综述与专论：甘丙肽对抑郁症状的调控作用及其机制的研究进展

甘丙肽(galanin, GAL)作为治疗抑郁症的可能靶点被关注已久,但目前仍未有广泛应用的GAL类抗抑郁药物。GAL可与3种G蛋白偶联受体(GalR1～3)结合,GalR1和GalR3介导促进抑郁的作用,GalR2介导抗抑郁的作用。GAL的N端有生物活性的片段GAL (1-15),通过其受体GalR1-GalR2异聚体(heteromer),介导比GAL更强的调节抑郁效应。GAL (1-15)还可以通过GalR1-GalR2异聚体与5-羟色胺1A受体(5-HT1AR)相互作用形成GalR1-GalR2-5-HT1AR异聚体的方式,加强5-HT1AR激动剂的抗抑郁效果。此外,GAL及其受体还与去甲肾上腺素、神经肽Y、脑源性神经营养因子、多巴胺等递质或因子交互作用调节抑郁。本文梳理GAL及其受体对抑郁的调节作用及其可能机制,并对以GAL及其受体为靶点开发的药物应用于临床治疗抑郁症的可能性进行探讨。     

甘丙肽对抑郁症状的调控作用及其机制的研究进展

甘丙肽(galanin, GAL)作为治疗抑郁症的可能靶点被关注已久,但目前仍未有广泛应用的GAL类抗抑郁药物。GAL可与3种G蛋白偶联受体(GalR1~3)结合,GalR1和GalR3介导促进抑郁的作用,GalR2介导抗抑郁的作用。GAL的N端有生物活性的片段GAL (1-15),通过其受体GalR1-GalR2异聚体(heteromer),介导比GAL更强的调节抑郁效应。GAL (1-15)还可以通过GalR1-GalR2异聚体与5-羟色胺1A受体(5-HT1AR)相互作用形成GalR1-GalR2-5-HT1AR异聚体的方式,加强5-HT1AR激动剂的抗抑郁效果。此外,GAL及其受体还与去甲肾上腺素、神经肽Y、脑源性神经营养因子、多巴胺等递质或因子交互作用调节抑郁。本文梳理GAL及其受体对抑郁的调节作用及其可能机制,并对以GAL及其受体为靶点开发的药物应用于临床治疗抑郁症的可能性进行探讨。     

甘丙肽对PC12细胞和B104细胞增殖的不同影响

本实验运用PCI2细胞和B104细胞对甘丙肽（GAL）在神经增殖上的作用进行了研究。运用RT-PCR方法检测GAL及其受体在PCI2细胞和B104细胞中的表达：运用MTT法检测GAL及其受体激动剂、拮抗剂对两种细胞增殖的影响。结果显示：PCI2细胞表达所有三种GAL受体（GalRs）．而不表达GAL;B104细胞表达GAL及两种受体GaIR2和GalR3,而不表达GalRl;GAL及其受体激动剂GAL1-11和GAL2-11能够明显地抑制PC12细胞增殖、却会明显促进B104细胞的增殖。这些效应皆可被非特异性GAL受体拮抗剂M35所阻断。结果说明,GAL可以通过其受体影响细胞的增殖．并且不同受体可能介导不同的作用。     

甘丙肽及其受体在嗅成鞘细胞中的表达及对细胞增殖的影响

本实验从新生大鼠嗅球中分离出嗅成鞘细胞,进行体外培养。运用RT-PCR方法检测甘丙肽及其受体在体外培养的嗅成鞘细胞中的表达;运用MTT法检测甘丙肽及其受体激动剂、拮抗剂对嗅成鞘细胞增殖的影响。结果显示:嗅成鞘细胞表达甘丙肽(GAL)及其受体GalR2,而不表达其他两种受体GalR1和GalR3;甘西肽及两种受体激动剂GAL1-11和GAL2-11能够明显地抑制体外培养的嗅成鞘细胞的增殖,这一效应可被非特异性甘丙肽受体拮抗剂M35所阻断。     

甘丙肽提高离体海马神经细胞在过氧化氢损伤中的存活率

实验运用离体培养的大鼠海马神经细胞,观察了过氧化氢对海马神经细胞的损伤效应及甘丙肽(GAL)对氧化应激过程中海马神经细胞的保护作用。结果显示,过氧化氢对海马神经细胞具有明显的剂量相关毒性效应。甘丙肽以及甘丙肽非特异性受体激动剂GAL1-11和甘丙肽受体2 (GalR-2)特异性激动剂GAL2-11能显著减少海马神经细胞在氧化应激过程中的损伤反应,这种效应可被GAL非特异性受体阻断剂M35阻断。实验提示GAL对氧化应激导致的海马神经细胞损伤具有保护作用,这种作用很有可能是由GalR-2受体介导。     

神经多肽中的新成员：甘丙肽

甘丙肽(galanin,GAL)是由29个氨基酸残基组成的神经多肽,具有由123个氨基酸组成的前体蛋白,即前GAL原(prepro GAL)。甘丙肽样免疫反应物质(GAL-like immunoreactivity,GAL-LI)存在于脑和脊髓、周围神经系统和某些器官。在体内某些含有GAL-LI的细胞也存在儿茶酚胺、5-HT、GABA、乙酰胆碱等递质与神经多肽。新生鼠用辣椒素处理后,可减少脑内某些区域和脊髓内的GAL-LI的含量。GAL可减少血浆胰岛素的含量,增加血糖以及抑制肠道的运动。在大鼠第三脑室、人的静脉注射GAL,均可视察到血浆生长素含量增加。在大鼠下丘脑的室旁核内注射GAL可增强摄食活动。     

甘丙肽及其受体在嗅成鞘细胞中的表达及对细胞增殖的影响

本实验从新生大鼠嗅球中分离出嗅成鞘细胞,进行体外培养。运用RT—PCR方法检测甘丙肽及其受体在体外培养的嗅成鞘细胞中的表达;运用MTT法检测甘丙肽及其受体激动剂、拮抗剂对嗅成鞘细胞增殖的影响。结果显示：嗅成鞘细胞表达甘丙肽(GAL)及其受体GalR2,而不表达其他两种受体GalRl和GalR3;甘丙肽及两种受体激动剂GALl-11和GAL2-11能够明显地抑制体外培养的嗅成鞘细胞的增殖,这一效应可被非特异性甘丙肽受体拮抗剂M35所阻断。     

脑膜淋巴管重塑在中枢神经系统疾病中的研究进展

近年来，随着脑膜淋巴管(meningeal lymphatic vessels, MLVs)研究的进一步深入，越来越多的证据表明MLVs在中枢神经系统疾病的发生发展中扮演着重要角色，而血管内皮生长因子C (vascular endothelial growth factor-C, VEGF-C)/血管内皮生长因子受体3 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3,VEGFR-3)信号通路在MLVs重塑中起到重要作用。本文拟对VEGF-C/VEGFR-3信号通路的作用机制及其介导的MLVs重塑在阿尔茨海默病、多发性硬化症、创伤性脑损伤等中枢神经系统疾病的发病和进展中的作用进行综述，旨在为中枢神经系统疾病的治疗提供新策略。     

甘丙肽研究进展

甘丙肽存在于外周和中枢神经系统。它以其广泛的抑制功能参与调节胃肠、泌尿生殖系统平滑肌收缩,胰岛素、垂体激素的分泌而实现它作为神经调制物在外周和中枢的作用。它协同吗啡镇痛、抑制记忆过程的作用将具有很高的临床研究意义。     

低剂量甘丙肽拮抗剂M40在中枢的兴奋剂作用

甘丙肽是 1983年发现的由 2 9个氨基酸残基组成的多肽 ,其Ｎ和Ｃ端分别为甘氨酸和丙氨酸残基。甘丙肽广泛分布于中枢和外周组织 ,有调节胃肠平滑肌收缩、抑制胰岛素分泌、加强吗啡镇痛效应和参与记忆等重要作用。近年发现甘丙肽浓度异常与Ａｌｚｈｅｉｍｅｒ病 (ＡＤ)的发生和发展有关 ,因而日益受到神经学界重视。甘丙肽拮抗剂Ｍ 4 0 [甘丙肽 (1 13) 脯 脯 丙 亮 丙酰胺 ]是研究甘丙肽受体的重要工具药 ,可用于ＡＤ治疗。放射配基结合实验显示 ,Ｍ4 0在胰腺和脊髓有高、低亲和力两种受体。在高位神经中枢该药物是否存在不同效应 ,不同…     

Structure of the human galanin receptor 2 bound to galanin and Gq reveals the basis of ligand specificity and how binding affects the G-protein interface

Galanin is a neuropeptide expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, where it regulates various processes including neuroendocrine release, cognition, and nerve regeneration. Three G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) for galanin have been discovered, which is the focus of efforts to treat diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and addiction. To understand the basis of the ligand preferences of the receptors and to assist structure-based drug design, we used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to solve the molecular structure of GALR2 bound to galanin and a cognate heterotrimeric G-protein, providing a molecular view of the neuropeptide binding site. Mutant proteins were assayed to help reveal the basis of ligand specificity, and structural comparison between the activated GALR2 and inactive hβ₂AR was used to relate galanin binding to the movements of transmembrane (TM) helices and the G-protein interface.

Galanin is a neuropeptide expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, where it regulates various processes including neuroendocrine release, cognition, and nerve regeneration. This cryo-electron microscopy study shows how galanin interacts with one of its three human receptor proteins, GALR2, and reveals the basis of the selectivity of this GPCR for Gq.     

Alcoholism is associated with GALR3 but not two other galanin receptor genes

The neuropeptide galanin is widely expressed in the periphery and the central nervous system and mediates diverse physiological processes and behaviors including alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety. Four genes encoding galanin and its receptors have been identified (GAL, GALR1, GALR2 and GALR3). Recently we found that GAL haplotypes were associated with alcoholism, raising the possibility that genetic variation in GALR1, GALR2 and GALR3 might also alter alcoholism risk. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by genotyping SNP panels in controls from five populations. For the association study with alcoholism, six GALR1, four GALR2 and four GALR3 SNPs were genotyped in a large cohort of Finnish alcoholics and non-alcoholics. GALR3 showed a significant association with alcoholism that was driven by one SNP (rs3,091,367). Moreover, the combination of the GALR3 rs3,091,367 risk allele and GAL risk haplotypes led to a modestly increased odds ratio (OR) for alcoholism (2.4) as compared with the effect of either GAL (1.9) or GALR3 alone (1.4). Likewise, the combination of the GALR3 and GAL risk diplotypes led to an increased OR for alcoholism (4.6) as compared with the effect of either GAL (2.0) or GALR3 alone (1.6). There was no effect of GALR1 or GALR2 on alcoholism risk. This evidence suggests that GALR3 mediates the alcoholism-related actions of galanin.     

Galanin—A neuropeptide with inhibitory actions

Summary 1. Galanin is a 29 (in humans 30) amino acids long neuropeptide with mostly inhibitory, hyperpolarizing actions.2. Differential structural requirements of truncated forms of galanin and differential agonist/antagonist behaviour of chimeric peptides, high affinity galanin receptor ligands suggest the presence of pharmacologically distinct galanin receptor subtypes.3. The galanin receptor from human Bowes melanoma cell line—a member of G-protein coupled receptor superfamily—has been cloned.4. Galanin acts via G_i/G_o proteins inhibiting cAMP production, inositol phosphate turnover, opening K⁺ channels or closing Ca²⁺ channels.     

Phenotypic analysis of mice deficient in the type 2 galanin receptor (GALR2)

Galanin is a neuropeptide implicated in the regulation of feeding, reproduction, cognition, nociception, and seizure susceptibility. There are three known galanin receptor (GALR) subtypes (GALR1, GALR2, and GALR3), which bind to galanin with different affinities and have their own unique distributions, signaling mechanisms, and putative functions in the brain and peripheral nervous system. To gain further insight into the possible physiological significance of GALR2, we created mutant mice that were deficient in GALR2 and compared their phenotype to that of wild-type (WT) littermate or age-matched controls, with respect to basic motor and sensory function, feeding behavior, reproduction, mood, learning and memory, and seizure susceptibility. Phenotypic analysis revealed that animals bearing a deletion of GALR2 did not differ significantly from their WT controls in any of the measured variables. We conclude that either GALR2 plays no role in these physiological functions or through redundancy or compensation these mutant animals can adapt to the congenital absence of GALR2. It is also conceivable that GALR2 plays only a subtle role in some of these functions and that the impact of its loss could not be detected by the analytical procedures used here.     

甘丙肽受体的研究进展

目前已经克隆了3种甘丙肽受体（GalR1, GalR2, GalR3）,它们都是与G蛋白相偶联的受体.3种甘丙肽受体的氨基酸序列、药理学特性以及第二信使系统各不相同.GalR1/3受体可以抑制腺苷酸环化酶并可以激活钾通道,GalR2受体可以激活磷脂酶C并增加胞内钙离子浓度.用RNA印迹、反转录PCR以及原位杂交等技术对上述3种甘丙肽受体在人、大鼠和小鼠中的分布进行了研究,发现它们具有不同的分布特征,提示不同的甘丙肽受体可能参与不同的生理过程.     

Isolation and cDNA cloning of a novel galanin-like peptide (GALP) from porcine hypothalamus

Galanin is a widely distributed neuropeptide with a variety of physiological functions. Three galanin receptor subtypes, GALR1, GALR2, and GALR3, have been reported. We isolated a novel galanin-like peptide (GALP) from porcine hypothalamus by observing its activity for increasing [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding to a membrane preparation of GALR2-transfected cells. The peptide had 60 amino acid residues and a non-amidated C terminus. The amino acid sequence of GALP-(9-21) was completely identical to that of galanin-(1-13). A cloned porcine GALP cDNA indicated that GALP was processed from a 120-amino acid GALP precursor protein. The structures of rat and human GALP-(1-60) were deduced from cloned cDNA, which indicated that the amino acid sequences 1-24 and 41-53 were highly conserved between humans, rats, and pigs. Receptor binding studies revealed that porcine GALP-(1-60) had a high affinity for the GALR2 receptor (IC(50) = 0.24 nM) and a lower affinity for the GALR1 receptor (IC(50) = 4.3 nM). In contrast, galanin showed high affinity for the GALR1 (IC(50) = 0.097 nM) and GALR2 receptors (IC(50) = 0.48 nM). GALP is therefore an endogenous ligand that preferentially binds the GALR2 receptor, whereas galanin is relatively non-selective.     

M871—A Novel Peptide Antagonist Selectively Recognizing the Galanin Receptor Type 2

Galanin and its three receptors have been linked to a wide variety of physiological processes and are distributed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Further knowledge of the properties of galanin-activated signaling systems can best be obtained by the availability of peptide and non-peptide ligands that are selective for the different receptor subtypes. The current study describes binding and signaling data for the chimeric peptide, galanin-(2–13)-Glu-His-(Pro)₃-(Ala-Leu)₂-Ala-amide (M871). This compound binds to the galanin receptor type 2 with more than 30-fold higher affinity than to the galanin receptor type 1 and exhibits antagonist actions at galanin receptor type 2, blocking increased release of inositol phosphate produced by galanin in CHO cells. This peptide opens new possibilities for the study of galanin receptor physiology.     

Three dimensional modeling of N-terminal region of galanin and its interaction with the galanin receptor

The neuropeptide galanin comes under the powerful and versatile modulators of classical neurotransmitters and is present in brain tissues, which are intimately involved in epileptogenesis. It acts as appealing targets for studying basic mechanisms of seizure initiation and arrest, and for the development of novel approaches for various neurodegenerative diseases. Galanin is widely distributed in the mammalian brain which controls various processes such as sensation of pain, learning, feeding, sexual behaviour, carcinogenesis, pathophysiology of neuroendocrine tumors and others. The function of galanin can be exploited through its interaction with three G-protein coupled receptors subtypes such as GalR1, GalR2 and GalR3. The N-terminal region of galanin comprises about highly conserved 15 amino acid residues, which act as the crucial region for agonist-receptor binding. We have constructed a theoretical structural model for the N-terminal region of galanin from Homo sapiens by homology modeling. The stereochemistry of the model was checked using PROCHECK. The functionally conserved regions were identified by surface mapping of phylogenetic information generated by online web algorithm ConSurf. The docking studies on the pharmacologically important galanin receptors with the theoretical model of N-terminal region of galanin predicted crucial residues for binding which would be useful in the development of novel leads for neurodegenerative disorders.