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Ghrelin Regulates Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression and Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Progression. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2021; 2021:5576808. [PMID: 34122616 PMCID: PMC8166482 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5576808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Aim To research the molecular mechanism of ghrelin in apoptosis, migratory, and invasion of gastric cancer (GC) cells. Methods After GC AGS cells were handled with ghrelin (10–8 M), cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS398 (100 μM), and Akt inhibitor perifosine (10uM), the rates of apoptosis were detected by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry assay. We assessed the expressions of PI3K, p-Akt, and COX-2 proteins by making use of Western blot analysis. The cell migratory and invasion were detected by using wound-healing and transwell analysis. Results The migratory and invasion were increased in ghrelin-treated cells, while the rates of apoptosis were decreased. GC AGS cells treated with ghrelin showed an increase in protein expression of p-Akt, PI3K, and COX-2. After cells were treated with Akt inhibitor perifosine, the protein expression of p-Akt, PI3K, and COX-2 and the cell migratory, invasion, and apoptosis were partly recovered. After cells were treated with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS398, the protein expression of COX-2 and the cell migratory and invasion were decreased, while the rates of apoptosis were increased. Conclusion Ghrelin regulates cell migration, invasion, and apoptosis in GC cells through targeting PI3K/Akt/COX-2. Ghrelin increases the expression of COX-2 in GC cells by targeting PI3K/Akt. Ghrelin is suggested to be one of the molecular targets in GC.
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Stoyanova I, Lutz D. Ghrelin-Mediated Regeneration and Plasticity After Nervous System Injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:595914. [PMID: 33869167 PMCID: PMC8046019 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.595914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The nervous system is highly vulnerable to different factors which may cause injury followed by an acute or chronic neurodegeneration. Injury involves a loss of extracellular matrix integrity, neuronal circuitry disintegration, and impairment of synaptic activity and plasticity. Application of pleiotropic molecules initiating extracellular matrix reorganization and stimulating neuronal plasticity could prevent propagation of the degeneration into the tissue surrounding the injury. To find an omnipotent therapeutic molecule, however, seems to be a fairly ambitious task, given the complex demands of the regenerating nervous system that need to be fulfilled. Among the vast number of candidates examined so far, the neuropeptide and hormone ghrelin holds within a very promising therapeutic potential with its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, to balance metabolic processes, and to stimulate neurorepair and neuroactivity. Compared with its well-established systemic effects in treatment of metabolism-related disorders, the therapeutic potential of ghrelin on neuroregeneration upon injury has received lesser appreciation though. Here, we discuss emerging concepts of ghrelin as an omnipotent player unleashing developmentally related molecular cues and morphogenic cascades, which could attenuate and/or counteract acute and chronic neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Stoyanova
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - David Lutz
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Bergmann R, Chollet C, Els-Heindl S, Ullrich M, Berndt N, Pietzsch J, Máthé D, Bachmann M, Beck-Sickinger AG. Development of a ghrelin receptor inverse agonist for positron emission tomography. Oncotarget 2021; 12:450-474. [PMID: 33747360 PMCID: PMC7939532 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Imaging of Ghrelin receptors in vivo provides unique potential to gain deeper understanding on Ghrelin and its receptors in health and disease, in particular, in cancer. Ghrelin, an octanoylated 28-mer peptide hormone activates the constitutively active growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a) with nanomolar activity. We developed novel compounds, derived from the potent inverse agonist K-(D-1-Nal)-FwLL-NH2 but structurally varied by lysine conjugation with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane,1-glutaric acid-4,7-acetic acid (NODAGA), palmitic acid and/or diethylene glycol (PEG2) to allow radiolabeling and improve pharmacokinetics, respectively. All compounds were tested for receptor binding, potency and efficacy in vitro, for biodistribution and -kinetics in rats and in preclinical prostate cancer models on mice. Radiolabeling with Cu-64 and Ga-68 was successfully achieved. The Cu-64- or Ga-68-NODAGA-NH-K-K-(D-1-NaI)-F-w-L-L-NH2 radiotracer were specifically accumulated by the GHS-R1a in xenotransplanted human prostate tumor models (PC-3, DU-145) in mice. The tumors were clearly delineated by PET. The radiotracer uptake was also partially blocked by K-(D-1-Nal)-FwLL-NH2 in stomach and thyroid. The presence of the GHS-R1a was also confirmed by immunohistology. In the arterial rat blood plasma, only the original compounds were found. The Cu-64 or Ga-68-NODAGA-NH-K-K-(D-1-NaI)-F-w-L-L-NH2 radiolabeled inverse agonists turned out to be potent and safe. Due to their easy synthesis, high affinity, medium potency, metabolic stability, and the suitable pharmacokinetic profiles, they are excellent tools for imaging and quantitation of GHS-R1a expression in normal and cancer tissues by PET. These compounds can be used as novel biomarkers of the Ghrelin system in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Constance Chollet
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Sylvia Els-Heindl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Ullrich
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Domokos Máthé
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center, Carl Gustav Carus Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Carl Gustav Carus Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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5
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Tomioka M, Yoneyama T, Tobisawa Y, Kawase K, Nakai C, Takai M, Kato D, Iinuma K, Nakane K, Mizutani K, Hashimoto Y, Koie T. Ghrelin after chemotherapy as a prognostic predictor of progression-free survival in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:1192-1201. [PMID: 33850754 PMCID: PMC8039575 DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-1489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although the patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) generally have poor prognosis, the utility of these biomarkers for the prediction of oncological outcomes in MIBC has not been completely explored. Ghrelin regulates processes associated with cancer, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration, cell invasion, and angiogenesis. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the impact of serum ghrelin levels on survival in MIBC. Methods In this study, we reviewed the clinical and pathological records of 56 patients who were diagnosed with MIBC between November 2015 and November 2019 at Gifu and Hirosaki University Hospitals. We focused on 27 patients who had received chemotherapy and collected blood samples before and after chemotherapy. Blood samples were collected before chemotherapy and after completing two cycles of chemotherapy. Serum acyl (AG) and desacyl ghrelin (DG) were measured using AG and DG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (SCETI, Tokyo, Japan), respectively. Results The 3-year overall and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 82.9% and 68.3%, respectively. According to the AG level after chemotherapy, the 3-year PFS rates were 77.5% and 53.0% in patients with AG levels ≥1.34 and <1.34 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.038). With regard to DG levels after chemotherapy, the 3-year PFS rates were 90.9% and 43.3% in patients with DG levels <92.3 and ≥92.3 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.039). On multivariate analysis, serum AG levels were significantly associated with PFS. Conclusions This study suggested the usefulness of the ghrelin as a prognostic predictor of PFS in patients with MIBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Tomioka
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tohru Yoneyama
- Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Yuki Tobisawa
- Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Kota Kawase
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Chie Nakai
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Manabu Takai
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Daiki Kato
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Koji Iinuma
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Keita Nakane
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kosuke Mizutani
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Hashimoto
- Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Takuya Koie
- Department of Urology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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Abstract
Eating food is one of the most complicated behaviours in mammals, especially humans. The primary function of ghrelin is regulation of the appetite level and its stimulation. It is also responsible for the body's energy balance and glucose homeostasis. Ghrelin has been shown to affect many brain structures, which confirms the presence of ghrelin receptors in the brain. Studies are also conducted to assess the possible role of ghrelin in anxiety states and in memory disorders and motor dysfunctions. Ghrelin has been found in saliva and salivary glands, teeth and gums, and in the taste buds of the tongue epithelium; it is also secreted by mucosal cells and gingival fibroblasts. The presence of ghrelin in developmental enamel, especially in odontoblasts and ameloblasts, may suggest its regulatory role in the development of teeth. Patients with chronic periodontitis have significantly higher concentrations of ghrelin in the peripheral blood serum, as compared to the control group. Ghrelin plays a special role in the proliferation of cancer cells and in the development of neoplastic metastases. The abundant presence of ghrelin receptors in cancer cells is considered an important target in the treatment of neoplasms. Ghrelin is a hormone whose multidirectional mechanism of action has not yet been fully understood. However, its ubiquitous occurrence in the human body and its very diverse participation in metabolic processes may prove to be a significant obstacle in achieving the expected clinical effect of ghrelin as an effective drug in selected disease units.
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Worm DJ, Els‐Heindl S, Beck‐Sickinger AG. Targeting of peptide‐binding receptors on cancer cells with peptide‐drug conjugates. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis J. Worm
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of BiochemistryLeipzig University Leipzig Germany
| | - Sylvia Els‐Heindl
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of BiochemistryLeipzig University Leipzig Germany
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Zhu C, Liu Y, Kang W, Zhang Z, Zeng Z, Liu D. Exploration of the role of serum ghrelin in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract malignancies. J Int Med Res 2020; 48:300060520920441. [PMID: 32366148 PMCID: PMC7221476 DOI: 10.1177/0300060520920441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The incidence of digestive tract malignancies (DTMs) is increasing, early diagnosis is limited, and treatment effects are unsatisfactory. DTMs express ghrelin, which might be involved in tumor formation and development; whether serum ghrelin can provide useful guidance remains unknown. METHODS Sera of healthy individuals were obtained from October 2017 through March 2018; serum samples from patients with gastric (GC), colon (CC), and rectal (RC) cancers were collected during the same period. Serum ghrelin was tested by ELISA and correlated with clinicopathology of patients with DTMs. RESULTS Serum ghrelin was higher in patients (GC, 38 patients; CC, 24; RC, 26) than in 69 healthy individuals and decreased significantly after tumor resection. Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 score and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio affected perioperative serum ghrelin levels. The epithelial cell marker AE1/AE3 (pan keratin) in patients with GC, tumor location in the colon in patients with CC, and age in patients with RC also affected perioperative serum ghrelin. CONCLUSIONS Serum ghrelin might provide early warning of occurrence and guide prognosis of DTMs. Ghrelin can be used when screening for nutritional risk and inflammation. The clinicopathological influence on serum ghrelin in patients with DTMs is related to tumor location in the digestive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changzhen Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College
Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,
Beijing, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Beijing Tsinghua
Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing,
China
| | - Yuqin Liu
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union
Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Weiming Kang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College
Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,
Beijing, China
| | - Zimu Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College
Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,
Beijing, China
| | - Ziyang Zeng
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College
Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,
Beijing, China
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College
Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,
Beijing, China
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9
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Heshmati M, Soltani A, Sanaei MJ, Nahid-Samiei M, Shirzad H, Jami MS, GhatrehSamani M. Ghrelin induces autophagy and CXCR4 expression via the SIRT1/AMPK axis in lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. Cell Signal 2019; 66:109492. [PMID: 31809874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is one of the most frequent malignancies in children, and the CXCR4 receptor plays an important role in the metastasis of this malignancy. Ghrelin is a hormone with various functions including stimulation of the release of growth hormone and autophagy in cancer cells. Moreover, SIRT1 and AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) stimulate expression of proteins involved in autophagy. On the other hand, autophagic cell death can be an alternative target for cancer therapy, in the absence of apoptosis. The relationship between ghrelin and the SIRT1/AMPK axis and the resulting effects on autophagy, apoptosis, proliferation, and expression of CXCR4 and the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a), in Jurkat and Molt-4 human lymphoblastic cell lines was not previously clear. Here we demonstrate that SIRT1 expression is upregulated during the induction of autophagy by ghrelin, an effect that is inhibited by inactivation of SIRT1/AMPK axis. In addition, ghrelin can affect CXCR4 and GHS-R1a expression. In conclusion, this work reveals that ghrelin induces autophagy, invasion, and downregulation of ghrelin receptor expression via the SIRT1/AMPK axis in lymphoblastic cell lines. However, in these cell lines ghrelin-induced autophagy does not lead to cell death due to weak induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Heshmati
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Amin Soltani
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Javad Sanaei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Nahid-Samiei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hedayatollah Shirzad
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Saeid Jami
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mahdi GhatrehSamani
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
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Soleyman-Jahi S, Sadeghi F, Pastaki Khoshbin A, Khani L, Roosta V, Zendehdel K. Attribution of Ghrelin to Cancer; Attempts to Unravel an Apparent Controversy. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1014. [PMID: 31681567 PMCID: PMC6805778 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ghrelin is an endogenous peptide hormone mainly produced in the stomach. It has been known to regulate energy homeostasis, stimulate secretion of growth hormone, and mediate many other physiologic effects. Various effects attributed to ghrelin contribute to many aspects of cancer development and progression. Accordingly, a large body of evidence has emerged about the association of ghrelin with several types of cancer in scales of cell-line, animal, and human studies. However, existing data are controversial. This controversy occurs in two main domains: one is the controversial results in local effects of ghrelin on different types of human cancer cell-lines; the second is the apparent disagreement in the results of in-vitro and clinical studies that investigated ghrelin association to one type of cancer. These inconsistencies have hampered the indications to consider ghrelin as a potential tumor biomarker or therapeutic agent in cancer patients. Previous studies have reviewed different parts of current literature about the ghrelin-cancer relationship. Although they have highlighted these controversial results in various ways, no specific recommendations have been given to address it. In this study, we comprehensively reviewed in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical studies and attempted to use the following approaches to unravel the inconsistencies detected: (a) to distinguish local and systemic effects of ghrelin in interpreting its summary clinical role in each cancer; (b) scrutinizing factors that regulate local effects of ghrelin and could justify different effects of ghrelin on different cancer cell-lines. These approaches could have notable implications for future in-vitro and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Soleyman-Jahi
- Division of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States.,Cancer Immunology Project, Universal Scientific Education and Research Network, St. Louis, MO, United States.,Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sadeghi
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Cancer Immunology Project, Universal Scientific Education and Research Network, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Pastaki Khoshbin
- Cancer Immunology Project, Universal Scientific Education and Research Network, Tehran, Iran.,School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Khani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Venus Roosta
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kazem Zendehdel
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Acylated Ghrelin Renders Chemosensitive Ovarian Cancer Cells Resistant to Cisplatin Chemotherapy via Activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Survival Pathway. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2019; 2019:9627810. [PMID: 31360627 PMCID: PMC6644235 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9627810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of acylated synthetic ghrelin (AG) on the survival and proliferation of human chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells (A2780) and explored some mechanisms of action with a focus on the p53 apoptotic pathway and PI3K/Akt and NF-κB survival pathways. Human A2780 ovarian cancer cells were cultured with or without AG treatment in the presence or absence of cisplatin. In some cases, cisplatin+AG-treated cells were pre-incubated either with [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6, a ghrelin receptor antagonist, or with LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. mRNA of ghrelin receptors(GHS-R1a and GHS-R1b), as well as, protein levels of GHS-R1a, were expressed abundantly in A2780 cells. AG treatment did not affect the mRNA and protein levels of GHS-R1a and GHS-R1b in both control and Cis-treated cells. However, while AG treatment had no effect on control cell viability, it significantly increased cell viability and proliferation and inhibited cell death in Cis-treated cells. In both control and Cis-treated cells, AG treatment significantly increased PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and enhanced the nuclear accumulation of NF-κB. Concomitantly, in both control and Cis-treated cells, AG significantly lowered the protein levels of p53, p-p53 (Ser16), PUMA, cytochrome C, and cleaved caspase-3. Interestingly, pre-incubating the cells with either [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 or LY294002 completely abolished the above-mentioned effect of AG in both control and Cis-treated cells. In conclusion, the findings of this study show that AG promotes cell survival of the OC cells and renders them resistat to Cis therapy, an effect that is mediated by the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and activation of NF-κB, and requires GHS-R1a.
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12
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Uyar GO, Sanlier N. Association of Adipokines and Insulin, Which Have a Role in Obesity, with Colorectal Cancer. Eurasian J Med 2019; 51:191-195. [PMID: 31258362 DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.18089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity-related diseases are an important part of public health; and obesity is related with colorectal cancer. Adipocyte hypertrophy and visceral adipose tissue accumulation can cause adipocitis-related diseases and pathogenic adipocyte formation. Adipose tissue has a very important and active role in immune response formation. Cytokines/adipokines, which are secreted from adipose tissue, have an active role in communication between adipocytes and macrophages. Thus, visceral adipocyte is related with low-grade chronic systemic inflammation. Adipocytes have an important role in colorectal cancer pathogenesis because of proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and hormones secretion. Most highlighted cytokines are adiponectin, resistin, and ghrelin. Also, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, increased plasma insulin levels, body mass index, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), glucose, and serum free fatty acids levels are considered to be related with colorectal cancer pathogenesis. Thus, in this review, we focus on the role of adipokines and insulin in colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Ozata Uyar
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Gazi University School of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nevin Sanlier
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Lokman Hekim University School of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
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Li X, Zhao X, Li C, Liu S, Yan F, Teng Y, Feng J, Miao D. Inhibitor of ghrelin receptor reverses gefitinib resistance in lung cancer. Hum Cell 2019; 32:360-366. [PMID: 31020605 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-019-00245-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gefitinib is the first-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), which is used in the treatment of NCSLC patients through interrupting EGFR signaling pathway. Although gefitinib prolongs patients' progression-free survival (PFS), acquired resistance occurs in advanced NSCLC patients. In this study, we mainly investigated the effects of antagonist for ghrelin-R (D-lys-3-GHRP-6) on conquering acquired gefitinib resistance in human lung cancer cells. We found that GHSR was overexpressed in our established HCC827/GR cells compared with parental cells, accompanied with increase of p-AKT and p-ERK1/2. Treatment of D-lys-3-GHRP-6 significantly decreased p-AKT and p-ERK1/2 expression in HCC827/GR cells. H1650 cells and HCC827/GR cells were treated with control, gefitinib, D-lys-3-GHRP-6 and D-lys-3-GHRP-6 + gefitinib, respectively. In H1650 and HCC827/GR cells, combination of D-lys-3-GHRP-6 and gefitinib significantly inhibited cell proliferation and Bcl2 protein level, induced the cell apoptosis and cleaved-caspase3 protein level compared with control group, while there was no significant difference between control and gefitinib group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyou Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Xia Zhao
- Department of Oncology, First People's Hospital, Yancheng, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Yancheng, 224001, China
| | - Chenchen Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Siwen Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Fei Yan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Yue Teng
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Jifeng Feng
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210000, China.
| | - Dengshun Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Research Center for Bone and Stem Cells, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, No. 101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 210000, China.
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Worm DJ, Els-Heindl S, Kellert M, Kuhnert R, Saretz S, Koebberling J, Riedl B, Hey-Hawkins E, Beck-Sickinger AG. A stable meta-carborane enables the generation of boron-rich peptide agonists targeting the ghrelin receptor. J Pept Sci 2018; 24:e3119. [PMID: 30168238 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary cancer therapy, which combines the biochemical targeting of a boron-containing drug with the regional localization of radiation treatment. Although the concept of BNCT has been known for decades, the selective delivery of boron into tumor cells remains challenging. G protein-coupled receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells in combination with peptidic ligands can be potentially used as shuttle system for a tumor-directed boron uptake. In this study, we present the generation of short, boron-rich peptide conjugates that target the ghrelin receptor. Expression of the ghrelin receptor on various cancer cells makes it a viable target for BNCT. We designed a novel hexapeptide super-agonist that was modified with different specifically synthesized carborane monoclusters and tested for ghrelin receptor activation. A meta-carborane building block with a mercaptoacetic acid linker was found to be optimal for peptide modification, owing to its chemical stability and a suitable activation efficacy of the conjugate. The versatility of this carborane for the development of peptidic boron delivery agents was further demonstrated by the generation of highly potent, boron-loaded conjugates using the backbone of the known ghrelin receptor ligands growth hormone releasing peptide 6 and Ipamorelin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis J Worm
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Universität Leipzig, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sylvia Els-Heindl
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Universität Leipzig, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Kellert
- Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Kuhnert
- Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Saretz
- Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Bernd Riedl
- Bayer AG, Aprather Weg 18A, 42113, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
- Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annette G Beck-Sickinger
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Universität Leipzig, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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15
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Zhu J, Yao J, Huang R, Wang Y, Jia M, Huang Y. Ghrelin promotes human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell proliferation through PI3K/Akt/mTOR/P70S6K and ERK signaling pathways. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018. [PMID: 29524402 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin is a gastric acyl-peptide that plays an important role in cell proliferation. In the present study, we explored the role of ghrelin in A549 cell proliferation and the possible molecular mechanisms. We found that ghrelin promotes A549 cell proliferation, knockdown of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) attenuated A549 cell proliferation caused by ghrelin. Ghrelin induced the rapid phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, ERK, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and P70S6K. PI3K inhibitor (LY 294002), ERK inhibitor (PD98059) and mTOR inhibitor (Rapamycin) inhibited ghrelin-induced A549 cell proliferation. Moreover, GHSR siRNA inhibited phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, ERK, mTOR and P70S6K induced by ghrelin. Akt and mTOR/P70S6K phosphorylation was inhibited by LY 294002 but not by PD98059. These results indicate that ghrelin promotes A549 cell proliferation via GHSR-dependent PI3K/Akt/mTOR/P70S6K and ERK signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Zhu
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
| | - Jianfeng Yao
- Quanzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Rongfu Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Yueqin Wang
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Min Jia
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yan Huang
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
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16
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Rozza-de-Menezes RE, Gaglionone NC, Andrade-Losso RM, Siqueira OHK, Almeida LM, Peruzini KDS, Guimarães-Filho MAC, Brum CI, Geller M, Cunha KS. Receptor of ghrelin is expressed in cutaneous neurofibromas of individuals with neurofibromatosis 1. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2017; 12:186. [PMID: 29262839 PMCID: PMC5738781 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-017-0734-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple cutaneous neurofibromas are a hallmark of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). They begin to appear during puberty and increase in number and volume during pregnancy, suggesting a hormonal influence. Ghrelin is a hormone that acts via growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), which is overexpressed in many neoplasms and is involved in tumorigenesis. We aimed to investigate GHS-R expression in NF1 cutaneous neurofibromas and its relationship with tumors volume, and patient's age and gender. RESULTS Sample comprised 108 cutaneous neurofibromas (55 large and 53 small tumors) from 55 NF1 individuals. GHS-R expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry in tissue micro and macroarrays and quantified using a digital computer-assisted method. All neurofibromas expressed GHS-R, with a percentage of positive cells ranging from 4.9% to 76.1%. Large neurofibromas expressed more GHS-R than the small ones. The percentage of GHS-R-positive cells and intensity of GHS-R expression were positively correlated with neurofibromas volume. GHS-R expression was more common in female gender. CONCLUSIONS GHS-R is expressed in cutaneous neurofibromas. Larger neurofibromas have a higher percentage of positive cells and higher GHS-R intensity. Based on our results we speculate that ghrelin may have an action on the tumorigenesis of cutaneous neurofibromas. Future studies are required to understand the role of ghrelin in the pathogenesis of NF1-associated cutaneous neurofibroma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela E. Rozza-de-Menezes
- Graduate Program in Pathology, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Marquês do Paraná, 303, 4o andar, sala 01 – Centro, Niterói, RJ 24033-900 Brazil
- Neurofibromatosis National Center (Centro Nacional de Neurofibromatose), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
- School of Dentistry, Health Institute of Nova Friburgo, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Nova Friburgo, RJ Brazil
| | - Nicolle C. Gaglionone
- Graduate Program in Pathology, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Marquês do Paraná, 303, 4o andar, sala 01 – Centro, Niterói, RJ 24033-900 Brazil
| | - Raquel M. Andrade-Losso
- Graduate Program in Pathology, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Marquês do Paraná, 303, 4o andar, sala 01 – Centro, Niterói, RJ 24033-900 Brazil
- Neurofibromatosis National Center (Centro Nacional de Neurofibromatose), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Orlando H. K. Siqueira
- Department of General and Specialized Surgery, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ Brazil
| | - Lilian M. Almeida
- Graduate Program in Pathology, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Marquês do Paraná, 303, 4o andar, sala 01 – Centro, Niterói, RJ 24033-900 Brazil
- Neurofibromatosis National Center (Centro Nacional de Neurofibromatose), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | | | - Marco A. C. Guimarães-Filho
- Department of General and Specialized Surgery, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ Brazil
| | - Carolina I. Brum
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ Brazil
| | - Mauro Geller
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos (UNIFESO), Teresópolis, RJ Brazil
- Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagão Gesteira, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Karin S. Cunha
- Graduate Program in Pathology, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Marquês do Paraná, 303, 4o andar, sala 01 – Centro, Niterói, RJ 24033-900 Brazil
- Neurofibromatosis National Center (Centro Nacional de Neurofibromatose), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ Brazil
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17
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Wu S, Liu J, Wang X, Li M, Chen Z, Tang Y. Aberrant Expression of the Long Non-coding RNA GHRLOS and Its Prognostic Significance in Patients with Colorectal Cancer. J Cancer 2017; 8:4040-4047. [PMID: 29187879 PMCID: PMC5706006 DOI: 10.7150/jca.21304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which have emerged as important regulatory RNA molecules that have been implicated in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, may also serve as novel potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Our previous analysis has identified the lncRNA GHRLOS, the ghrelin antisense strand non-coding RNA gene, as one of the hub genes in the co-expression network of differentially expressed lncRNAs/mRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we further evaluate the expression of GHRLOS in CRC and explore its clinical significance. The expression of GHRLOS in 366 pairs of CRC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues was detected by quantitative RT-PCR assays. The results showed that the expression level of GHRLOS was significantly lower in CRC tissues than in matched non-cancerous tissues (P < 0.001). Decreased GHRLOS expression was observed in 54.4% (199/366) of cases, and was significantly correlated with the occurrence of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.033) and distant metastasis (P = 0.005). A Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that decreased GHRLOS expression contributed to poor disease-free survival (log-rank test, P < 0.001) and overall survival (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Moreover, a multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed the decreased expression of GHRLOS as an independent prognostic marker of poor outcomes [disease-free survival: hazard ratio (HR) = 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.42-3.88; overall survival: HR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.34-2.86] in CRC patients. In conclusion, our data suggest that the lncRNA GHRLOS might serve as a candidate biomarker of tumor metastasis and a prognostic indicator in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangjie Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xinhai Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Mengjun Li
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Zongyou Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yifan Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, China
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18
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Adipokines in hereditary breast cancer patients and healthy relatives. Oncotarget 2017; 8:101255-101261. [PMID: 29254161 PMCID: PMC5731871 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The role of adipocytokines and ghrelin in hereditary breast cancer syndrome (HBCS) has never been tested. Results No significant differences in leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin plasma levels between cancer patients and healthy subjects was observed. Conversely, an higher level of adiponectin was shown in healthy subjects with BRCA 1/2 gene mutation vs those without (p < 0.03). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Adiponectin plasma level (OR 0.26; 95% CI:0.007–0.81; p < 0.02) and age (OR 5.51; 95% CI:1.78–19.71; p < 0.004) were the only factors independently associated with BMI; furthermore, Leptin plasma level (OR 0.23; 95% CI:0.06–0.76; p < 0.01) and age (OR 0.05; 95% CI:0.05–0.61; p < 0.007) resulted the only factors significantly associated with breast cancer. Materials and Methods We analyzed blood plasma expression of leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin using Bio-Plex platform in 25 breast cancer patients with HBCS and in 38 healthy relatives. BRCA 1/2 gene status (presence of pathogenic mutations by direct molecular sequencing), clinical-pathological characteristics and Body Mass Index (BMI) of each subject were recorded. Conclusions Adiponectin confirms to be associated with BMI also in subjects with HBCS. Leptin plasma level seems a direct and independent biomarker of a breast cancer risk. A validation of Leptin as a circulating biomarker of breast cancer development in larger series of HBCS subjects is needed.
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19
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Charron CL, Hou J, McFarland MS, Dhanvantari S, Kovacs MS, Luyt LG. Structure–Activity Study of Ghrelin(1–8) Resulting in High Affinity Fluorine-Bearing Ligands for the Ghrelin Receptor. J Med Chem 2017; 60:7256-7266. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlie L. Charron
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Jinqiang Hou
- London
Regional Cancer Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, 790 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario N6A 4L6, Canada
| | - Mark S. McFarland
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Savita Dhanvantari
- Imaging
Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, Ontario N6A 4V2, Canada
- Department
of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond
Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Michael S. Kovacs
- Imaging
Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, Ontario N6A 4V2, Canada
- Department
of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond
Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Leonard G. Luyt
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
- London
Regional Cancer Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, 790 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario N6A 4L6, Canada
- Departments
of Oncology and Medical Imaging, University of Western Ontario, 1151
Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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20
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Molecular Ghrelin System in the Pancreatic Acinar Cells: The Role of the Polypeptide, Caerulein and Sensory Nerves. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18050929. [PMID: 28468316 PMCID: PMC5454842 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18050929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ghrelin (GHRL) is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Experimental studies showed that GHRL protects the stomach and pancreas against acute damage, but the effect of GHRL on pancreatic acinar cells was still undetermined. Aim: To investigate the effect of GHRL and caerulein on the functional ghrelin system in pancreatic acinar cells taking into account the role of sensory nerves (SN). Methods: Experiments were carried out on isolated pancreatic acinar cells and AR42J cells. Before acinar cells isolation, GHRL was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 µg/kg to rats with intact SN or with capsaicin deactivation of SN (CDSN). After isolation, pancreatic acinar cells were incubated in caerulein-free or caerulein containing solution. AR42J cells were incubated under basal conditions and stimulated with caerulein, GHRL or a combination of the above. Results: Incubation of isolated acinar cells with caerulein inhibited GHS-R and GHRL expression at the level of mRNA and protein in those cells. Either in rats with intact SN or with CDSN, administration of GHRL before isolation of acinar cells increased expression of GHRL and GHS-R in those cells and reversed the caerulein-induced reduction in expression of those parameters. Similar upregulation of GHS-R and GHRL was observed after administration of GHRL in AR42J cells. Conclusions: GHRL stimulates its own expression and expression of its receptor in isolated pancreatic acinar cells and AR42J cells on the positive feedback pathway. This mechanism seems to participate in the pancreatoprotective effect of GHRL in the course of acute pancreatitis.
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21
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Zhu CZ, Liu D, Kang WM, Yu JC, Ma ZQ, Ye X, Li K. Ghrelin and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:1758-1763. [PMID: 28348480 PMCID: PMC5352915 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i10.1758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ghrelin, as a kind of multifunctional protein polypeptide, is mainly produced in the fundus of the stomach and can promote occurrence and development of many tumors, including gastrointestinal tumors, which has been proved by the relevant researches. Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs, about 80%), as the most common mesenchymal tumor, also develop in the fundus. Scientific research has confirmed that ghrelin, its receptors and mRNA respectively can be found in GISTs, which demonstrated the existence of a ghrelin autocrine/paracrine loop in GIST tissues. However, no reports to date have specified the mechanism whether ghrelin can promote the occurrence and development of GISTs. Studies of pulmonary artery endothelial cells in a low-oxygen environment and cardiac muscle cells in an ischemic environment have shown that ghrelin can activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway. Moreover, some studies of GISTs have confirmed that activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway can indeed promote the growth and progression of GISTs. Whether ghrelin is involved in the development or progression of GISTs through certain pathways remains unknown. Can we find a new target for the treatment of GISTs? This review explores and summaries the relationship among ghrelin, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and the development of GISTs.
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22
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Ghrelin and cancer progression. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2017; 1868:51-57. [PMID: 28238732 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin is a small peptide with 28 amino acids, and has been characterized as the ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). In addition to its original function in stimulating pituitary growth hormone release, ghrelin is multifunctional and plays a role in the regulation of energy balance, gastric acid release, appetite, insulin secretion, gastric motility and the turnover of gastric and intestinal mucosa. The discovery of ghrelin and GHSR expression beyond normal tissues suggests its role other than physiological function. Emerging evidences have revealed ghrelin's function in regulating several processes related to cancer progression, especially in metastasis and proliferation. We further show the relative GHRL and GHSR expression in pan-cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), suggesting the potential pathological role of the axis in cancers. This review focuses on ghrelin's biological function in cancer progression, and reveals its clinical significance especially the impact on cancer patient outcome.
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23
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Sever S, White DL, Garcia JM. Is there an effect of ghrelin/ghrelin analogs on cancer? A systematic review. Endocr Relat Cancer 2016; 23:R393-409. [PMID: 27552970 PMCID: PMC5064755 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin is a hormone with multiple physiologic functions, including promotion of growth hormone release, stimulation of appetite and regulation of energy homeostasis. Treatment with ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists is a prospective therapy for disease-related cachexia and malnutrition. In vitro studies have shown high expression of ghrelin in cancer tissue, although its role including its impact in cancer risk and progression has not been established. We performed a systematic literature review to identify peer-reviewed human or animal in vivo original research studies of ghrelin, ghrelin-receptor agonists, or ghrelin genetic variants and the risk, presence, or growth of cancer using structured searches in PubMed database as well as secondary searches of article reference lists, additional reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, 45 (73.8%) of the 61 studies reviewed, including all 11 involving exogenous ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment, reported either a null (no statistically significant difference) or inverse association of ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonists or ghrelin genetic variants with cancer risk, presence or growth; 10 (16.7%) studies reported positive associations; and 6 (10.0%) reported both negative or null and positive associations. Differences in serum ghrelin levels in cancer cases vs controls (typically lower) were reported for some but not all cancers. The majority of in vivo studies showed a null or inverse association of ghrelin with risk and progression of most cancers, suggesting that ghrelin/ghrelin-receptor agonist treatment may have a favorable safety profile to use for cancer cachexia. Additional large-scale prospective clinical trials as well as basic bioscientific research are warranted to further evaluate the safety and benefits of ghrelin treatment in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakine Sever
- Division of EndocrinologyDiabetes, and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Alkek Building for Biomedical Research, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Donna L White
- Section of Gastroenterology and HepatologyBaylor College of Medicine Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA Clinical Epidemiology and Comparative Effectiveness ProgramSection of Health Services Research (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, HSR&D Center of Innovation (152), Houston, Texas, USA Texas Medical Center Digestive Disease CenterBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer CenterBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID)Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - José M Garcia
- Division of EndocrinologyDiabetes, and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Alkek Building for Biomedical Research, Houston, Texas, USA Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID)Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA Department of Molecular and Cellular BiologyBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Huffington Center on AgingBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical CenterVeterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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24
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William Snape
- California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California
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25
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Okada Y, Sugita Y, Ohshima K, Morioka M, Komaki S, Miyoshi J, Abe H. Signaling of ghrelin and its functional receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, promote tumor growth in glioblastomas. Neuropathology 2016; 36:535-543. [DOI: 10.1111/neup.12315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yousuke Okada
- Department of Pathology; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
| | - Yasuo Sugita
- Department of Pathology; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
| | - Koichi Ohshima
- Department of Pathology; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
| | - Motohiro Morioka
- Department of Neurosurgery; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
| | - Satoru Komaki
- Department of Neurosurgery; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
| | - Junko Miyoshi
- Department of Neurosurgery; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
| | - Hideyuki Abe
- Department of Surgical Pathology; Kurume University School of Medicine; Kurume Japan
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26
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Kraus D, Reckenbeil J, Wenghoefer M, Stark H, Frentzen M, Allam JP, Novak N, Frede S, Götz W, Probstmeier R, Meyer R, Winter J. Ghrelin promotes oral tumor cell proliferation by modifying GLUT1 expression. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1287-99. [PMID: 26407611 PMCID: PMC11108541 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2048-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In our study, ghrelin was investigated with respect to its capacity on proliferative effects and molecular correlations on oral tumor cells. The presence of all molecular components of the ghrelin system, i.e., ghrelin and its receptors, was analyzed and could be detected using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. To examine cellular effects caused by ghrelin and to clarify downstream-regulatory mechanisms, two different oral tumor cell lines (BHY and HN) were used in cell culture experiments. Stimulation of either cell line with ghrelin led to a significantly increased proliferation. Signal transduction occurred through phosphorylation of GSK-3β and nuclear translocation of β-catenin. This effect could be inhibited by blocking protein kinase A. Glucose transporter1 (GLUT1), as an important factor for delivering sufficient amounts of glucose to tumor cells having high requirements for this carbohydrate (Warburg effect) was up-regulated by exogenous and endogenous ghrelin. Silencing intracellular ghrelin concentrations using siRNA led to a significant decreased expression of GLUT1 and proliferation. In conclusion, our study describes the role for the appetite-stimulating peptide hormone ghrelin in oral cancer proliferation under the particular aspect of glucose uptake: (1) tumor cells are a source of ghrelin. (2) Ghrelin affects tumor cell proliferation through autocrine and/or paracrine activity. (3) Ghrelin modulates GLUT1 expression and thus indirectly enhances tumor cell proliferation. These findings are of major relevance, because glucose uptake is assumed to be a promising target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Kraus
- Department of Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education, and Material Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan Reckenbeil
- Department of Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education, and Material Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias Wenghoefer
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helmut Stark
- Department of Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education, and Material Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias Frentzen
- Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University of Bonn, Welschnonnenstr. 17, 53111, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jean-Pierre Allam
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Natalija Novak
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stilla Frede
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Werner Götz
- Department of Orthodontics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Rainer Meyer
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jochen Winter
- Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University of Bonn, Welschnonnenstr. 17, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
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Katare R, Rawal S, Munasinghe PE, Tsuchimochi H, Inagaki T, Fujii Y, Dixit P, Umetani K, Kangawa K, Shirai M, Schwenke DO. Ghrelin Promotes Functional Angiogenesis in a Mouse Model of Critical Limb Ischemia Through Activation of Proangiogenic MicroRNAs. Endocrinology 2016; 157:432-45. [PMID: 26672806 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Current therapeutic strategies for the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI) have only limited success. Recent in vitro evidence in the literature, using cell lines, proposes that the peptide hormone ghrelin may have angiogenic properties. In this study, we aim to investigate if ghrelin could promote postischemic angiogenesis in a mouse model of CLI and, further, identify the mechanistic pathway(s) that underpin ghrelin's proangiogenic properties. CLI was induced in male CD1 mice by femoral artery ligation. Animals were then randomized to receive either vehicle or acylated ghrelin (150 μg/kg sc) for 14 consecutive days. Subsequently, synchrotron radiation microangiography was used to assess hindlimb perfusion. Subsequent tissue samples were collected for molecular and histological analysis. Ghrelin treatment markedly improved limb perfusion by promoting the generation of new capillaries and arterioles (internal diameter less than 50 μm) within the ischemic hindlimb that were both structurally and functionally normal; evident by robust endothelium-dependent vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine. Molecular analysis revealed that ghrelin's angiogenic properties were linked to activation of prosurvival Akt/vascular endothelial growth factor/Bcl-2 signaling cascade, thus reducing the apoptotic cell death and subsequent fibrosis. Further, ghrelin treatment activated proangiogenic (miR-126 and miR-132) and antifibrotic (miR-30a) microRNAs (miRs) while inhibiting antiangiogenic (miR-92a and miR-206) miRs. Importantly, in vitro knockdown of key proangiogenic miRs (miR-126 and miR-132) inhibited the angiogenic potential of ghrelin. These results therefore suggest that clinical use of ghrelin for the early treatment of CLI may be a promising and potent inducer of reparative vascularization through modulation of key molecular factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Katare
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Shruti Rawal
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Pujika Emani Munasinghe
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Tsuchimochi
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Tadakatsu Inagaki
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Yutaka Fujii
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Parul Dixit
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Keiji Umetani
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Kenji Kangawa
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Mikiyasu Shirai
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
| | - Daryl O Schwenke
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago (R.K., S.R., P.E.M., P.D., D.O.S.), University of Otago, Dunedin, 9010 New Zealand; Department of Cardiac Physiology (H.T., T.I., Y.F., M.S.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (K.U.), Hyogo, 679-5198 Japan; and Director (K.K.), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565 Japan
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Bittar NMVR, Zulian JG, Ogias D, Gama P. Ghrelin and GHS-R in the rat gastric mucosa: Are they involved in regulation of growth during early weaning? Nutrition 2015; 32:101-7. [PMID: 26520918 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Based on previous evidence showing that early weaning disturbs the ontogenesis of rat gastric glands, which are the major site of ghrelin synthesis, we investigated the distribution of ghrelin and its receptor (GHS-R) in the rat gastric epithelium during postnatal development and evaluated the effects of early weaning on their levels. Additionally, we studied the contribution of ghrelin to gastric growth during the abrupt nutrient transition. METHODS Wistar rats were submitted to early weaning at 15 d and suckling counterparts were taken as controls. RESULTS By running quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunoblots, and immunohistochemistry, we detected a variation of ghrelin levels and an increase of expression and number of immunolabeled cells, 3 d after treatment (P < 0.05). Through confocal microscopy, we identified GHS-R in the neck region of the gland and did not observe changes in protein levels. Growth was evaluated after ghrelin antagonist ([D-Lys-3]-GHRP-6) administration, which reduced DNA synthesis index in early-weaned rats (P < 0.05) as determined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that ghrelin and GHS-R are distributed in gastric mucosa during the postnatal development, indicating that they can signal and function in epithelial cells. We concluded that early weaning increased ghrelin levels in the stomach, and it takes part of cell proliferation control that is essential for stomach growth. Therefore, among the many effects previously described for early weaning, this abrupt nutrient transition also changed ghrelin levels, which might represent an additional element in the complex mechanism that coordinates stomach development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juliana Guimarães Zulian
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniela Ogias
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Gama
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Mechanisms of anorexia-cachexia syndrome and rational for treatment with selective ghrelin receptor agonist. Cancer Treat Rev 2015; 41:793-7. [PMID: 26386985 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cachexia is a multi-organ, multifactorial and often irreversible syndrome affecting many patients with cancer. Cancer cachexia is invariably associated with weight loss, mainly from loss of skeletal muscle and body fat, conditioning a reduced quality of life due to asthenia, anorexia, anaemia and fatigue. Treatment options for treating cancer cachexia are limited. The approach is multimodal and may include: treatment of secondary gastrointestinal symptoms, nutritional treatments, drug, and non-drug treatments. Nutritional counselling and physical training may be beneficial in delaying or preventing the development of anorexia-cachexia. However, these interventions are limited in their effect, and no definitive pharmacological treatment is available to address the relevant components of the syndrome. Anamorelin is a first-in-class, orally active ghrelin receptor agonist that binds and stimulates the growth hormone secretagogue receptor centrally, thereby mimicking the appetite-enhancing and anabolic effects of ghrelin. It represents a new class of drug and an additional treatment option for this patient group, whose therapeutic options are currently limited. In this review we examine the mechanisms of anamorelin by which it contrasts catabolic states, its role in regulation of metabolism and energy homeostasis, the data of recent trials in the setting of cancer cachexia and its safety profile.
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Kawaguchi M, Kanemaru A, Fukushima T, Yamamoto K, Tanaka H, Haruyama Y, Itoh H, Matsumoto N, Kangawa K, Nakazato M, Kataoka H. Ghrelin administration suppresses inflammation-associated colorectal carcinogenesis in mice. Cancer Sci 2015; 106:1130-6. [PMID: 26094822 PMCID: PMC4582981 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ghrelin is a 28-amino-acid peptide that stimulates the release of pituitary growth hormone. Because of its orexigenic effects, ghrelin is being developed as a therapeutic option for postoperative support and treatment of anorexia-cachexia syndrome of cancer patients. However, ghrelin has a multiplicity of physiological functions, and it also affects cell proliferation. Therefore, the effects of ghrelin administration on carcinogenesis and cancer progression in patients susceptible to cancer should be clarified. In this study, we examined the effects of ghrelin on cancer promotion in vivo using murine intestinal carcinogenesis models. Intestinal tumorigenesis was examined to determine the effects of either exogenous ghrelin administration or ghrelin deficiency following deletion of the Ghrl gene. Two murine intestinal tumorigenesis models were used. The first was the azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced inflammation-associated colon carcinogenesis model and the second was the ApcMin/+ genetic cancer susceptibility model. In AOM/DSS-treated mice, administration of ghrelin significantly suppressed tumor formation in the colon. In contrast, ghrelin administration did not affect the number of intestinal tumors formed in ApcMin/+ mice. The absence of endogenous ghrelin did not affect the incidence of intestinal tumors in either AOM/DSS-treated mice or ApcMin/+ mice, though tumor size tended to be larger in Ghrl−/− colons in the AOM/DSS model. No tumor-promoting effect was observed by ghrelin administration in either tumorigenesis model. In summary, this study provides in vivo experimental evidence for the usefulness of ghrelin administration in the chemoprevention of inflammation-associated colorectal carcinogenesis and may suggest its safety in patients under colitis-associated cancer susceptibility conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Kawaguchi
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Ai Kanemaru
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Fukushima
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Koji Yamamoto
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tanaka
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Haruyama
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Itoh
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Matsumoto
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Kenji Kangawa
- Department of Biochemistry, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Nakazato
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kataoka
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
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Potential ghrelin-mediated benefits and risks of hydrogen water. Med Hypotheses 2015; 84:350-5. [PMID: 25649854 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2015.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen (H2) can scavenge hydroxyl radical and diminish the toxicity of peroxynitrite; hence, it has interesting potential for antioxidant protection. Recently, a number of studies have explored the utility of inhaled hydrogen gas, or of hydrogen-saturated water, administered parenterally or orally, in rodent models of pathology and in clinical trials, oftentimes with very positive outcomes. The efficacy of orally ingested hydrogen-rich water (HW) has been particularly surprising, given that only transient and rather small increments in plasma hydrogen can be achieved by this method. A recent study in mice has discovered that orally administered HW provokes increased gastric production of the orexic hormone ghrelin, and that this ghrelin mediates the favorable impact of HW on a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. The possibility that most of the benefits observed with HW in experimental studies are mediated by ghrelin merits consideration. Ghrelin is well known to function as an appetite stimulant and secretagogue for growth hormone, but it influences physiological function throughout the body via interaction with the widely express GHS-R1a receptor. Rodent and, to a more limited extent, clinical studies establish that ghrelin has versatile neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing activity, favorably impacts vascular health, exerts anti-inflammatory activity useful in autoimmune disorders, and is markedly hepatoprotective. The stimulatory impact of ghrelin on GH-IGF-I activity, while potentially beneficial in sarcopenia or cachectic disorders, does raise concerns regarding the long-term impact of ghrelin up-regulation on cancer risk. The impact of ingesting HW water on ghrelin production in humans needs to be evaluated; if HW does up-regulate ghrelin in humans, it may have versatile potential for prevention and control of a number of health disorders.
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32
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High metabolic in vivo stability and bioavailability of a palmitoylated ghrelin receptor ligand assessed by mass spectrometry. Bioorg Med Chem 2014; 23:3925-32. [PMID: 25541202 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Revised: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The constitutive activity of the ghrelin receptor is of high physiological and pathophysiological relevance. In-depth structure-activity relationship studies revealed a palmitoylated ghrelin receptor ligand that displays an in vitro binding affinity in the low nanomolar range. Activity studies revealed inverse agonistic as well as antagonistic properties and in vitro metabolic analysis indicated a high stability in blood serum and liver homogenate. For metabolic testing in vivo, a combined approach of stable isotopic labeling and mass spectrometry-based analysis was established. Therefore, a heavy isotopic version of the peptide containing a (13)C-labeled palmitic acid was synthesized and a 1:1 ratio of a (12)C/(13)C-peptide mixture was injected into rats. Biological samples were analyzed by multiple reaction monitoring allowing simultaneous peptide detection and quantification. Measurements revealed a suitable bioavailability over 24h in rat serum and subsequent high-resolution mass spectrometry investigations showed only negligible degradation and slow body clearance. Hence, this method combination allowed the identification and evaluation of a highly potent and metabolically stable ghrelin receptor ligand in vivo.
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Lee JH, Patel K, Tae HJ, Lustig A, Kim JW, Mattson MP, Taub DD. Ghrelin augments murine T-cell proliferation by activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and protein kinase C signaling pathways. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:4708-19. [PMID: 25447526 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thymic atrophy occurs during normal aging, and is accelerated by exposure to chronic stressors that elevate glucocorticoid levels and impair the naïve T cell output. The orexigenic hormone ghrelin was recently shown to attenuate age-associated thymic atrophy. Here, we report that ghrelin enhances the proliferation of murine CD4+ primary T cells and a CD4+ T-cell line. Ghrelin induced activation of the ERK1/2 and Akt signaling pathways, via upstream activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and protein kinase C, to enhance T-cell proliferation. Moreover, ghrelin induced expression of the cell cycle proteins cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and retinoblastoma phosphorylation. Finally, ghrelin activated the above-mentioned signaling pathways and stimulated thymocyte proliferation in young and older mice in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ho Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Division of Brain Korea 21 Plus Program for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Kalpesh Patel
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Hyun Jin Tae
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Ana Lustig
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Jie Wan Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Mark P Mattson
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
| | - Dennis D Taub
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States; Center of Translational Studies, Medical Services, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, United States.
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Synthesis and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of novel mono- and trivalent technetium-99m labeled ghrelin peptide complexes as potential diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. Nucl Med Biol 2014; 42:28-37. [PMID: 25218025 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2014.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ghrelin is an endogenous hormone present in blood. It is released from the oxyntic cells (X/A-like cells) of the stomach and fundus and can exist in two forms: as an acylated and des-acylated ghrelin. Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R). Overexpression of GHS-R1a receptor was identified in cells of different types of tumors (e.g. pituitary adenoma, neuroendocrine tumors of the thyroid, lung, breast, gonads, prostate, stomach, colorectal, endocrine and non-endocrine pancreatic tumors). This fact suggests that gamma radionuclide labeled ghrelin peptide may be considered as a potential diagnostic radiopharmaceutical. METHODS Ghrelin peptide labeled with mono- and trivalent technetium-99m complexes, (99m)Tc-Lys-GHR, has been prepared on the n.c.a. scale. The physicochemical (stability, charge, shape, lipophilicity) and biological (receptor affinity, biodistribution) properties of the conjugates have been studied relevant to use the conjugates as receptor-based diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. RESULTS The obtained conjugates [(99m)Tc(CO)3LN,O(CN-Lys-GHR)](+), (99m)Tc(CO)3LS,O(CN-Lys-GHR) and (99m)Tc(NS3)(CN-Lys-GHR) show different shape, charge, lipophilicity and two of them, (99m)Tc(CO)3LS,O(CN-Lys-GHR) and (99m)Tc(NS3)(CN-Lys-GHR), high stability in neutral aqueous solutions, even in the presence of excess concentration of histidine/cysteine competitive standard ligands or human serum. The in vitro binding affinity of (99m)Tc-Lys-GHR conjugates with respect to growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) present on DU-145 cells was in the range of IC50 from 45 to 54 nM. The conjugate (99m)Tc(CO)3LS,O(CN-Lys-GHR) exhibited excretion route by the liver and kidney in comparable degree, while the more lipophilic conjugate (99m)Tc(NS3)(CN-Lys-GHR)-mainly by the liver. CONCLUSIONS Basing on the results concerning physicochemical and biochemical properties, the conjugates (99m)Tc(CO)3LS,O(CN-Lys-GHR) and (99m)Tc(NS3)(CN-Lys-GHR) might be considered to be promising models for diagnostic radiopharmaceutical.
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Zeng P, Li S, Zheng YH, Liu FY, Wang JL, Zhang DL, Wei J. Ghrelin receptor agonist, GHRP-2, produces antinociceptive effects at the supraspinal level via the opioid receptor in mice. Peptides 2014; 55:103-9. [PMID: 24607724 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
GHRP-2 is a synthetic agonist of ghrelin receptor. GHRP-2 has similar physiological functions with ghrelin. In our previous study, ghrelin (i.c.v.) could induce analgesic effect through an interaction with GHS-R1α and with the central opioid system in the acute pain in mice. To date, the function of GHRP-2 in pain processing was not understood. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GHRP-2 on pain modulation at supraspinal level in mice using the tail immersion test. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of GHRP-2 (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 and 10 nmol/L) produced a concentration- and time-related antinociceptive effect. This effect could be fully antagonized by GHS-R1α antagonist [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP-6, indicating that the analgesic effect induced by GHRP-2 is mediated through the activation of GHS-R1α. Interestingly, naloxone, naltrindole and nor-binaltorphimine, but not β-funaltrexamine, could also block the analgesic effect markedly, suggesting that δ- and κ-opioid receptor is involved in the analgesic response evoked by GHRP-2. Moreover, i.c.v. administration of GHRP-2 potentiated the analgesic effect induced by morphine (i.c.v., 1 nmol/L) and this potentiated effect could not be reversed by [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP-6. Thus these findings may be a new strategy on investigating the interaction between ghrelin system and opioids on pain modulation. Furthermore, GHRP-2 may be a promising peptide for developing new analgesic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zeng
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Bayi Road 461, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Shu Li
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environmental and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, China
| | - Yue-hui Zheng
- Medical Experimental Teaching Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Fu-Yan Liu
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Bayi Road 461, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Jing-lei Wang
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Bayi Road 461, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Da-lei Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Bayi Road 461, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Jie Wei
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Bayi Road 461, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
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Zeng P, Chen JX, Yang B, Zhi X, Guo FX, Sun ML, Wang JL, Wei J. Attenuation of systemic morphine-induced analgesia by central administration of ghrelin and related peptides in mice. Peptides 2013; 50:42-9. [PMID: 24113541 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin, an acylated 28-amino peptide secreted in the gastric endocrine cells, has been demonstrated to stimulate the release of growth hormone, increase food intake, and inhibit pro-inflammatory cascade, etc. Ghrelin mainly combines with its receptor (GHS-R1α) to play the role in physiological and pathological functions. It has been reported that ghrelin plays important roles in the control of pain through interaction with the opioid system in inflammatory pain and acute pain. However, very few studies show the effect of supraspinal ghrelin system on antinociception induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of morphine. In the present study, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of ghrelin (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L) produced inhibition of systemic morphine (6 mg/kg, i.p.) analgesia in the tail withdrawal test. Similarly, i.c.v. injection GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 which are the agonists of GHS-R1α, also decreased analgesia effect induced by morphine injected intraperitoneally in mice. Furthermore, these anti-opioid activities of ghrelin and related peptides were not blocked by pretreatment with the GHS-R1α selective antagonist [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP-6 (100 nmol/L, i.c.v.). These results demonstrated that central ghrelin and related peptides could inhibit the analgesia effect induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of morphine. The anti-opioid effects of ghrelin and related peptides do not interact with GHS-R1a. These findings may pave the way for a new strategy on investigating the interaction between ghrelin system and opioids on pain modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zeng
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Bayi Road 461, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
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Wei J, Zhi X, Wang XL, Zeng P, Zou T, Yang B, Wang JL. In vivo characterization of the effects of ghrelin on the modulation of acute pain at the supraspinal level in mice. Peptides 2013; 43:76-82. [PMID: 23500519 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
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., 10mg/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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wei
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Bayi Road 461, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China.
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Northrup R, Kuroda K, Duus EM, Barnes SR, Cheatham L, Wiley T, Pietra C. Effect of ghrelin and anamorelin (ONO-7643), a selective ghrelin receptor agonist, on tumor growth in a lung cancer mouse xenograft model. Support Care Cancer 2013; 21:2409-15. [PMID: 23579947 PMCID: PMC3728440 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-013-1800-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Anamorelin (ONO-7643) is an orally active ghrelin receptor agonist in development for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related anorexia/cachexia. It displays both orexigenic and anabolic properties via ghrelin mimetic activity and transient increases in growth hormone (GH). However, increasing GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 in cancer patients raises concerns of potentially stimulating tumor growth. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ghrelin and anamorelin on tumor growth in a murine NSCLC xenograft model. Methods Female nude mice (15–21/group) with established A549 tumors were administered ghrelin (2 mg/kg i.p.), anamorelin (3, 10, or 30 mg/kg p.o.), or vehicle controls daily for 28 days. Tumor growth, food consumption, and body weight were monitored. Murine growth hormone (mGH) and murine insulin-like growth factor-1 (mIGF-1) were measured in plasma. Results Tumor growth progressed throughout the study, with no significant differences between treatment groups. Daily food consumption was also relatively unchanged, while the percentage of mean body weight gain at the end of treatment was significantly increased in animals administered 10 and 30 mg/kg compared with controls (p < 0.01). Peak mGH levels were significantly higher in ghrelin- and anamorelin-treated animals than in controls, while peak mIGF-1 levels were slightly elevated but not statistically significant. All regimens were well tolerated. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that neither anamorelin nor ghrelin promoted tumor growth in this model, despite increased levels of mGH and a trend of increased mIGF-1. Together with anamorelin’s ability to increase body weight, these results support the clinical development of ghrelin receptor agonist treatments for managing NSCLC-related anorexia/cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Northrup
- Research and Development, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Bridgewater, NJ 08807, USA.
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Ma XB, Xu WH. Ghrelin in gastrointestinal diseases. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2013; 21:239-243. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v21.i3.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). Upon binding to its receptor, Ghrelin can produce a variety of biological effects, such as promoting the release of growth hormone and maintaining energy balance. Besides, it also promotes gastrointestinal motility, increases gastric acid secretion, and is involved in the genesis of tumors. This article reviews the role of Ghrelin in gastrointestinal system disease.
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Argilés JM, Stemmler B. The potential of ghrelin in the treatment of cancer cachexia. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2012; 13:67-76. [DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2013.727390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with gastric carcinoid. The tumor was surgically removed and immunohistochemical investigation demonstrated a rare combination: ghrelin and serotonin in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. The functional significance of simultaneous production of ghrelin and serotonin is not clear. It may be that an autocrine/paracrine interaction exists between these two different hormones.
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Katsila T, Siskos AP, Tamvakopoulos C. Peptide and protein drugs: the study of their metabolism and catabolism by mass spectrometry. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2012; 31:110-133. [PMID: 21698655 DOI: 10.1002/mas.20340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Peptide and protein drugs have evolved in recent years into mainstream therapeutics, representing a significant portion of the pharmaceutical market. Peptides and proteins exhibit highly diverse structures, broad biological activities as hormones, neurotransmitters, structural proteins, metabolic modulators and therefore have a significant role as both therapeutics and biomarkers. Understanding the metabolism of synthetic or biotechnologically derived peptide and protein drugs is critical for pharmaceutical development as metabolism has a significant impact on drug efficacy and safety. Although the same principles of pharmacokinetics and metabolism of small molecule drugs apply to peptide and protein drugs, there are few notable differences. Moreover, the study of peptide and protein drug metabolism is a rather complicated process which requires sophisticated analytical techniques, and mass spectrometry based approaches have provided the capabilities for efficient and reliable quantification, characterization, and metabolite identification. This review article will focus on the current use of mass spectrometry for the study of the metabolism of peptide and protein drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Katsila
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Soranou Efesiou Street 4, Athens GR-11527, Greece
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The aim of the present study was to investigate if ghrelin inhibits apoptosis in colonic cancer cells. METHODS Cell viability in HT-29 cells was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was measured using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and flow cytometry. The protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 activation was examined using Western blotting. RESULTS Ghrelin dose dependently decreased the growth inhibition of HT-29 cells induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Cells treated with 5-FU displayed chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation, which are typical changes of apoptosis. However, co-treatment with ghrelin reduced these changes. Flow cytometry after staining with Annexin V and propidium iodide showed that ghrelin decreased the apoptotic rate of HT-29 cells induced by 5-FU. Caspase-3 activation was significantly lower in the co-treated group than in the group treated with 5-FU alone. In addition, ghrelin reversed the 5-FU-induced Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio. CONCLUSION Ghrelin inhibits 5-FU-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells through the regulation of the Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Tong He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Murphy G, Kamangar F, Dawsey SM, Stanczyk FZ, Weinstein SJ, Taylor PR, Virtamo J, Abnet CC, Albanes D, Freedman ND. The relationship between serum ghrelin and the risk of gastric and esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinomas. J Natl Cancer Inst 2011; 103:1123-9. [PMID: 21693726 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djr194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract remain a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Ghrelin is a hormone produced in the oxyntic glands of the stomach, and under conditions of chronic inflammation and atrophy, serum ghrelin concentrations decrease. However, the relationship between ghrelin and the risk of gastric and esophagogastric junctional cancers has not been investigated. METHODS We conducted a nested case-control study within the Finnish Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study to examine the relationship between serum ghrelin concentration and the risk of gastric noncardia adenocarcinoma (GNCA) and esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma (EGJA). Data from 261 GNCA patients, 98 EGJA patients, and 441 control subjects were analyzed. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using logistic regression with adjustment for potential confounders. Lag analysis was also performed to investigate the temporal nature of the associations between baseline serum pepsinogen I and ghrelin in GNCA and EGJA patients. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Lower concentrations of serum ghrelin were statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of both GNCA (adjusted OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.49 to 2.04; P < .001) and EGJA (adjusted OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.28 to 1.89, P < .001). A multivariable model found that the risk of both GNCA and EGJA were statistically significantly increased for those individuals in the lowest quartile of serum ghrelin levels compared with those in the highest quartile (OR of GNCA = 5.63, 95% CI = 3.16 to 10.03; OR of EGJA = 4.90, 95% CI = 2.11 to 11.35). The statistical significance of these associations remained even after restricting the analysis to those patients who developed cancer more than 10 years after baseline serum ghrelin measurements. CONCLUSION Low baseline concentrations of serum ghrelin were associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of GNCA and EGJA, suggesting a potential role for gastric hormones in carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwen Murphy
- Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS 3034, Rockville, MD 20892, USA.
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Chopin L, Walpole C, Seim I, Cunningham P, Murray R, Whiteside E, Josh P, Herington A. Ghrelin and cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011; 340:65-9. [PMID: 21616120 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2011] [Revised: 04/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that was originally isolated from the stomach as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). Ghrelin has many functions, including the regulation of appetite and gut motility, growth hormone release from the anterior pituitary and roles in the cardiovascular and immune systems. Ghrelin and its receptor are expressed in a number of cancers and cancer cell lines and may play a role in processes associated with cancer progression, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell invasion and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Chopin
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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DeBoer MD. Ghrelin and cachexia: will treatment with GHSR-1a agonists make a difference for patients suffering from chronic wasting syndromes? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011; 340:97-105. [PMID: 21354462 PMCID: PMC3114250 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Revised: 02/15/2011] [Accepted: 02/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Cachexia is a syndrome of wasting and anorexia that worsens the prognosis of many chronic diseases including cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Properties of the orexigenic hormone ghrelin-including appetite-stimulation, weight-gain production and increased cardiac output make it a logical treatment for cachexia. While endogenous ghrelin levels are increased in the setting of cachexia, treatment with ghrelin and other GHSR-1a agonists in animal models of cachexia and in humans with cachexia has demonstrated consistent effects of increased appetite and improved weight gain. These positive effects occur in multiple underlying diseases associated with cachexia and appear to be sustained over treatment duration of up to 12 weeks. The mechanism of action in producing these effects is likely related to stimulation of central appetite centers such as the central melanocortin system and to increased growth hormone release, though ghrelin's effects may also relate to decreased systemic inflammation and other direct and indirect actions. Questions regarding the long-term safety of ghrelin treatment are still unanswered, as is the important question of whether successful treatment of cachexia will improve the prognosis of the underlying disease itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D DeBoer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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Ghrelin inhibits proliferation and increases T-type Ca2+ channel expression in PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 403:24-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.10.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2010] [Accepted: 10/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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