Expression variations of chromogranin A and α1,2,4 GABA(A)Rs in discrete limbic and brainstem areas rescue cardiovascular alterations

Plasma Catestatin Levels and Advanced Glycation End Products in Patients on Hemodialysis

Catestatin (CST) is a pleiotropic peptide involved in cardiovascular protection with its antihypertensive and angiogenic effects. Considering that patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are undergoing hemodialysis (HD) are associated with higher cardiovascular risk, the aim of this study was to investigate plasma CST levels in HD patients, compare them to healthy controls and evaluate possible CST associations with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and laboratory, anthropometric and clinical parameters. The study included 91 patients on HD and 70 healthy controls. Plasma CST levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a commercially available diagnostic kit, while AGEs were determined using skin autofluorescence. Plasma CST levels were significantly higher in the HD group compared to the controls (32.85 ± 20.18 vs. 5.39 ± 1.24 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and there was a significant positive correlation between CST and AGEs (r = 0.492, p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between plasma CST levels with both the Dialysis Malnutrition Score (r = 0.295, p = 0.004) and Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (r = 0.290, p = 0.005). These results suggest that CST could be playing a role in the complex pathophysiology of ESRD/HD and that it could affect the higher cardiovascular risk of patients on HD.

Catestatin and GABA(A)R related feeding habits rely on dopamine, ghrelin plus leptin neuroreceptor expression variations

Catestatin (CST), an endogenously small sympathoinhibitory peptide is capable of interfering with the major cerebral neuroreceptor-blocking site, i.e. γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor (GABAAR) system especially in limbic brain areas that are involved with feeding behaviors. The GABAARergic-related effects seem to derive from its interaction with other molecular neuroreceptors such as dopaminergic, ghrelin and leptinergic. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate probable feeding responses (eating and drinking) induced by treatment with CST and the GABAAR antagonist bicucullin (BIC) alone or simultaneously (CST+BIC) in the Syrian hibernating hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) model. Hamsters that received these compounds via intracerebroventricular infusions displayed notable variations of feeding and drinking bouts. In particular, an anorexigenic response was evident following treatment with CST while BIC evoked a significant increase of eating and drinking behaviors. Surprisingly when both agents were given simultaneously, a predominating anorexigenic response was detected as shown by evident CST-dependent reduction of feeding bouts. Contextually such behaviors, especially those following the combined treatment were tightly correlated with the significantly increased cerebral dopamine receptor 1 (D1) plus reduced ghrelin receptor (GhsR) and leptin receptor (LepR) transcript levels. Overall, the anorexigenic effect of CST deriving from its tight interaction with GABAARs activity plus D1 and GhsR transcripts tends to propose these neuronal elements as pivotal factors responsible for feeding disorders.

Catestatin and orexin-A influence hamster thermic states during hibernation

Decreased body temperature during hibernation evokes a neuroprotective effect against the frequent neurodegenerative events of ischemic/reperfusion injuries. This neuroprotection appears to stem from a direct involvement of orexin-A plus the sympathoinhibitory neuroactive peptide catestatin on orexin 2 receptor-dependent feeding and motor behaviors of the facultative hibernating hamster.