenuated by suppression of COX-1 and COX-2 activity, the inhibition of NOS with L-NNA, the deactivation of afferent nerves with neurotoxic doses of capsaicin, and the pretreatment with capsazepine to inhibit vanilloid VR1 receptors. This study shows for the first time that nesfatin-1 exerts a potent protective action in the stomach of rats exposed to WRS and these effects depend upon decrease in gastric secretion, hyperemia mediated by COX-PG and NOS-NO systems, the activation of vagal and sensory nerves and vanilloid receptors.     

Role of capsaicin sensory nerves and EGF in the healing of gastric ulcer in rats

Accumulating evidence indicates that capsaicin sensitive afferent fibers play a pivotal role not only in gastroprotection but also in ulcer healing. Denervation of capsaicin sensitive afferent fibers exerts an adverse action on these effects. However, whether such an action is mediated through a depression on epidermal growth factor (EGF) is undefined. In this study, the effects of denervation of sensory neurons with capsaicin (100 mg/kg, s.c.) on acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers and their relationship with the EGF expression in salivary glands, serum and gastric mucosa were investigated. Capsaicin significantly increased ulcer size, decreased gastric mucosal cell proliferation at the ulcer margin, angiogenesis in the granulation tissue and also gastric mucus content. Ulcer induction by itself dramatically elevated EGF levels in salivary glands and serum on day 1 and 4, and also in the gastric mucosa on day 4. However, capsaicin completely abolished these effects. It is concluded that stimulation of EGF expression in salivary glands and serum may be one of the mechanisms by which capsaicin sensitive nerves contribute to the gastroprotective and ulcer healing actions in the stomach.     

Functional cholecystokinin receptors are distinguished kinetically by biotinyl-Tyr-Gly-(Thr28,Nle31)CCK(25-33) in rat pancreatic acini.

Biotinyl-tyrosine-glycine(Thr28,Nle31)CCK(25-33) (BTG-TN-CCK-9) promoted amylase secretion and phosphatidylinositol (PI) metabolism with the same potency and efficacy as TN-CCK-9 in dispersed rat pancreatic acini. A 1 min preincubation of the ligand with a 20-fold excess of streptavidin completely suppressed this biological activity. On the other hand, amylase secretion and PI metabolism prestimulated with BTG-TN-CCK-9 were blocked within 1-5 min after streptavidin addition. [125I]BTG-TN-CCK-9 bound to high (Kd 0.17 nM) and low (Kd 13 nM) affinity receptors. Its dissociation, in the presence of either streptavidin or TN-CCK-9, showed a rapid component and a slow component. The proportion of tracer dissociating slowly increased with increasing preincubation time as did the proportion of tracer that could not be washed away quickly by acidic treatment, in parallel experiments. This phenomenon occurred less readily at 4 degrees C or in the presence of 1 mM CCCP. In acini preincubated for 30 min with 0.3 nM [125I]BTG-TN-CCK-9 and various concentrations of unlabelled BTG-TN-CCK-9, then washed at neutral pH (in order to eliminate rapidly dissociating ligand preferentially), the tracer displacement curve was shifted leftward, suggesting that rapidly dissociating receptors corresponded to low affinity receptors. When acini were preincubated for 1 min with BTG-TN-CCK-9, then washed at neutral pH with buffer only, we observed residual stimulated secretion over the next 30 min period, that correlated with the BTG-TN-CCK-9 concentration offered during the short preincubation period. This phenomenon was inhibited by streptavidin suggesting that intracellularly accumulated intact BTG-TN-CCK-9 (as shown, by radio-HPLC) promoted residual secretion when free to bind again to cell surface receptors in the absence of streptavidin. Taken collectively, these data suggest the coexistence of at least 2 types (or states) of CCK receptors.     

Acceleration of nitric oxide autoxidation and nitrosation by membranes

The reaction between nitric oxide ((.)NO) and oxygen yields reactive species capable of oxidizing and nitrosating proteins, as well as deaminating DNA bases. Although this reaction is considered too slow to be biologically relevant, it has been shown that membranes, lipoproteins, mitochondria and possibly proteins can accelerate this reaction. This effect stems from the higher solubility of both (.)NO and O(2)in the hydrophobic phase of these biological particles, leading to a concentration of both reagents and so a higher rate of reaction. It has been determined that this reaction occurs from 30 to 300 times more rapidly within the membrane, while even higher values have been suggested for proteins. The autoxidation of (.)NO in membranes is not the main route for cellular (.)NO consumption but an important consequence of this phenomenon is to focus the generation of significant amounts of oxidizing and nitrosating molecules (nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen trioxide) in the small volume comprised by cellular membranes. Even so, these reactive species are diffusible and their ultimate fate will depend on the reactivity towards available substrates rather than on physical barriers. The acceleration of (.)NO autoxidation by biological hydrophobic phases may thus be a general phenomenon that increases in importance in cases of (.)NO overproduction.     

Epidermal growth factor suppresses nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide production by keratinocytes. Potential role for nitric oxide in the regulation of wound healing.

In the skin, wounding initiates a complex array of physiological processes mediated by growth factors and inflammatory mediators which stimulate tissue repair and protect against infection. We report that primary cultures of human keratinocytes and a mouse keratinocyte cell line respond to the inflammatory stimuli gamma-interferon and lipopolysaccharide or tumor necrosis factor-alpha by producing nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide, two reactive mediators that are important in nonspecific host defense. Nitric oxide is produced by the l-arginine- and NADPH-dependent enzyme, nitric oxide synthase. In murine keratinocytes, optimal enzymatic activity was found to be dependent on Ca2+ and calmodulin as well as on glutathione. Inflammatory mediators were also found to inhibit the growth of keratinocytes, an effect that could be reversed by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which promotes wound healing by stimulating cellular proliferation, was found to be a potent antagonist of reactive nitrogen and reactive oxygen intermediate production by keratinocytes. EGF also reversed the growth inhibitory actions of the inflammatory mediators. These data suggest that nitric oxide produced by keratinocytes is important in the control of cellular proliferation during wound healing. Our findings that EGF effectively regulates the production of free radicals by keratinocytes may represent an important pathway by which this growth factor not only stimulates epidermal cell proliferation but also facilitates the resolution of inflammation following wounding.     

Conformational analysis of cholecystokinin fragments CCK4, CCK5, and CCK6 by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and fluorescence-transfer measurements

The confortmational behavior of the cholecystokinin-related fragments CCK₄, CCK₅, and CCK₆ as determined by ¹H-nmr spectroscopy in DMSO-d₆ and water and fluorescence-transfer measurements in aqueous medium are greatly dependent on the ionization states of these peptides. Under netral conditions, the backbones of CCK₅ and CCK₆ preferentially adopted folded forms with a β-turn including the four residues Gly-Trp-Met-Asp, probably stabilized by a hydrogen bond between the CO of Gly and the NH of Phe. In these structures, possible induced by an ionic interaction between the carboxylic group of Asp³² and the NH group of the N-terminal amino acid, the lateral chains of the various residues are quite distant from each other (15–16 Å). Under acidic conditions, extended structures without interactions between side chains predominate for CCK₅ and CCK₆, while for CCK₄, a conformational change drawing the Trp and Phe side chains in close proximity was shown by fluorescence. The conformations observed in aqueous medium at physiological pH are discussed in relation to the biological activity of these peptides.     

Interaction between CCK and a preload on reduction of food intake is mediated by CCK-A receptors in humans

Cholecystokinin (CCK) interacts with neural signals to induce satiety in several species, but the mechanisms are unclear. We therefore tested the hypothesis that alimentary CCK (CCK-A) receptors mediate the interaction of CCK with an appetizer on food intake in humans. CCK octapeptide (CCK-8, 0.75 microgram infused over 10 min) or saline (placebo) with concomitant infusions of saline (placebo) or loxiglumide, a specific CCK-A antagonist, was infused into 16 healthy men with use of a double-blind, four-period design. All subjects received a standard 400-ml appetizer (amounting to 154 kcal) but were free to eat and drink thereafter as much as they wished. The effect of these infusions on feelings of hunger and satiety and on food intake was quantified. CCK-8 induced a reduction in calorie intake (P < 0.05) compared with saline. Furthermore, a decrease in hunger feelings (P < 0.05, saline-CCK-8 vs. all other treatments) and an increase in fullness were observed. These effects were antagonized for hunger and fullness by loxiglumide. We conclude that CCK-8 interacts with an appetizer to modulate satiety in humans. These effects are mediated by CCK-A receptors.     

Computational analysis of conformational behavior of cholecystokinin fragments. I-CCK4, CCK5, CCK6 and CCK7 molecules

A conformational analysis has been performed on several peptide fragments (CCK4 to CCK7) of the cholecystokinin neuromodulator. The Monte-Carlo Metropolis method was used to explore the conformational space of all these flexible units and different electric charge distributions were introduced in order to mimic pH effects. Results agree reasonably well with experimental data from NMR and fluorescence experiments. The CCK4 fragment displays a peculiar conformational behavior when compared to all other longer peptides with short range interaction between the Trp and Phe aromatic side-chains. Several H-bonded conformers including C- or beta-turns are found for CCK5 to CCK7. These findings are correlated to the central and peripheral actions of these compounds and hypotheses concerning the best possible templates for each one are discussed.     

Determination of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations by bioassay and radioimmunoassay in man. A critical evaluation.

The present investigation was designed to perform a direct comparison of a rat pancreatic acini bioassay system and a specific CCK radioimmunoassay (antiserum G-160) for the measurement of fasting and meal-stimulated plasma CCK in the presence and absence of the CCK receptor antagonist loxiglumide. The G-160 CCK antiserum is directed against the C-terminal O-sulfated tyrosine residue of the CCK molecule which is essential for full bioactivity of CCK peptides. For plasma extraction prior to bioassay measurement, hydrophobic reverse-phase chromatography on octadecylsilane cartridges was employed and resulted in simultaneous adsorption and elution of both CCK peptides and loxiglumide with recoveries of 87.5 +/- 9% and 75.0 +/- 5.9%, respectively. In the absence of loxiglumide, fasting and meal-stimulated values for CCK-like bioactivity and CCK-immunoreactivity (IR-CCK) were nearly identical (basal values: 1-2 pmol/l; meal-stimulated plateau levels: 4-6 pmol/l). After intravenous infusion of loxiglumide (30 mg/kg/h for 10 min, 10 mg/kg/h thereafter), resulting in plasma steady state levels of 200-300 mumol/l, meal-stimulated CCK-like bioactivity was undetectable, whereas IR-CCK levels were augmented 6.5-fold. In the bioassay system, standard samples containing 50 mumol/l loxiglumide produced complete inhibition of acinar lipase release in response to 50 pmol/l synthetic CCK-8. We conclude, that postprandial circulating non-CCK-like factors do not contribute significantly to the direct receptor-mediated stimulation of exocrine pancreatic secretion. The good agreement of CCK-like bioactivity and IR-CCK levels in the absence of loxiglumide confirms the sensitive and specific recognition of bioactive CCK peptides by the G-160 antiserum and suggests that this antibody exerts binding characteristics probably similar to a pancreatic acinar receptor.     

Minireview. The ascent of cholecystokinin (CCK) - from gut to brain

Cholecystokinin (CCK), a classical gastrointestinal polypeptide hormone, appears to have an equally important role as a brain neurotransmitter. CCK is widely distributed throughout both the central and peripheral nervous system. Of the known brain peptides, only CCK and VIP are predominately cerebral cortical peptides. In the pituitary, CCK is found in the posterior pituitary, while gastrin-like peptides are present in the anterior and intermediate lobes. Phylogenetically, gastrin-CCK-like peptides arose extremely early in evolution being present in the primitive nerve cells of the coelenterate, Hydra. Specific high affinity CCK-receptors have been demonstrated in rat and guinea-pig brains with highest concentrations in the cerebral cortex, caudate nucleus and olfactory bulb. Alterations in CCK binding have been reported during fasting and in genetically obese rats and mice. The low levels of CCK receptors in patients with Huntington's Chorea, the coexistance of CCK with dopamine in the same mesolimbic neurons and the rotational syndrome produced after central administration in rats suggests a potential physiological role for CCK in the regulation of extra-pyramidal function. CCK and/or gastrin have been demonstrated to have a number of effects on anterior pituitary hormones and the high concentrations in the posterior pituitary suggest a possible neuromodulatory role in the regulation of vasopressin and/or oxytocin release. CCK is a putative satiety hormone which appears to produce satiety both by peripheral and central effects. The presence of CCK in the periaqueductal gray and the fact that it produces naloxone reversible analgesia suggest a potential role for CCK in the regulation of pain perception. Central administration of CCK produces hyperglycemia which appears to be partly mediated via an adrenal mechanism. CCK also produces mild hypothermia and appears to be a central nervous system depressant. Present evidence indicating that CCK is a central neurotransmitter or neuromodulator includes its regional distribution with localization within neuronal cell bodies and axons; the demonstration that it can be synthesized in neuronal tissue; the fact that it is released by depolarizing stimuli $\text{in vitro}$; the presence of specific, high affinity receptors for CCK in the brain; and the finding that it can activate isolated neurons. The high concentrations of CCK in the cerebral cortex suggest that future studies will produce further surprises concerning the physiological role of this gall-bladder contracting hormone which came of age with the discovery of its wide distribution in the central nervous system.     

Leptin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) modulate nitric oxide synthase: further evidence for a role of nitric oxide in feeding.

Recent studies have suggested a role for nitric oxide in the regulation of food intake. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most potent orexigenic agents. Chronic administration of leptin decreases food intake. This study examined the effects of NPY and leptin on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the hypothalamus. Previously it has been demonstrated that obese (ob/ob) mice have elevated NOS levels in the hypothalamus. In this study we demonstrated that the administration of leptin (6 microg/day) subcutaneously (SC) for 3 days decreased body weight (P < 0.001) and food intake P < 0.001) in obese (ob/ob) mice as expected. In addition, leptin decreased NOS in the hypothalamus nu 37% (P < 0.01) and in brown adipose tissue by 69% (P < 0.01) but not in white adipose tissue. NPY was administered intracerebroventricularly to CD-1 mice at doses of 0.25 and 0.50 microg. Mice were sacrificed 15 min after injection and NOS was measured in their hypothalami. NPY at the lower dose increased NOS in the hypothalamus by 147%. These results, taken together, with previously published studies support the concept that nitric oxide may play a role as a mediator of the effects of NPY and leptin on food intake. The alterations of NOS in brown adipose tissue following leptin administration could result in changes in blood flow or metabolism in the brown fat.     

Peptide/benzodiazepine hybrids as ligands of CCK(A) and CCK(B) receptors

The (neuro)hormones gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) share a common C-terminal tetrapeptide amide sequence that has been recognized as the message portion while the N-terminal extensions are responsible for the CCK(A) and CCK(B) receptor subtype selectivity and avidity. 1,4-Benzodiazepine derivatives are potent and selective antagonists of these receptors, and according to comparative molecular field analysis, the structures of these nonpeptidic compounds could well mimic the message sequence of the peptide agonists at least in terms of spatial array of the aromatic residues. Docking of a larger series of low molecular weight nonpeptide antagonists to a homology modeling derived CCK(B) receptor structure revealed a consensus binding mode that is further validated by data from site-directed mutagenesis studies of the receptors. Whether this putative binding pocket of the nonpeptide antagonists is identical to that of the message portion of the peptide agonists, or whether it is distinct and spatially separated, or overlapping, but with distinct interaction sites, is still object of debate. Using a 1,4-benzodiazepine core amino-functionalized at the C3 position, related tryptophanyl derivatives were synthesized as mimics of the tetrapeptide and subsequently extended N-terminally with gastrin and CCK address sequences. All hybrid constructs were recognized as antagonists by the CCK(A) and CCK(B) receptors, but their address portions were incapable of enhancing in significant manner selectivity and avidity. Consequently, the binding of the peptide/benzodiazepine hybrids has to be dictated mainly by the benzodiazepine moiety, which apparently prevents optimal interactions of the address peptides with extracellular receptor subdomains. These findings would strongly support the view of distinct binding sites for the message portion of the peptide agonists and the benzodiazepine-based nonpeptide antagonists.     

The role of cholecystokinin (CCK8) on glucose production and elimination, and on plasma insulin and glucose in rats

The effects of the gastrointestinal hormone and neurotransmitter cholecystokinin (CCK8) are complex, since it exhibits both an insulinotropic and a glucagonotropic effect. We investigated CCK8 in vivo with respect to glucose fluxes (production and elimination) at both low (6 mM) and high plasma glucose levels (9 mM) using the primed constant -[3-³H]glucose infusion technique. In the presence of high glucose levels there was a dose-dependent increase in glucose elimination by CCK8. No effect of CCK8 on glucose production at a high glucose infusion rate (500 mg/kg per h) was observed in contrast to a low glucose infusion rate (100 mg/kg per h); plasma glucagon levels were elevated. All effects on glucose production and elimination were specific, since they were abolished by the CCK receptor antagonist L-364,718. In summary, glucose elimination was slightly increased by CCK8 at low glucose levels but increased to a greater extent at high glucose levels; glucose production was increased by CCK8 only at low glucose levels. Thus, CCK is a regulator of glucose homeostasis.     

Receptor fragment approach to the binding between CCK8 peptide and cholecystokinin receptors: a fluorescence study on type B receptor fragment CCK(B)-R (352-379)

Fluorescence titrations in a membrane mimetic solvent system allowed us to estimate that the dissociation constant of the bimolecular complex between CCK8 peptide and cholecystokinin type B receptor fragment CCK(B)-R (352-379) is in the micromolar range. When considered in the context of the full receptor/ligand model, these experiments demonstrate that the receptor fragment chosen on the basis of previous structural studies represents a reliable model system to monitor the ability of CCK8 or CCK8 analogs to bind the cholecystokinin receptor. Together with previous studies, this confirms that the receptor fragment approach adopted to define the binding mode of the CCK8 fragment of cholecystokinin with its two receptors, CCK(A) and CCK(B,) can be used to characterize the binding from the equilibrium standpoint. In this context, fluorescence spectroscopy proves to be the favored technique to measure dissociation constants in the nanomolar to micromolar range.     

Curcumin differentially regulates TGF-beta1, its receptors and nitric oxide synthase during impaired wound healing

Wound healing is a highly ordered process, requiring complex and coordinated interactions involving peptide growth factors of which transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is one of the most important. Nitric oxide is also an important factor in healing and its production is regulated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). We have earlier shown that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a natural product obtained from the plant Curcuma longa, enhances cutaneous wound healing in normal and diabetic rats. In this study, we have investigated the effect of curcumin treatment by topical application in dexamethasone-impaired cutaneous healing in a full thickness punch wound model in rats. We assessed healing in terms of histology, morphometry, and collagenization on the fourth and seventh days post-wounding and analyzed the regulation of TGF-beta1, its receptors type I (tIrc) and type II (tIIrc) and iNOS. Curcumin significantly accelerated healing of wounds with or without dexamethasone treatment as revealed by a reduction in the wound width and gap length compared to controls. Curcumin treatment resulted in the enhanced expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta tIIrc in both normal and impaired healing wounds as revealed by immunohistochemistry. Macrophages in the wound bed showed an enhanced expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in curcumin treated wounds as evidenced by in situ hybridization. However, enhanced expression of TGF-beta tIrc by curcumin treatment observed only in dexamethasone-impaired wounds at the 7th day post-wounding. iNOS levels were increased following curcumin treatment in unimpaired wounds, but not so in the dexamethasone-impaired wounds. The study indicates an enhancement in dexamethasone impaired wound repair by topical curcumin and its differential regulatory effect on TGF-beta1, it's receptors and iNOS in this cutaneous wound-healing model.     

Fluorescence studies on the binding between 1-47 fragment of cholecystokinin receptor CCK(A)-R(1-47) and nonsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide CCK8

The interaction between the 1-47 N-terminus fragment of the cholecystokinin receptor and the nonsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide, CCK8, is monitored by fluorescence emission. Quenching of the fluorescence intensities is observed on binding. Dissociation constants calculated by these data are in the same submicromolar range as found for the binding of linear CCK8 analogues to B-type receptors. Although detailed structural information cannot be obtained, fluorescence emission is more sensitive than other techniques and permits fast detection of receptor-ligand interaction.