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Sterenborg RBTM, Steinbrenner I, Li Y, Bujnis MN, Naito T, Marouli E, Galesloot TE, Babajide O, Andreasen L, Astrup A, Åsvold BO, Bandinelli S, Beekman M, Beilby JP, Bork-Jensen J, Boutin T, Brody JA, Brown SJ, Brumpton B, Campbell PJ, Cappola AR, Ceresini G, Chaker L, Chasman DI, Concas MP, Coutinho de Almeida R, Cross SM, Cucca F, Deary IJ, Kjaergaard AD, Echouffo Tcheugui JB, Ellervik C, Eriksson JG, Ferrucci L, Freudenberg J, Fuchsberger C, Gieger C, Giulianini F, Gögele M, Graham SE, Grarup N, Gunjača I, Hansen T, Harding BN, Harris SE, Haunsø S, Hayward C, Hui J, Ittermann T, Jukema JW, Kajantie E, Kanters JK, Kårhus LL, Kiemeney LALM, Kloppenburg M, Kühnel B, Lahti J, Langenberg C, Lapauw B, Leese G, Li S, Liewald DCM, Linneberg A, Lominchar JVT, Luan J, Martin NG, Matana A, Meima ME, Meitinger T, Meulenbelt I, Mitchell BD, Møllehave LT, Mora S, Naitza S, Nauck M, Netea-Maier RT, Noordam R, Nursyifa C, Okada Y, Onano S, Papadopoulou A, Palmer CNA, Pattaro C, Pedersen O, Peters A, Pietzner M, Polašek O, Pramstaller PP, Psaty BM, Punda A, Ray D, Redmond P, Richards JB, Ridker PM, Russ TC, Ryan KA, Olesen MS, Schultheiss UT, Selvin E, Siddiqui MK, Sidore C, Slagboom PE, Sørensen TIA, Soto-Pedre E, Spector TD, Spedicati B, Srinivasan S, Starr JM, Stott DJ, Tanaka T, Torlak V, Trompet S, Tuhkanen J, Uitterlinden AG, van den Akker EB, van den Eynde T, van der Klauw MM, van Heemst D, Verroken C, Visser WE, Vojinovic D, Völzke H, Waldenberger M, Walsh JP, Wareham NJ, Weiss S, Willer CJ, Wilson SG, Wolffenbuttel BHR, Wouters HJCM, Wright MJ, Yang Q, Zemunik T, Zhou W, Zhu G, Zöllner S, Smit JWA, Peeters RP, Köttgen A, Teumer A, Medici M. Multi-trait analysis characterizes the genetics of thyroid function and identifies causal associations with clinical implications. Nat Commun 2024; 15:888. [PMID: 38291025 PMCID: PMC10828500 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44701-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
To date only a fraction of the genetic footprint of thyroid function has been clarified. We report a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of thyroid function in up to 271,040 individuals of European ancestry, including reference range thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free and total triiodothyronine (T3), proxies for metabolism (T3/FT4 ratio) as well as dichotomized high and low TSH levels. We revealed 259 independent significant associations for TSH (61% novel), 85 for FT4 (67% novel), and 62 novel signals for the T3 related traits. The loci explained 14.1%, 6.0%, 9.5% and 1.1% of the total variation in TSH, FT4, total T3 and free T3 concentrations, respectively. Genetic correlations indicate that TSH associated loci reflect the thyroid function determined by free T3, whereas the FT4 associations represent the thyroid hormone metabolism. Polygenic risk score and Mendelian randomization analyses showed the effects of genetically determined variation in thyroid function on various clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In conclusion, our results improve the understanding of thyroid hormone physiology and highlight the pleiotropic effects of thyroid function on various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalie B T M Sterenborg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Inga Steinbrenner
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yong Li
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Tatsuhiko Naito
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Laboratory for Systems Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Eirini Marouli
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Digital Environment Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Tessel E Galesloot
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Oladapo Babajide
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Andreasen
- Laboratory for Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arne Astrup
- Department of Obesity and Nutritional Sciences, The Novo Nordisk Foundation, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Bjørn Olav Åsvold
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Endocrinology, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Marian Beekman
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - John P Beilby
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jette Bork-Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thibaud Boutin
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer A Brody
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Suzanne J Brown
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ben Brumpton
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, 7600, Norway
| | - Purdey J Campbell
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Anne R Cappola
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Graziano Ceresini
- Oncological Endocrinology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Layal Chaker
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel I Chasman
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Maria Pina Concas
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Coutinho de Almeida
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Simone M Cross
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Francesco Cucca
- Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
- Università di Sassari, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, V.le San Pietro, 07100, Sassari (SS), Italy
| | - Ian J Deary
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alisa Devedzic Kjaergaard
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Blvd. 11, Entrance A, 8200, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Justin B Echouffo Tcheugui
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Christina Ellervik
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Faculty of Medical Science, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
| | - Johan G Eriksson
- Department of General Practice and Primary health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- National University Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Longitudinal Study Section, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Christian Fuchsberger
- Institute for Biomedicine (affiliated with the University of Lübeck), Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Christian Gieger
- Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Franco Giulianini
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Martin Gögele
- Institute for Biomedicine (affiliated with the University of Lübeck), Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Sarah E Graham
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Niels Grarup
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ivana Gunjača
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Torben Hansen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Barbara N Harding
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Stig Haunsø
- Laboratory for Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Caroline Hayward
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jennie Hui
- Pathwest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Till Ittermann
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - J Wouter Jukema
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Heart Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eero Kajantie
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Population Health Unit, Helsinki and Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Clinical Medicine Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jørgen K Kanters
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center of Physiological Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Line L Kårhus
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lambertus A L M Kiemeney
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Margreet Kloppenburg
- Departments of Rheumatology and Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Brigitte Kühnel
- Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jari Lahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Claudia Langenberg
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
- Computational Medicine, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Bruno Lapauw
- Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Shuo Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C M Liewald
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Allan Linneberg
- Center of Physiological Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesus V T Lominchar
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jian'an Luan
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | | | - Antonela Matana
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Marcel E Meima
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Meitinger
- Institute for Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingrid Meulenbelt
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Braxton D Mitchell
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Baltimore, USA
- Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Line T Møllehave
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Samia Mora
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Silvia Naitza
- Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Matthias Nauck
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Romana T Netea-Maier
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Raymond Noordam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Casia Nursyifa
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yukinori Okada
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Laboratory for Systems Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Statistical Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (WPI-PRIMe), Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Stefano Onano
- Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Areti Papadopoulou
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Colin N A Palmer
- Division of Population Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, DD19SY, Dundee, UK
| | - Cristian Pattaro
- Institute for Biomedicine (affiliated with the University of Lübeck), Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Oluf Pedersen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Herlev-Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Maik Pietzner
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
- Computational Medicine, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ozren Polašek
- Department of Public Health, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
- Algebra University College, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine (affiliated with the University of Lübeck), Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Bruce M Psaty
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Departments of Epidemiology and Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ante Punda
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Debashree Ray
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Paul Redmond
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - J Brent Richards
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Paul M Ridker
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Tom C Russ
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kathleen A Ryan
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Baltimore, USA
| | - Morten Salling Olesen
- Laboratory for Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulla T Schultheiss
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine IV - Nephrology and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Selvin
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Moneeza K Siddiqui
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Carlo Sidore
- Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - P Eline Slagboom
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thorkild I A Sørensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Enrique Soto-Pedre
- Division of Population Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, DD19SY, Dundee, UK
| | - Tim D Spector
- The Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas' Campus, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Beatrice Spedicati
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sundararajan Srinivasan
- Division of Population Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, DD19SY, Dundee, UK
| | - John M Starr
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David J Stott
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Toshiko Tanaka
- Longitudinal Study Section, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vesela Torlak
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Stella Trompet
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Johanna Tuhkanen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - André G Uitterlinden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik B van den Akker
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Computational Biology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Tibbert van den Eynde
- Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Melanie M van der Klauw
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana van Heemst
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Verroken
- Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - W Edward Visser
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dina Vojinovic
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Melanie Waldenberger
- Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - John P Walsh
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Wareham
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Stefan Weiss
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Cristen J Willer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Scott G Wilson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- The Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas' Campus, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Bruce H R Wolffenbuttel
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hanneke J C M Wouters
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Margaret J Wright
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Qiong Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tatijana Zemunik
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Wei Zhou
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gu Zhu
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sebastian Zöllner
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Johannes W A Smit
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robin P Peeters
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Köttgen
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
- Department of Population Medicine and Lifestyle Diseases Prevention, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Marco Medici
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Samuel CS, Bennett RG. Relaxin as an anti-fibrotic treatment: Perspectives, challenges and future directions. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 197:114884. [PMID: 34968489 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis refers to the scarring and hardening of tissues, which results from a failed immune system-coordinated wound healing response to chronic organ injury and which manifests from the aberrant accumulation of various extracellular matrix components (ECM), primarily collagen. Despite being a hallmark of prolonged tissue damage and related dysfunction, and commonly associated with high morbidity and mortality, there are currently no effective cures for its regression. An emerging therapy that meets several criteria of an effective anti-fibrotic treatment, is the recombinant drug-based form of the human hormone, relaxin (also referred to as serelaxin, which is bioactive in several other species). This review outlines the broad anti-fibrotic and related organ-protective roles of relaxin, mainly from studies conducted in preclinical models of ageing and fibrotic disease, including its ability to ameliorate several aspects of fibrosis progression and maturation, from immune cell infiltration, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine secretion, oxidative stress, organ hypertrophy, cell apoptosis, myofibroblast differentiation and ECM production, to its ability to facilitate established ECM degradation. Studies that have compared and/or combined these therapeutic effects of relaxin with current standard of care medication have also been discussed, along with the main challenges that have hindered the translation of the anti-fibrotic efficacy of relaxin to the clinic. The review then outlines the future directions as to where scientists and several pharmaceutical companies that have recognized the therapeutic potential of relaxin are working towards, to progress its development as a treatment for human patients suffering from various fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Robert G Bennett
- Research Service, Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4130, USA.
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3
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Evidence for existence of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) hormone-receptor system in the ovarian corpus luteum and extra-ovarian reproductive organs during pregnancy in goats. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 385:173-189. [PMID: 33590284 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03410-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), initially described as a male hormone, is expressed in female reproductive organs during the estrous cycle and pregnancy but its function has not yet been established. This study explores the function of INSL3 in pregnant Saanen goats by characterizing the expression dynamics of INSL3 and its receptor, relaxin family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2) and by demonstrating specific INSL3 binding in reproductive organs, using molecular and immunological approaches and ligand-receptor interaction assays. We demonstrate that the corpus luteum (CL) acts as both a source and target of INSL3 in pregnant goats, while extra-ovarian reproductive organs serve as additional INSL3 targets. The expression of INSL3 and RXFP2 in the CL reached maximum levels in middle pregnancy, followed by a decrease in late pregnancy; in contrast, RXFP2 expression levels in extra-ovarian reproductive organs were higher in the mammary glands but lower in the uterus, cervix and placenta and did not significantly change during pregnancy. The functional RXFP2 enabling INSL3 to bind was identified as an ~ 85 kDa protein in both the CL and mammary glands and localized in large and small luteal cells in the CL and in tubuloalveolar and ductal epithelial cells in the mammary glands. Additionally, INSL3 also bound to multiple cell types expressing RXFP2 in the uterus, cervix and placenta in a hormone-specific and saturable manner. These results provide evidence that an active intra- and extra-ovarian INSL3 hormone-receptor system operates during pregnancy in goats.
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Ivell R, Alhujaili W, Kohsaka T, Anand-Ivell R. Physiology and evolution of the INSL3/RXFP2 hormone/receptor system in higher vertebrates. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 299:113583. [PMID: 32800774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although the insulin-like peptide hormone INSL3 and its cognate receptor RXFP2 (relaxin-family peptide receptor 2) have existed throughout chordate evolution, their physiological diversification appears to be linked closely with mammalian emergence and radiation. In contrast, they have been lost in birds and reptiles. Both hormone and receptor are expressed from autosomal genes which have maintained their synteny across vertebrate evolution. Whereas the INSL3 gene comprises only two exons closely linked to the JAK3 gene, RXFP2 is normally encoded by 18 exons. Both genes, however, are subject to alternative splicing to yield a variety of possibly inactive or antagonistic molecules. In mammals, the INSL3-RXFP2 dyad has maintained a probably primitive association with gametogenesis, seen also in fish, whereby INSL3 promotes the survival, growth and differentiation of male germ cells in the testis and follicle development in the ovary. In addition, however, the INSL3/RXFP2 system has adopted a typical 'neohormone' profile, essential for the promotion of internal fertilisation and viviparity; fetal INSL3 is essential for the first phase of testicular descent into a scrotum, and also appears to be associated with male phenotype, in particular horn and skeletal growth. Circulating INSL3 is produced exclusively by the mature testicular Leydig cells in male mammals and acts as a potent biomarker for testis development during fetal and pubertal development as well as in ageing. As such it can be used also to monitor seasonally breeding animals as well as to investigate environmental or lifestyle conditions affecting development. Nevertheless, most information about INSL3 and RXFP2 comes from a very limited selection of species; it will be especially useful to gain further information from a more diverse range of animals, especially those whose evolution has led them to express unusual reproductive phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Ivell
- School of Bioscience, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE2 5RD, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE2 5RD, UK.
| | - Waleed Alhujaili
- School of Bioscience, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE2 5RD, UK
| | - Tetsuya Kohsaka
- Dept. of Applied Life Science, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Japan
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5
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Abstract
Insulin-like 3 peptide (INSL3) is a member of the insulin-like peptide superfamily and is the only known physiological ligand of relaxin family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In mammals, INSL3 is primarily produced both in testicular Leydig cells and in ovarian theca cells, but circulating levels of the hormone are much higher in males than in females. The INSL3/RXFP2 system has an essential role in the development of the gubernaculum for the initial transabdominal descent of the testis and in maintaining proper reproductive health in men. Although its function in female physiology has been less well-characterized, it was reported that INSL3 deletion affects antral follicle development during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and uterus function. Since the discovery of its role in the reproductive system, the study of INSL3/RXFP2 has expanded to others organs, such as skeletal muscle, bone, kidney, thyroid, brain, and eye. This review aims to summarize the various advances in understanding the physiological function of this ligand-receptor pair since its first discovery and elucidate its future therapeutic potential in the management of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Esteban-Lopez
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alexander I Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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6
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Shokri S, Tavalaee M, Ebrahimi SM, Ziaeipour S, Nasr-Esfahani MH, Nejatbakhsh R. Expression of RXFP2 receptor on human spermatozoa and the anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects of insulin-like factor 3. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13715. [PMID: 32557760 DOI: 10.1111/and.13715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) has an important role in the human reproductive system; however, its detailed function is still mysterious. We aimed to investigate the possibility of expression of RXFP2 receptor on human spermatozoa and to determine the anti-apoptotic and antioxidant mechanism derived the binding of INSL3 and RXFP2. In this experimental study, the expression/location of the RXFP2 receptor was determined on the spermatozoa of fertile and infertile men. Twenty samples from 20 fertile men were collected and divided into 6 parts (control group, and five groups treated with INSL3 10, 100, 250, 500, 1,000 ng/ml). DNA damage, active caspase, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sperm parameters were evaluated by TUNEL, flow cytometry, optical microscope and computer-assisted sperm analysis. The expression of RXFP2 was confirmed by Western blot. Immunocytochemistry illustrated that this receptor is expressed in the posterior half of the spermatozoa's head. The INSL3 at concentrations of 500 and 1,000 ng/ml reduced the active caspase and mitochondrial ROS, and also reduced DNA fragmentation at 1,000 ng/ml. Besides, INSL3 500 and 1,000 ng/ml significantly increased the sperm motility. This study confirmed the presence of RXFP2 receptor in fertile and infertile men's spermatozoa, indicating the highly dose-dependent efficacy of the INSL3, which may have promising impacts on the in-vitro fertilisation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Shokri
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Marziyeh Tavalaee
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed Meisam Ebrahimi
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Abhar School of Nursing, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Sanaz Ziaeipour
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Reza Nejatbakhsh
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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7
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Chen TY, Li X, Hung CH, Bahudhanapati H, Tan J, Kass DJ, Zhang Y. The relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1): An emerging player in human health and disease. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2020; 8:e1194. [PMID: 32100955 PMCID: PMC7196478 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Relaxin/relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) signaling is important for both normal physiology and disease. Strong preclinical evidence supports relaxin as a potent antifibrotic molecule. However, relaxin‐based therapy failed in clinical trial in patients with systemic sclerosis. We and others have discovered that aberrant expression of RXFP1 may contribute to the abnormal relaxin/RXFP1 signaling in different diseases. Reduced RXFP1 expression and alternative splicing transcripts with potential functional consequences have been observed in fibrotic tissues. A relative decrease in RXFP1 expression in fibrotic tissues—specifically lung and skin—may explain a potential insensitivity to relaxin. In addition, receptor dimerization also plays important roles in relaxin/RXFP1 signaling. Methods This review describes the tissue specific expression, characteristics of the splicing variants, and homo/heterodimerization of RXFP1 in both normal physiological function and human diseases. We discuss the potential implications of these molecular features for developing therapeutics to restore relaxin/RXFP1 signaling and to harness relaxin's potential antifibrotic effects. Results Relaxin/RXFP1 signaling is important in both normal physiology and in human diseases. Reduced expression of RXFP1 in fibrotic lung and skin tissues surrenders both relaxin/RXFP1 signaling and their responsiveness to exogenous relaxin treatments. Alternative splicing and receptor dimerization are also important in regulating relaxin/RXFP1 signaling. Conclusions Understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive aberrant expression of RXFP1 in disease and the functional roles of alternative splicing and receptor dimerization will provide insight into therapeutic targets that may restore the relaxin responsiveness of fibrotic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yun Chen
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ching-Hsia Hung
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Harinath Bahudhanapati
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jiangning Tan
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J Kass
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yingze Zhang
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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8
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Ivell R, Anand-Ivell R. Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a major regulator of female reproductive physiology. Hum Reprod Update 2018; 24:639-651. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmy029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Ivell
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
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9
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Christie AE, Roncalli V, Lenz PH. Diversity of insulin-like peptide signaling system proteins in Calanus finmarchicus (Crustacea; Copepoda) - Possible contributors to seasonal pre-adult diapause. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 236:157-173. [PMID: 27432815 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Calanus finmarchicus, an abundant calanoid copepod in the North Atlantic Ocean, is both a major grazer on phytoplankton and an important forage species for invertebrate and vertebrate predators. One component of the life history of C. finmarchicus is the overwintering dormancy of sub-adults, a feature key for the annual recruitment of this species in early spring. While little is known about the control of dormancy in C. finmarchicus, one hypothesis is that it is an insect-like diapause, where the endocrine system is a key regulator. One group of hormones implicated in the control of insect diapause is the insulin-like peptides (ILPs). Here, C. finmarchicus transcriptomic data were used to predict ILP signaling pathway proteins. Four ILP precursors were identified, each possessing a distinct A- and B-chain peptide; these peptides are predicted to form bioactive heterodimers via inter-chain disulfide bridging. Two ILP receptors, which likely represent splice variants of a common gene, were identified. Three insulin-degrading enzymes were also discovered, as were proteins encoding the transcription factor FOXO, a downstream target of ILP that has been implicated in the regulation of insect diapause, and insulin receptor substrate, a protein putatively linking the ILP receptor and FOXO. RNA-Seq data suggest that some C. finmarchicus insulin pathway transcripts are differentially expressed across development. As in insects, the ILP signaling system may be involved in controlling C. finmarchicus' organism-environment interactions (e.g., regulation of seasonal sub-adult diapause), a hypothesis that can now be investigated using these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Christie
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1993 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Vittoria Roncalli
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1993 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Petra H Lenz
- Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1993 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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10
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Pitia AM, Uchiyama K, Sano H, Kinukawa M, Minato Y, Sasada H, Kohsaka T. Functional insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) hormone-receptor system in the testes and spermatozoa of domestic ruminants and its potential as a predictor of sire fertility. Anim Sci J 2016; 88:678-690. [PMID: 27592693 DOI: 10.1111/asj.12694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is essential for fetal testis descent, and has been implicated in the testicular and sperm functions in adult males; however, similar functions in domestic ruminants remain largely unknown. This study investigated the functional INSL3 hormone-receptor system in adult ruminant testes and spermatozoa, and explored its potential to diagnose the fertility of sires. Testes and spermatozoa were obtained from fertile bulls, rams and he-goats, whereas subfertile testes and spermatozoa were obtained only from bulls. As expected, INSL3 was visualized in Leydig cells, while we clearly demonstrated that the functional receptor, relaxin family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2), enabling INSL3 to bind was identified in testicular germ cells and in the sperm equatorial segment of bulls, rams and he-goats. In comparison to fertile bulls, the percentage of INSL3- and RXFP2-expressing cells and their expression levels per cell were significantly reduced in the testes of subfertile bulls. In addition, the population of INSL3-binding spermatozoa was also significantly reduced in the semen of subfertile bulls. These results provide evidence for a functional INSL3 hormone-receptor system operating in ruminant testes and spermatozoa, and its potential to predict subfertility in sires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali M Pitia
- Division of Animal Resource Production, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.,Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kyoko Uchiyama
- Division of Animal Reproduction, Maebashi Institute of Animal Science, Livestock Improvement Association of Japan (LIAJ), Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Sano
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Masashi Kinukawa
- Division of Animal Reproduction, Maebashi Institute of Animal Science, Livestock Improvement Association of Japan (LIAJ), Maebashi, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Minato
- Division of Animal Reproduction, Maebashi Institute of Animal Science, Livestock Improvement Association of Japan (LIAJ), Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sasada
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kohsaka
- Division of Animal Resource Production, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.,Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
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11
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Halls ML, Bathgate RAD, Sutton SW, Dschietzig TB, Summers RJ. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCV. Recent advances in the understanding of the pharmacology and biological roles of relaxin family peptide receptors 1-4, the receptors for relaxin family peptides. Pharmacol Rev 2015; 67:389-440. [PMID: 25761609 DOI: 10.1124/pr.114.009472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Relaxin, insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), relaxin-3, and INSL5 are the cognate ligands for the relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors 1-4, respectively. RXFP1 activates pleiotropic signaling pathways including the signalosome protein complex that facilitates high-sensitivity signaling; coupling to Gα(s), Gα(i), and Gα(o) proteins; interaction with glucocorticoid receptors; and the formation of hetero-oligomers with distinctive pharmacological properties. In addition to relaxin-related ligands, RXFP1 is activated by Clq-tumor necrosis factor-related protein 8 and by small-molecular-weight agonists, such as ML290 [2-isopropoxy-N-(2-(3-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)phenylcarbamoyl)phenyl)benzamide], that act allosterically. RXFP2 activates only the Gα(s)- and Gα(o)-coupled pathways. Relaxin-3 is primarily a neuropeptide, and its cognate receptor RXFP3 is a target for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and autism. A variety of peptide agonists, antagonists, biased agonists, and an allosteric modulator target RXFP3. Both RXFP3 and the related RXFP4 couple to Gα(i)/Gα(o) proteins. INSL5 has the properties of an incretin; it is secreted from the gut and is orexigenic. The expression of RXFP4 in gut, adipose tissue, and β-islets together with compromised glucose tolerance in INSL5 or RXFP4 knockout mice suggests a metabolic role. This review focuses on the many advances in our understanding of RXFP receptors in the last 5 years, their signal transduction mechanisms, the development of novel compounds that target RXFP1-4, the challenges facing the field, and current prospects for new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Halls
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Steve W Sutton
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Thomas B Dschietzig
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
| | - Roger J Summers
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (M.L.H., R.J.S.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (R.A.D.B.); Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (S.W.S.); Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany (T.B.D.); and Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Berlin, Germany (T.B.D.)
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12
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Expression of insulin-like factor 3 hormone-receptor system in the reproductive organs of male goats. Cell Tissue Res 2015; 362:407-20. [PMID: 26017634 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-015-2206-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin-like factor (RLF), generally known as insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), is essential for testis descent during fetal development. However, its role in adult males is not fully understood. We investigate the function of INSL3 in male Saanen goats by identifying cell types expressing its receptor, relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor (RXFP)2 and by characterizing the developmental expression pattern of INSL3 and RXFP2 and the binding of INSL3 to target cells in the male reproductive system. A highly specific RXFP2 antibody that co-localizes with an anti-FLAG antibody in HEK-293 cells recognizes RXFP2-transcript-expressing cells in the testis. INSL3 and RXFP2 mRNA expression is upregulated in the testis, starting from puberty. INSL3 mRNA and protein expression has been detected in Leydig cells, whereas RXFP2 mRNA and protein localize to Leydig cells, to meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells and to the epithelium and smooth muscle of the cauda epididymis and vas deferens. INSL3 binds to all of these tissues and cell types, with the exception of Leydig cells, in a hormone-specific and saturable manner. These results provide evidence for a functional intra- and extra-testicular INSL3 ligand-receptor system in adult male goats.
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13
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Feugang JM, Greene JM, Sanchez-Rodríguez HL, Stokes JV, Crenshaw MA, Willard ST, Ryan PL. Profiling of relaxin and its receptor proteins in boar reproductive tissues and spermatozoa. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:46. [PMID: 25990010 PMCID: PMC4445784 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-015-0043-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relaxin levels in seminal plasma have been associated with positive effects on sperm motility and quality, and thus having potential roles in male fertility. However, the origin of seminal relaxin, within the male reproductive tract, and the moment of its release in the vicinity of spermatozoa remain unclear. Here, we assessed the longitudinal distribution of relaxin and its receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 in the reproductive tract, sex accessory glands, and spermatozoa of adult boars. METHODS Spermatozoa were harvested from three fertile boars and reproductive tract (testes and epididymis) and sex accessory gland (prostate and seminal vesicles) tissues were collected post-mortem from each boar. Epididymis ducts were sectioned into caput, corpus, and cauda regions, and spermatozoa were mechanically collected. All samples were subjected to immunofluorescence and/or western immunoblotting for relaxin, RXFP1, and RXFP2 detection. Immunolabeled-spermatozoa were submitted to flow cytometry analyses and data were statistically analyzed with ANOVA. RESULTS Both receptors were detected in all tissues, with a predominance of mature and immature isoforms of RXFP1 and RXFP2, respectively. Relaxin signals were found in the testes, with Leydig cells displaying the highest intensity compared to other testicular cells. The testicular immunofluorescence intensity of relaxin was greater than that of other tissues. Epithelial basal cells exhibited the highest relaxin immunofluorescence intensity within the epididymis and the vas deferens. The luminal immunoreactivity to relaxin was detected in the seminiferous tubule, epididymis, and vas deferens ducts. Epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa were immunopositive to relaxin, RXFP1, and RXFP2, and epididymal corpus-derived spermatozoa had the highest immunoreactivities across epididymal sections. Both vas deferens-collected and ejaculated spermatozoa displayed comparable, but lowest immunofluorescence signals among groups. The entire sperm length was immunopositive to both relaxin and receptors, with relaxin signal being robust in the acrosome area and RXFP2, homogeneously distributed than RXFP1 on the head of ejaculated spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS Immunolocalization indicates that relaxin-receptor complexes may have important roles in boar reproduction and that spermatozoa are already exposed to relaxin upon their production. The findings suggest autocrine and/or paracrine actions of relaxin on spermatozoa, either before or after ejaculation, which have possible roles on the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean M Feugang
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Facility for Organismal and Cellular Imaging (FOCI), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
| | - Jonathan M Greene
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Facility for Organismal and Cellular Imaging (FOCI), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
- Department of Pathobiology & Population Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Robert P. Hanson Biomedical Sciences Laboratories, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Hector L Sanchez-Rodríguez
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Facility for Organismal and Cellular Imaging (FOCI), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
- Department of Animal Science, Mayaguez Campus, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
| | - John V Stokes
- Department of Basic Sciences, Flow Cytometry facility core, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
| | - Mark A Crenshaw
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Facility for Organismal and Cellular Imaging (FOCI), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
| | - Scott T Willard
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Facility for Organismal and Cellular Imaging (FOCI), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
| | - Peter L Ryan
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Facility for Organismal and Cellular Imaging (FOCI), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
- Department of Pathobiology & Population Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA.
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14
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Bergeron LH, Willcox JM, Alibhai FJ, Connell BJ, Saleh TM, Wilson BC, Summerlee AJS. Relaxin peptide hormones are protective during the early stages of ischemic stroke in male rats. Endocrinology 2015; 156:638-46. [PMID: 25456068 PMCID: PMC4298330 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The pregnancy hormone relaxin protects tissue from ischemic damage. The ability of relaxin-3, a relaxin paralog, to do so has not been explored. The cerebral expression levels of these peptides and their receptors make them logical targets for study in the ischemic brain. We assessed relaxin peptide-mediated protection, relative relaxin family peptide receptor (RXFP) involvement, and protective mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats receiving permanent (pMCAO) or transient middle cerebral artery occlusions (tMCAO) were treated with relaxin peptides, and brains were collected for infarct analysis. Activation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway was evaluated as a potential protective mechanism. Primary cortical rat astrocytes were exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation and treated with relaxin peptides, and viability was examined. Receptor involvement was explored using RXFP3 antagonist or agonist treatment and real-time PCR. Relaxin and relaxin-3 reduced infarct size after pMCAO. Both peptides activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Because relaxin-3 has not previously been associated with this pathway and displays promiscuous RXFP binding, we explored the receptor contribution. Expression of rxfp1 was greater than that of rxfp3 in rat brain, although peptide binding at either receptor resulted in similar overall protection after pMCAO. Only RXFP3 activation reduced infarct size after tMCAO. In astrocytes, rxfp3 gene expression was greater than that of rxfp1. Selective activation of RXFP3 maintained astrocyte viability after oxygen glucose deprivation. Relaxin peptides are protective during the early stages of ischemic stroke. Differential responses among treatments and models suggest that RXFP1 and RXFP3 initiate different protective mechanisms. This preliminary work is a pivotal first step in identifying the clinical implications of relaxin peptides in ischemic stroke.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Astrocytes/drug effects
- Brain/pathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/pathology
- Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/prevention & control
- Male
- Random Allocation
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/agonists
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Peptide/agonists
- Receptors, Peptide/antagonists & inhibitors
- Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use
- Relaxin/pharmacology
- Relaxin/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay H Bergeron
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (L.H.B., J.M.W., F.J.A., A.J.S.S.), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G2W1; Department of Biomedical Sciences (B.J.C., T.M.S.), Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A4P3; and Department of Biology (B.C.W.), Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P2R6
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15
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Huang Z, Myhr C, Bathgate RAD, Ho BA, Bueno A, Hu X, Xiao J, Southall N, Barnaeva E, Agoulnik IU, Marugan JJ, Ferrer M, Agoulnik AI. Activation of Relaxin Family Receptor 1 from Different Mammalian Species by Relaxin Peptide and Small-Molecule Agonist ML290. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:128. [PMID: 26347712 PMCID: PMC4538381 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin peptide (RLN), which signals through the relaxin family peptide 1 (RXFP1) GPCR receptor, has shown therapeutic effects in an acute heart failure clinical trial. We have identified a small-molecule agonist of human RXFP1, ML290; however, it does not activate the mouse receptor. To find a suitable animal model for ML290 testing and to gain mechanistic insights into the interaction of various ligands with RXFP1, we have cloned rhesus macaque, pig, rabbit, and guinea pig RXFP1s and analyzed their activation by RLN and ML290. HEK293T cells expressing macaque or pig RXFP1 responded to relaxin and ML290 treatment as measured by an increase of cAMP production. Guinea pig RXFP1 responded to relaxin but had very low response to ML290 treatment only at highest concentrations used. The rabbit RXFP1 amino acid sequence was the most divergent, with a number of unique substitutions within the ectodomain and the seven-transmembrane domain (7TM). Two splice variants of rabbit RXFP1 derived through alternative splicing of the fourth exon were identified. In contrast to the other species, rabbit RXFP1s were activated by ML290, but not with human, pig, mouse, or rabbit RLNs. Using FLAG-tagged constructs, we have shown that both rabbit RXFP1 variants are expressed on the cell surface. No binding of human Eu-labeled RLN to rabbit RXFP1 was detected, suggesting that in this species, RXFP1 might be non-functional. We used chimeric rabbit-human and guinea pig-human constructs to identify regions important for RLN or ML290 receptor activation. Chimeras with the human ectodomain and rabbit 7TM domain were activated by RLN, whereas substitution of part of the guinea pig 7TM domain with the human sequence only partially restored ML290 activation, confirming the allosteric mode of action for the two ligands. Our data demonstrate that macaque and pig models can be used for ML290 testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaohua Huang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Courtney Myhr
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Brian A. Ho
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Amaya Bueno
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Xin Hu
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jingbo Xiao
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Noel Southall
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Elena Barnaeva
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Irina U. Agoulnik
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Juan J. Marugan
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Marc Ferrer
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Alexander I. Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- *Correspondence: Alexander I. Agoulnik, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHCI 419B, Miami, FL 33199, USA,
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16
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Minagawa I, Sagata D, Pitia AM, Kohriki H, Shibata M, Sasada H, Hasegawa Y, Kohsaka T. Dynamics of insulin-like factor 3 and its receptor expression in boar testes. J Endocrinol 2014; 220:247-61. [PMID: 24464024 DOI: 10.1530/joe-13-0430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin-like factor (RLF), now mainly known as insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), is essential for testis descent during fetal development; however, its function in the adult testis is still being elucidated. As a major step toward understanding the as-yet-unknown function of INSL3 in boars, this study aimed to develop a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for boar INSL3, characterize the dynamics of INSL3 expression during development, and demonstrate the expression of the INSL3 hormone-receptor system in the testis. All samples were collected from Duroc boars. The sensitivity of the assay system established was 8.2 pg/well (164 pg/ml), and no cross-reactivity with other hormones, such as porcine relaxin, was observed. Circulating INSL3 was shown to increase progressively during development. INSL3 secreted from the Leydig cells was released not only into the blood circulation but also into the interstitial and seminiferous compartments in sufficient concentrations. A testicular fractionation study revealed that its receptor RXFP2 transcripts were expressed mainly in testicular germ cells. In addition, INSL3 bound to the germ cell membranes in a hormone-specific and saturable manner. These results reveal that INSL3 secreted into the interstitial compartment from the Leydig cells is transported into the seminiferous compartments, where its receptor RXFP2 is expressed mainly in the germ cells to which INSL3 binds, suggesting that INSL3 functions as a paracrine factor on seminiferous germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itaru Minagawa
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan Division of Animal Resource Production, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan Shizuoka Swine and Poultry Experimental Station, Kikugawa, Shizuoka, Japan Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan School of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Sciences High-Tech Research Center, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan
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17
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Alexander SPH, Benson HE, Faccenda E, Pawson AJ, Sharman JL, Spedding M, Peters JA, Harmar AJ. The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14: G protein-coupled receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2013; 170:1459-581. [PMID: 24517644 PMCID: PMC3892287 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 505] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14 provides concise overviews of the key properties of over 2000 human drug targets with their pharmacology, plus links to an open access knowledgebase of drug targets and their ligands (www.guidetopharmacology.org), which provides more detailed views of target and ligand properties. The full contents can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.12444/full. G protein-coupled receptors are one of the seven major pharmacological targets into which the Guide is divided, with the others being G protein-coupled receptors, ligand-gated ion channels, ion channels, catalytic receptors, nuclear hormone receptors, transporters and enzymes. These are presented with nomenclature guidance and summary information on the best available pharmacological tools, alongside key references and suggestions for further reading. A new landscape format has easy to use tables comparing related targets. It is a condensed version of material contemporary to late 2013, which is presented in greater detail and constantly updated on the website www.guidetopharmacology.org, superseding data presented in previous Guides to Receptors and Channels. It is produced in conjunction with NC-IUPHAR and provides the official IUPHAR classification and nomenclature for human drug targets, where appropriate. It consolidates information previously curated and displayed separately in IUPHAR-DB and the Guide to Receptors and Channels, providing a permanent, citable, point-in-time record that will survive database updates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen PH Alexander
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical SchoolNottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Helen E Benson
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Elena Faccenda
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Adam J Pawson
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Joanna L Sharman
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | | | - John A Peters
- Neuroscience Division, Medical Education Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of DundeeDundee, DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Anthony J Harmar
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
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18
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Bathgate RAD, Halls ML, van der Westhuizen ET, Callander GE, Kocan M, Summers RJ. Relaxin family peptides and their receptors. Physiol Rev 2013; 93:405-80. [PMID: 23303914 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00001.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 371] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There are seven relaxin family peptides that are all structurally related to insulin. Relaxin has many roles in female and male reproduction, as a neuropeptide in the central nervous system, as a vasodilator and cardiac stimulant in the cardiovascular system, and as an antifibrotic agent. Insulin-like peptide-3 (INSL3) has clearly defined specialist roles in male and female reproduction, relaxin-3 is primarily a neuropeptide involved in stress and metabolic control, and INSL5 is widely distributed particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. Although they are structurally related to insulin, the relaxin family peptides produce their physiological effects by activating a group of four G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), relaxin family peptide receptors 1-4 (RXFP1-4). Relaxin and INSL3 are the cognate ligands for RXFP1 and RXFP2, respectively, that are leucine-rich repeat containing GPCRs. RXFP1 activates a wide spectrum of signaling pathways to generate second messengers that include cAMP and nitric oxide, whereas RXFP2 activates a subset of these pathways. Relaxin-3 and INSL5 are the cognate ligands for RXFP3 and RXFP4 that are closely related to small peptide receptors that when activated inhibit cAMP production and activate MAP kinases. Although there are still many unanswered questions regarding the mode of action of relaxin family peptides, it is clear that they have important physiological roles that could be exploited for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A D Bathgate
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Kelemen O, Convertini P, Zhang Z, Wen Y, Shen M, Falaleeva M, Stamm S. Function of alternative splicing. Gene 2013; 514:1-30. [PMID: 22909801 PMCID: PMC5632952 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.07.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 488] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2012] [Revised: 07/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Almost all polymerase II transcripts undergo alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Here, we review the functions of alternative splicing events that have been experimentally determined. The overall function of alternative splicing is to increase the diversity of mRNAs expressed from the genome. Alternative splicing changes proteins encoded by mRNAs, which has profound functional effects. Experimental analysis of these protein isoforms showed that alternative splicing regulates binding between proteins, between proteins and nucleic acids as well as between proteins and membranes. Alternative splicing regulates the localization of proteins, their enzymatic properties and their interaction with ligands. In most cases, changes caused by individual splicing isoforms are small. However, cells typically coordinate numerous changes in 'splicing programs', which can have strong effects on cell proliferation, cell survival and properties of the nervous system. Due to its widespread usage and molecular versatility, alternative splicing emerges as a central element in gene regulation that interferes with almost every biological function analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Kelemen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Paolo Convertini
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Zhaiyi Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Yuan Wen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Manli Shen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Marina Falaleeva
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Stefan Stamm
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
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20
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Giordano N, Volpi N, Franci D, Corallo C, Fioravanti A, Papakostas P, Montella A, Biagioli M, Fimiani M, Grasso G, Muscettola MM, Guerranti R, Vannoni D, Galeazzi M, Nuti R. Expression of RXFP1 in skin of scleroderma patients and control subjects. Scand J Rheumatol 2012; 41:391-5. [DOI: 10.3109/03009742.2012.669496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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21
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is the subject of a fast expanding literature reflecting increasing clinical application, particularly as a diagnostic parameter. This review summarizes the recent INSL3 literature published within the last 12-18 months. RECENT FINDINGS Significant inroads have been made to understand how INSL3 is working in testicular descent. It also has other functions in the adult, for example in bone metabolism, extending its role as a largely gender-specific hormone. Advances in molecular pharmacology have increased our understanding of INSL3 interaction with its specific receptor, RXFP2, and delivered new high-affinity antagonists. INSL3 is increasingly being used to assess Leydig cell functional capacity within the testis, independently of factors affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, being a robust parameter by comparison with testosterone. Particularly in the aging male, metabolic syndrome, and the effects of adiposity on testis function, INSL3 is a valuable adjunct to the standard clinical repertoire. SUMMARY The Leydig cell hormone INSL3 is responsible for the first phase of testicular descent during pregnancy and may have multiple roles as a gender-specific circulating hormone in the adult reflecting Leydig cell functional capacity. In women, INSL3 is a paracrine factor within the ovary and probably placenta, in which it may have a fetal gender-specific role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Ivell
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Australia.
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22
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Feugang JM, Rodriguez-Munoz JC, Willard ST, Bathgate RA, Ryan PL. Examination of relaxin and its receptors expression in pig gametes and embryos. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2011; 9:10. [PMID: 21251292 PMCID: PMC3032664 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-9-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relaxin is a small peptide also known as pregnancy hormone in many mammals. It is synthesized by both male and female tissues, and its secretions are found in various body fluids such as plasma serum, ovarian follicular fluid, utero-oviduct secretions, and seminal plasma of many mammals, including pigs. However, the presence and effects of relaxin in porcine gametes and embryos are still not well-known. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of relaxin and its receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 in pig gametes and embryos. METHODS Immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from sows' ovaries collected at the abattoir. After in vitro-maturation, COCs were in vitro-fertilized and cultured. For studies, immature and mature COCs were separately collected, and oocytes were freed from their surrounding cumulus cells. Denuded oocytes, cumulus cells, mature boar spermatozoa, zygotes, and embryos (cleaved and blastocysts) were harvested for temporal and spatial gene expression studies. Sections of ovary, granulosa and neonatal porcine uterine cells were also collected to use as controls. RESULTS Using both semi-quantitative and quantitative PCRs, relaxin transcripts were not detected in all tested samples, while RXFP1 and RXFP2 mRNA were present. Both receptor gene products were found at higher levels in oocytes compared to cumulus cells, irrespective of the maturation time. Cleaved-embryos contained higher levels of RXFP2 mRNA, whereas, blastocysts were characterized by a higher RXFP1 mRNA content. Using western-immunoblotting or in situ immunofluorescence, relaxin and its receptor proteins were detected in all samples. Their fluorescence intensities were consistently more important in mature oocytes than immature ones. The RXFP1 and RXFP2 signal intensities were mostly located in the plasma membrane region, while the relaxin ones appeared homogeneously distributed within the oocytes and embryonic cells. Furthermore, spermatozoa displayed stronger RXFP2 signal than RXFP1 after western-immunoblotting. CONCLUSION All together, our findings suggest potential roles of relaxin and its receptors during oocyte maturation, early embryo development, and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean M Feugang
- Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, 4025 Wise Center, Mississippi State, MS 38762, USA
| | - Juan C Rodriguez-Munoz
- Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, 4025 Wise Center, Mississippi State, MS 38762, USA
| | - Scott T Willard
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mississippi State University, 402 Dorman Hall, Mississippi, MS 38762, USA
| | - Ross A Bathgate
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Gate 11, Royal Parade, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Peter L Ryan
- Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, 4025 Wise Center, Mississippi State, MS 38762, USA
- Department of Pathobiology & Population Medicine, Mississippi State University, 240 Wise Center Dr., Mississippi State, MS 38762, USA
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23
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Hanna CB, Yao S, Patta MC, Jensen JT, Wu X. Expression of insulin-like 3 (INSL3) and differential splicing of its receptor in the ovary of rhesus macaques. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2010; 8:150. [PMID: 21138583 PMCID: PMC3008693 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-8-150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2010] [Accepted: 12/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although insulin-like 3 (INSL3) has been identified in the gonad of both sexes in many species, there are only limited reports on the distribution of INSL3 and its receptor, relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2), in the primate ovary. Since the hormone-receptor pair is believed to play a role in female reproduction, investigating the transcription of INSL3/RXFP2 genes and the spatiotemporal expression of INSL3 in the nonhuman primate may shed light on the functional aspects of the system in humans. METHODS Database mining, molecular and immunological methods were applied. RESULTS One single INSL3 transcript and three novel splice variant transcripts of RXFP2 were identified in the ovary of rhesus macaques. While the full-length RXFP2 transcript is barely detectable in granulosa cells during the periovulatory period, INSL3 transcript and protein are highly abundant in theca cells surrounding antral follicles. Moreover, the INSL3 level in follicular fluid is 3-4 times higher than that in female serum which remains low throughout the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSIONS The presence of INSL3 and its receptor in the ovary implies a potential role of the ligand-receptor pair in female reproduction in nonhuman primates. However, the existence of multiple splice variants of RXFP2 indicates a very complex nature of the hormone-receptor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol B Hanna
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, West Campus, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Shan Yao
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, West Campus, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Maristela C Patta
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, West Campus, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Jensen
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, West Campus, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Xuemei Wu
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, West Campus, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
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Ivell R, Kotula-Balak M, Glynn D, Heng K, Anand-Ivell R. Relaxin family peptides in the male reproductive system--a critical appraisal. Mol Hum Reprod 2010; 17:71-84. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaq086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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Zhang S, Hughes RA, Bathgate RAD, Shabanpoor F, Hossain MA, Lin F, van Lierop B, Robinson AJ, Wade JD. Role of the intra-A-chain disulfide bond of insulin-like peptide 3 in binding and activation of its receptor, RXFP2. Peptides 2010; 31:1730-6. [PMID: 20570702 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2010.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2010] [Revised: 05/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/29/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INSL3 is a member of the insulin-IGF-relaxin superfamily and plays a key role in male fetal development and in adult germ cell maturation. It is the cognate ligand for RXFP2, a leucine-rich repeat containing G-protein coupled receptor. To date, and in contrast to our current knowledge of the key structural features that are required for the binding of INSL3 to RXFP2, comparatively little is known about the key residues that are required to elicit receptor activation and downstream cell signaling. Early evidence suggests that these are contained principally within the A-chain. To further explore this hypothesis, we have undertaken an examination of the functional role of the intra-A-chain disulfide bond. Using solid-phase peptide synthesis together with regioselective disulfide bond formation, two analogs of human INSL3 were prepared in which the intra-chain disulfide bond was replaced, one in which the corresponding Cys residues were substituted with the isosteric Ser and the other in which the Cys were removed altogether. Both of these peptides retained nearly full RXFP2 receptor binding but were devoid of cAMP activity (receptor activation), indicating that the intra-A-chain disulfide bond makes a significant contribution to the ability of INSL3 to act as an RXFP2 agonist. Replacement of the disulfide bond with a metabolically stable dicarba bond yielded two isomers of INSL3 that each exhibited bioactivity similar to native INSL3. This study highlights the critical structural role played by the intra-A-chain disulfide bond of INSL3 in mediating agonist actions through the RXFP2 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suode Zhang
- Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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26
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Hombach-Klonisch S, Bialek J, Radestock Y, Truong A, Agoulnik AI, Fiebig B, Willing C, Weber E, Hoang-Vu C, Klonisch T. INSL3 has tumor-promoting activity in thyroid cancer. Int J Cancer 2010; 127:521-31. [PMID: 19950223 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The functional role of INSL3 and its receptor RXFP2 in carcinogenesis is largely unknown. We have previously demonstrated (pro-)cathepsin-L as a target of INSL3 in human thyroid cancer cells facilitating penetration of tumor cells through elastin matrices. We demonstrate the expression of RXFP2 in human thyroid tissues and in mouse follicular thyroid epithelial cells using Cre-recombinase transgene driven by Rxfp2 promoter. Recombinant and secreted INSL3 increased the motility of thyroid carcinoma (TC) cells in an autocrine/paracrine manner. This effect required the presence of RXFP2. We identified S100A4 as a novel INSL3 target molecule and showed that S100A4 facilitated INSL3-induced enhanced motility. Stable transfectants of the human follicular TC cell line FTC-133 expressing and secreting bioactive human INSL3 displayed enhanced anchorage-independent growth in soft agar assays. Xenotransplant experiments in nude mice showed that INSL3, but not EGFP-mock transfectants, developed fast-growing and highly vascularized xenografts. We used human umbilical vein endothelial cells in capillary tube formation assays to demonstrate increased 2-dimensional tube formations induced by recombinant human INSL3 and human S100A4 comparable to the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor used as positive control. We conclude that INSL3 is a powerful and multifunctional promoter of tumor growth and angiogenesis in human thyroid cancer cell xenografts. INSL3 actions involve RXFP2 activation and the secretion of S100A4 and (pro-)cathepsin-L.
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Kong RCK, Shilling PJ, Lobb DK, Gooley PR, Bathgate RAD. Membrane receptors: structure and function of the relaxin family peptide receptors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2010; 320:1-15. [PMID: 20138959 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2009] [Revised: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 02/02/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The receptors for members of the relaxin peptide family have only recently been discovered and are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Relaxin and insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) interact with the leucine-rich-repeat-containing GPCRs (LGRs) LGR7 and LGR8, respectively. These receptors show closest similarity to the glycoprotein hormone receptors and contain large ectodomains with 10 leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) but are unique members of the LGR family (class C) as they have an LDL class A (LDLa) module at their N-terminus. In contrast, relaxin-3 and INSL5 interact with another class of type I GPCRs which lack a large ectodomain, the peptide receptors GPCR135 and GPCR142, respectively. These receptors are now classified as relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors, RXFP1 (LGR7), RXFP2 (LGR8), RXFP3 (GPCR135) and RXFP4 (GPCR142). This review outlines the identification of the peptides and receptors, their expression profiles and physiological roles and the functional interactions of the peptides with their unique receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy C K Kong
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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29
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Relaxin family peptide. Br J Pharmacol 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00501_57.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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30
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Kern A, Bryant-Greenwood GD. Mechanisms of relaxin receptor (LGR7/RXFP1) expression and function. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009; 1160:60-6. [PMID: 19416160 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03826.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The LGR7/RXFP1 and LGR8/RXFP2 receptors are unique receptors among the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in having a low-density lipoprotein class A (LDL-A) module. Their complex gene organization, among the intron-richest of the GPCRs, suggests that alternative splicing is a common occurrence. We have therefore investigated the role of the LDL-A module and shown the identity, expression, and functions of three LGR7 splice variants in the human decidua. Point mutations of conserved residues or complete deletion of the LDL-A module resulted in loss of the cAMP response to relaxin. Its glycosylation also impacted LGR7 cell surface delivery and therefore receptor activation. The wild-type (WT) LGR7 was expressed as both precursor and mature forms, but deletion of the LDL-A module resulted in expression of only the mature form. Three new alternatively spliced variants of LGR7 were identified, all containing a truncated extracellular region. Their functional characterization showed them exerting dominant negative effects on the WT LGR7 by preventing its homodimerization, maturation, and subsequent trafficking to the cell surface, resulting in loss of function. In summary, different mechanisms have been identified for controlling the cell surface expression and function of the LGR7 protein which are likely to be significant for the role of relaxin in human parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Kern
- The Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.
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31
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Ivell R, Anand-Ivell R. Biology of insulin-like factor 3 in human reproduction. Hum Reprod Update 2009; 15:463-76. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmp011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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32
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Callander GE, Thomas WG, Bathgate RAD. Prolonged RXFP1 and RXFP2 signaling can be explained by poor internalization and a lack of beta-arrestin recruitment. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2009; 296:C1058-66. [PMID: 19279230 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00581.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin induces sustained physiological responses, which brings into question the deactivation processes typical of most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) for its receptor, relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1). Here, we examined relaxin-dependent phosphorylation of RXFP1 and the related insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) receptor, RXFP2, as well as the capacity of these receptors to recruit beta-arrestins and internalize in response to ligand stimulation. We confirmed in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293T cells, expressing RXFP1 or RXFP2, that both receptors elicit prolonged cAMP responses up to 6 h after stimulation. Receptors immunoprecipitated from (32)P metabolically labeled cells were used to investigate the agonist-specific phosphorylation. Rapid and robust receptor phosphorylation was not observed for either RXFP1 or RXFP2, although some (32)P-incorporation was observed at 30 min; however, this was not statistically significant. In accord with this result, RXFP1 and RXFP2 demonstrated poor internalization in response to relaxin or INSL3, as compared with the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)R), which undergoes rapid and robust phosphorylation and internalization in response to angiotensin II. Additionally, coexpression of GPCR kinases has no effect on the rate of internalization for either RXFP1 or RXFP2. Confocal microscopy was used to follow the trafficking of green fluorescent protein-labeled beta-arrestins after receptor activation. Neither RXFP1 nor RXFP2 activation results in recruitment of beta-arrestins to the cell surface, whereas AT(1)R rapidly recruits both beta-arrestins-1 and -2. The apparent lack of classical regulation for RXFP1 and RXFP2 provides the molecular basis for the prolonged signaling and physiological actions of relaxin and related peptides.
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Agoulnik AI. Relaxin and related peptides in male reproduction. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2008; 612:49-64. [PMID: 18161481 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-74672-2_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The relaxin hormone is renowned for its function in pregnancy, parturition and other aspects of female reproduction. At the same time, the role of relaxin in male reproduction is still debated. Relaxin is prominently expressed in prostate and its receptors are found in several male reproductive organs; however, the data indicative of its contribution to differentiation and functioning of prostate or testis are contradictory. Prostate relaxin is a main source of this peptide in the seminal plasma. The relaxin effects on sperm motility and fertilization have been reported. The expression of other relaxin related peptides, such as INSL5 and INSL6 was described in testis; yet, currently there are no experimental data to pinpoint their biological functions. The other member of relaxin peptide family, insulin-like 3 peptide (INSL3), is a major player in male development. The INSL3 peptide is expressed in testicular fetal and adult Leydig cells and is directly responsible for the process of abdominal testicular descent (migration of the testes towards the scrotum during male development). Genetic targeting of the Insl3 gene or INSL3 GPCR receptor Lgr8/Rxfp2 causes high intra-abdominal cryptorchidism due to a differentiation failure of testicular ligaments, the gubernacula. Several mutations of these two genes rendering nonfunctional proteins have been described in human patients with testicular maldescent. Thus, in this chapter we review the data related to the expression and function of relaxin and related peptides in male reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander I Agoulnik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
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Heng K, Ivell R, Wagaarachchi P, Anand-Ivell R. Relaxin signalling in primary cultures of human myometrial cells. Mol Hum Reprod 2008; 14:603-11. [PMID: 18805799 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gan051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In myometrium of pigs and rats, though not humans, relaxin appears to mediate an inhibition of spontaneous and oxytocin-induced contractility, presumably acting through a G-protein coupled receptor (RXFP1) to generate cAMP. In humans, circulating relaxin is highest in the first trimester, including the time of implantation, when transitory uterine quiescence could help a blastocyst to implant. We investigated whether relaxin can activate adenylate cyclase in primary human myometrial cells from non-pregnant tissue, and we show that relaxin is able to stimulate the generation of cAMP in a manner, which is dependent upon a tyrosine phosphorylation activity, as in the endometrium. We identified transcripts for the relaxin receptor RXFP1 as full-length variants, though a minor splice variant missing exon 2 was also present in low amounts. These cells also express transcripts encoding RXFP2, the receptor for the closely related hormone, INSL3. Although able to respond to relaxin at high concentrations, this receptor does not appear to function by contributing to the cAMP production in human myometrial cells, nor does INSL3 act as a functional agonist or antagonist of relaxin action. In conclusion, the inability of relaxin to inhibit contractility in human myometrial cells would appear to be due to events downstream of simple cAMP generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kee Heng
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA5005, Australia
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Yan Y, Scott DJ, Wilkinson TN, Ji J, Tregear GW, Bathgate RAD. Identification of the N-linked glycosylation sites of the human relaxin receptor and effect of glycosylation on receptor function. Biochemistry 2008; 47:6953-68. [PMID: 18533687 DOI: 10.1021/bi800535b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The relaxin receptor, RXFP1, is a member of the leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor (LGR) family. These receptors are characterized by a large extracellular ectodomain containing leucine-rich repeats which contain the primary ligand binding site. RXFP1 contains six putative Asn-linked glycosylation sites in the ectodomain at positions Asn-14, Asn-105, Asn-242, Asn-250, Asn-303, and Asn-346, which are highly conserved across species. N-Linked glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of G-protein-coupled receptors, although its role in modulating receptor function differs. We herein investigate the actual N-linked glycosylation status of RXFP1 and the functional ramifications of these post-translational modifications. Site-directed mutagenesis was utilized to generate single- or multiple-glycosylation site mutants of FLAG-tagged human RXFP1 which were then transiently expressed in HEK-293T cells. Glycosylation status was analyzed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot and receptor function analyzed with an anti-FLAG ELISA, (33)P-H2 relaxin competition binding, and cAMP activity measurement. All of the potential N-glycosylation sites of RXFP1 were utilized in HEK-293T cells, and importantly, disruption of glycosylation at individual or combinations of double and triple sites had little effect on relaxin binding. However, combinations of glycosylation sites were required for cell surface expression and cAMP signaling. In particular, N-glycosylation at Asn-303 of RXFP1 was required for optimal intracellular cAMP signaling. Hence, as is the case for other LGR family members, N-glycosylation is essential for the transport of the receptor to the cell surface. Additionally, it is likely that glycosylation is also essential for the conformational changes required for G-protein coupling and subsequent cAMP signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, The National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
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36
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Shabanpoor F, Hughes RA, Bathgate RAD, Zhang S, Scanlon DB, Lin F, Hossain MA, Separovic F, Wade JD. Solid-Phase Synthesis of Europium-Labeled Human INSL3 as a Novel Probe for the Study of Ligand−Receptor Interactions. Bioconjug Chem 2008; 19:1456-63. [DOI: 10.1021/bc800127p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fazel Shabanpoor
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Richard A. Hughes
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Suode Zhang
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Denis B. Scanlon
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Feng Lin
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Frances Separovic
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - John D. Wade
- Howard Florey Institute, School of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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37
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Hossain MA, Rosengren KJ, Haugaard-Jönsson LM, Zhang S, Layfield S, Ferraro T, Daly NL, Tregear GW, Wade JD, Bathgate RA. The A-chain of Human Relaxin Family Peptides Has Distinct Roles in the Binding and Activation of the Different Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:17287-97. [DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m801911200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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38
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Kern A, Hubbard D, Amano A, Bryant-Greenwood GD. Cloning, expression, and functional characterization of relaxin receptor (leucine-rich repeat-containing g protein-coupled receptor 7) splice variants from human fetal membranes. Endocrinology 2008; 149:1277-94. [PMID: 18079195 PMCID: PMC2275365 DOI: 10.1210/en.2007-1348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The relaxin receptor [leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 7 (LGR7)] belongs to the leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptors subgroup C. Three new LGR7 splice variants have been cloned from the human fetal membranes and shown to be truncated versions of the full-length receptor, encoded by different lengths of the extracellular domain. The expression of their mRNAs has been confirmed by both qualitative and quantitative PCR and shown to be higher in the chorion and decidua before, compared with after, spontaneous labor. When HEK293 cells were transfected with each LGR7 splice variant, their proteins were retained within the endoplasmic reticulum. However, the protein for the shortest variant was also secreted into the medium. We have characterized the intracellular functions and effects of these LGR7 variants on the function of the wild-type (WT)-LGR7. In coexpression studies, each splice variant interacted directly with the WT-LGR7 and exerted a dominant-negative effect on cAMP accumulation by the WT-LGR7 after relaxin treatment. This interaction resulted in the sequestration of the WT-LGR7 inside the cells by down-regulation of its maturation and cell surface delivery. The constitutive homodimerization of WT-LGR7 has been shown here to take place in the endoplasmic reticulum, and the presence of any one of the splice variants decreased this by the formation of heterodimers with the WT-LGR7, supporting the view that homodimerization is a prerequisite for receptor trafficking to the cell surface. These data suggest that the dominant-negative effects of the LGR7 splice variants expressed in the chorion and decidua could be functionally significant in the peripartal period by inhibiting the function of WT-LGR7 and dampening the responsiveness of these tissues to endogenous relaxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Kern
- The Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.
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Filonzi M, Cardoso LC, Pimenta MT, Queiróz DBC, Avellar MCW, Porto CS, Lazari MFM. Relaxin family peptide receptors Rxfp1 and Rxfp2: mapping of the mRNA and protein distribution in the reproductive tract of the male rat. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2007; 5:29. [PMID: 17623071 PMCID: PMC1947996 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-5-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2007] [Accepted: 07/10/2007] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relaxin is the endogenous ligand of the G-protein coupled receptor RXFP1, previously known as LGR7. In humans relaxin can also activate, but with lower affinity, the closely related receptor for the insulin-like peptide from Leydig cells, RXFP2, previously known as LGR8. The lack of relaxin impairs male fertility but the precise distribution and the function of relaxin receptors in the male reproductive tract is not known. We investigated the distribution of Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 in the reproductive tract of the male rat and the function of relaxin in the vas deferens, a tissue with high expression of both receptors. METHODS The presence of mRNA for Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 was investigated in testes, cultured Sertoli cells, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate, and spermatozoa by RT-PCR and Southern blot. Protein expression in the testis, vas deferens, primary culture of Sertoli cells, and spermatozoa was assessed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The role of relaxin in the vas deferens was evaluated by contractility studies and radioimmunoassay of cAMP production. The effect of relaxin on mRNA levels for metalloproteinase-7 was measured by Northern blot. RESULTS Transcripts for Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 were present in almost all parts of the male reproductive tract, with high levels in testis and vas deferens. Both receptors were immunolocalized in late stage germ cells but not in mature spermatozoa, although mRNAs for both receptors were also present in mature spermatozoa. Rxfp1 but not Rxfp2 was detected in cultured Sertoli cells. Strong immunostaining for Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 was seen in muscular and epithelial layers of the vas deferens and in arteriolar walls. Relaxin did not affect contractility and cyclic AMP production of the vas deferens, but increased the levels of mRNA for metalloproteinase-7. CONCLUSION Rxfp1 and Rxfp2 are widely and similarly distributed throughout the male reproductive tract. Our results suggest that Rxfp1 on spermatids and Sertoli cells may be important in spermatogenesis. Relaxin in the vas deferens does not affect contractility, but may affect vascular compliance and collagen and matrix remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Filonzi
- Department of Pharmacology, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio, 100, CEP 04044-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Laís C Cardoso
- Department of Pharmacology, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio, 100, CEP 04044-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maristela T Pimenta
- Department of Pharmacology, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio, 100, CEP 04044-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel BC Queiróz
- Department of Pharmacology, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio, 100, CEP 04044-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria CW Avellar
- Department of Pharmacology, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio, 100, CEP 04044-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Catarina S Porto
- Department of Pharmacology, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio, 100, CEP 04044-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria FM Lazari
- Department of Pharmacology, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Três de Maio, 100, CEP 04044-020, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Scott DJ, Wilkinson TN, Zhang S, Ferraro T, Wade JD, Tregear GW, Bathgate RAD. Defining the LGR8 Residues Involved in Binding Insulin-Like Peptide 3. Mol Endocrinol 2007; 21:1699-712. [PMID: 17473281 DOI: 10.1210/me.2007-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The peptide hormone insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is essential for testicular descent and has been implicated in the control of adult fertility in both sexes. The human INSL3 receptor leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 8 (LGR8) binds INSL3 and relaxin with high affinity, whereas the relaxin receptor LGR7 only binds relaxin. LGR7 and LGR8 bind their ligands within the 10 leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) that comprise the majority of their ectodomains. To define the primary INSL3 binding site in LGR8, its LRRs were first modeled on the crystal structure of the Nogo receptor (NgR) and the most likely binding surface identified. Multiple sequence alignment of this surface revealed the presence of seven of the nine residues implicated in relaxin binding to LGR7. Replacement of these residues with alanine caused reduced [125I]INSL3 binding, and a specific peptide/receptor interaction point was revealed using competition binding assays with mutant INSL3 peptides. This point was used to crudely dock the solution structure of INSL3 onto the LRR model of LGR8, allowing the prediction of the INSL3 Trp-B27 binding site. This prediction was then validated using mutant INSL3 peptide competition binding assays on LGR8 mutants. Our results indicated that LGR8 Asp-227 was crucial for binding INSL3 Arg-B16, whereas LGR8 Phe-131 and Gln-133 were involved in INSL3 Trp-B27 binding. From these two defined interactions, we predicted the complete INSL3/LGR8 primary binding site, including interactions between INSL3 His-B12 and LGR8 Trp-177, INSL3 Val-B19 and LGR8 Ile-179, and INSL3 Arg-B20 with LGR8 Asp-181 and Glu-229.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Scott
- Howard Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
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Halls ML, van der Westhuizen ET, Bathgate RAD, Summers RJ. Relaxin family peptide receptors--former orphans reunite with their parent ligands to activate multiple signalling pathways. Br J Pharmacol 2007; 150:677-91. [PMID: 17293890 PMCID: PMC2013861 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin family peptides, although structurally closely related to insulin, act on a group of four G protein-coupled receptors now known as Relaxin Family Peptide (RXFP) Receptors. The leucine-rich repeat containing RXFP1 and RXFP2 and the small peptide-like RXFP3 and RXFP4 are the physiological targets for relaxin, insulin-like (INSL) peptide 3, relaxin-3 and INSL5, respectively. RXFP1 and RXFP2 have at least two binding sites--a high-affinity site in the leucine-rich repeat region of the ectodomain and a lower-affinity site in an exoloop of the transmembrane region. Although they respond to peptides that are structurally similar, RXFP3 and RXFP4 demonstrate distinct binding properties with relaxin-3 being the only peptide that can recognize these receptors in addition to RXFP1. Activation of RXFP1 or RXFP2 causes increased cAMP and the initial response for both receptors is the resultant of Gs-mediated activation and G(oB)-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase. With RXFP1, an additional delayed increase in cAMP involves betagamma subunits released from G(i3). In contrast, RXFP3 and RXFP4 inhibit adenylate cyclase and RXFP3 causes ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Drugs acting at RXFP1 have potential for the treatment of diseases involving tissue fibrosis such as cardiac and renal failure, asthma and scleroderma and may also be useful to facilitate embryo implantation. Activators of RXFP2 may be useful to treat cryptorchidism and infertility and inhibitors have potential as contraceptives. Studies of the distribution and function of RXFP3 suggest that it is a potential target for anti-anxiety and anti-obesity drugs.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Conserved Sequence
- Evolution, Molecular
- Female
- Humans
- Ligands
- Male
- Models, Biological
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Protein Isoforms/chemistry
- Protein Isoforms/genetics
- Protein Isoforms/metabolism
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/chemistry
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
- Receptors, Peptide/chemistry
- Receptors, Peptide/genetics
- Receptors, Peptide/metabolism
- Relaxin/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Signal Transduction/physiology
- Tissue Distribution
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Halls
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia
| | | | - R A D Bathgate
- Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne Victoria, Australia
| | - R J Summers
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia
- Author for correspondence:
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Shabanpoor F, Bathgate RAD, Hossain MA, Giannakis E, Wade JD, Hughes RA. Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of cyclic mimetics of the insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) B-chain. J Pept Sci 2007; 13:113-20. [PMID: 17120268 DOI: 10.1002/psc.807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a peptide hormone belonging to the relaxin-insulin superfamily of peptides that plays important roles in testes descent, oocyte maturation and the control of male germ cell apoptosis. These actions are mediated via a specific G-protein coupled receptor, LGR8. Previous structure-activity studies have shown that the key binding site of INSL3 is situated within its B-chain. Recent studies in our laboratory have led to the identification of a cyclic peptide mimetic 2 of the INSL3 B-chain, which we have shown to compete with the binding of [33P]-relaxin to LGR8 expressed in HEK293T cells, and to inhibit cAMP-mediated signaling in these cells, i.e. it is an antagonist of INSL3. In order to further define the structure-activity relationships of cyclic analogues of the INSL3 B-chain, we used a structure-based approach to design a series of cyclic, disulfide-constrained INSL3 B-chain mimetics. To do this, we first created a model of the 3D structure of INSL3 using the crystal structure of human relaxin as a template. This model of INSL3 was then used as a template to design a series of disulfide-constrained mimetics of the INSL3 B-chain. The peptides were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis using pseudoproline dipeptides to improve the synthesis outcome. Of the seven prepared INSL3 B-chain mimetics, three compounds were found to have partial displacement activity, while four were able to completely displace [33P]-relaxin from LGR8, including compounds that were markedly shorter than compound 2. The best of these, mimetic 6, showed significantly greater affinity for LGR8 than compound 2, but still displayed around 1000-fold less affinity for LGR8 than native INSL3. Analysis of selected mimetics for their alpha-helical content using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy revealed that, generally, the mimetics showed less than expected helicity. The inability of the compounds to display true native INSL3 structure is likely contributing to their reduced receptor binding affinity. We are currently examining alternative INSL3 B-chain mimetics that might better present key receptor binding residues in the native INSL3-like conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazel Shabanpoor
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Bogatcheva NV, Ferlin A, Feng S, Truong A, Gianesello L, Foresta C, Agoulnik AI. T222P mutation of the insulin-like 3 hormone receptor LGR8 is associated with testicular maldescent and hinders receptor expression on the cell surface membrane. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2007; 292:E138-44. [PMID: 16926383 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00228.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-like 3 (INSL3) hormone plays a crucial role in testicular descent during embryonic development. Genetic ablation of Insl3 or its G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Lgr8 causes cryptorchidism in mice. Previously, we identified a nonfunctional T222P mutation of LGR8 in several human patients with testicular maldescent. Using a large population of patients and healthy controls from Italy, we have demonstrated that T222P LGR8 mutation is present only in affected patients (19 T222P/+ of 598 vs. 0/450, P < 0.0001). We have also identified a novel allele of LGR8 (R223K) found in one patient with retractile testes. Both mutations are located in the leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) of GPCR ectodomain. The expression analysis of T222P mutant receptor transfected into 293T cells revealed that the mutation severely compromised GPCR cell membrane expression. The substitution of Thr(222) with the neutral Ser or Ala, or the R223K mutation, did not alter receptor cell membrane expression or ligand-induced cAMP increase. Additional mutations, affecting first leucine in a signature LxxLxLxxN/CxL stretch of LRR (L283F), or the amino acid residues, forming the disulfide bond or coordinating calcium ion in the LDLa module (C71Y and D70Y), also rendered proteins with reduced cell surface expression. The structural alterations of both LRRs and LDLa of the ligand-binding part of LGR8 cause the inability of receptor to express on the cell surface membrane and might be responsible for the abnormal testicular phenotype in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V Bogatcheva
- Dept. of Ob/Gyn, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Scott DJ, Layfield S, Yan Y, Sudo S, Hsueh AJW, Tregear GW, Bathgate RAD. Characterization of Novel Splice Variants of LGR7 and LGR8 Reveals That Receptor Signaling Is Mediated by Their Unique Low Density Lipoprotein Class A Modules. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:34942-54. [PMID: 16963451 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m602728200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin and insulin-like peptide 3 receptors, LGR7 and LGR8, respectively, are unique members of the leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor (LGR) family, because they possess an N-terminal motif with homology to the low density lipoprotein class A (LDLa) modules. By characterizing several LGR7 and LGR8 splice variants, we have revealed that the LDLa module directs ligand-activated cAMP signaling. The LGR8-short variant encodes an LGR8 receptor lacking the LDLa module, whereas LGR7-truncate, LGR7-truncate-2, and LGR7-truncate-3 all encode truncated secreted proteins retaining the LGR7 LDLa module. LGR8-short and an engineered LGR7 variant missing its LDLa module, LGR7-short, bound to their respective ligands with high affinity but lost their ability to signal via stimulation of intracellular cAMP accumulation. Conversely, secreted LGR7-truncate protein with the LDLa module was able to block relaxin-induced LGR7 cAMP signaling and did so without compromising the ability of LGR7 to bind to relaxin or be expressed on the cell membrane. Although the LDLa module of LGR7 was N-glycosylated at position Asn-14, an LGR7 N14Q mutant retained relaxin binding affinity and cAMP signaling, implying that glycosylation is not essential for optimal LDLa function. Using real-time PCR, the expression of mouse LGR7-truncate was detected to be high in, and specific to, the uterus of pregnant mice. The differential expression and evolutionary conservation of LGR7-truncate further suggests that it may also play an important role in vivo. This study highlights the essential role of the LDLa module in LGR7 and LGR8 function and introduces a novel model of GPCR regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Scott
- Howard Florey Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Dschietzig T, Bartsch C, Baumann G, Stangl K. Relaxin—a pleiotropic hormone and its emerging role for experimental and clinical therapeutics. Pharmacol Ther 2006; 112:38-56. [PMID: 16647137 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2006.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2006] [Accepted: 03/08/2006] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The insulin-related peptide hormone relaxin (Rlx) is known as pregnancy hormone for decades. In the 1980s, researchers began to recognize the highly intriguing fact that Rlx plays a role in a multitude of physiological processes far beyond pregnancy and reproduction. So, Rlx's contribution to the regulation of vasotonus, plasma osmolality, angiogenesis, collagen turnover, and renal function has been established. In addition, the peptide has been demonstrated to represent a mediator of cardiovascular pathology. The ongoing efforts to identify Rlx receptors eventually precipitated the discovery of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) LGR7 and LGR8 as membrane receptors for human Rlx-2 in 2002. This review will summarize the current state of insight into this rapidly evolving field, which has further been expanded by the discovery of GPCR135 and GPCR142 as receptors for Rlx-3. In addition, Rlx has also been shown to activate the human glucocorticoid receptor (GR). There is evidence from Rlx and Rlx receptor knockouts suggesting that LGR7 is the only relevant receptor for mouse Rlx-1 (corresponding to human Rlx-2) in vivo and that insulin-like peptide (INSL)-3 represents the physiological ligand for LGR8. Regarding Rlx signal transduction, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and nitric oxide (NO) pathways will be characterized as major cascades. Investigation of downstream signaling remains an important field for future research. Finally, the current state of therapeutical strategies using Rlx in animal models as well as in humans is summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dschietzig
- Medizinische Klinik m. S. Kardiologie und Angiologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Schumannstr. 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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Rosengren KJ, Zhang S, Lin F, Daly NL, Scott DJ, Hughes RA, Bathgate RAD, Craik DJ, Wade JD. Solution Structure and Characterization of the LGR8 Receptor Binding Surface of Insulin-like Peptide 3. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:28287-95. [PMID: 16867980 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m603829200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), a member of the relaxin peptide family, is produced in testicular Leydig cells and ovarian thecal cells. Gene knock-out experiments have identified a key biological role in initiating testes descent during fetal development. Additionally, INSL3 has an important function in mediating male and female germ cell function. These actions are elicited via its recently identified receptor, LGR8, a member of the leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor family. To identify the structural features that are responsible for the interaction of INSL3 with its receptor, its solution structure was determined by NMR spectroscopy together with in vitro assays of a series of B-chain alanine-substituted analogs. Synthetic human INSL3 was found to adopt a characteristic relaxin/insulin-like fold in solution but is a highly dynamic molecule. The four termini of this two-chain peptide are disordered, and additional conformational exchange is evident in the molecular core. Alanine-substituted analogs were used to identify the key residues of INSL3 that are responsible for the interaction with the ectodomain of LGR8. These include Arg(B16) and Val(B19), with His(B12) and Arg(B20) playing a secondary role, as evident from the synergistic effect on the activity in double and triple mutants involving these residues. Together, these amino acids combine with the previously identified critical residue, Trp(B27), to form the receptor binding surface. The current results provide clear direction for the design of novel specific agonists and antagonists of this receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Johan Rosengren
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, University of Kalmar, SE-392 81 Kalmar, Sweden
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Samuel CS, Du XJ, Bathgate RAD, Summers RJ. 'Relaxin' the stiffened heart and arteries: the therapeutic potential for relaxin in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacol Ther 2006; 112:529-52. [PMID: 16814863 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2005.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2005] [Accepted: 05/15/2005] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although originally characterised as a reproductive hormone, relaxin has emerged as a multi-functional endocrine and paracrine factor that plays a number of important roles in several organs, including the normal and diseased cardiovascular system. The recent discovery of the H3/relaxin-3 gene, and the elusive receptors for relaxin (Relaxin family peptide receptor; RXFP1) and relaxin-3 (RXFP3/RXFP4) have led to the re-classification of a distinct relaxin peptide/receptor family. Additionally, the identification of relaxin and RXFP1 mRNA and/or relaxin binding sites in the heart and blood vessels has confirmed that the cardiovascular system is a target for relaxin peptides. While evidence for the production of relaxins within the cardiovascular system is limited, several studies have established that the relaxin genes are upregulated in the diseased human and rodent heart where they likely act as cardioprotective agents. The ability of relaxin to protect the heart is most likely mediated via its antifibrotic, anti-hypertrophic, anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory actions, but it may also directly stimulate myocardial regeneration and repair. This review describes relaxin and its primary receptor (RXFP1) in relation to the roles and effects of relaxin in the normal and pathological cardiovascular system. It is becoming increasingly clear that relaxin has a number of diverse physiological and pathological roles in the cardiovascular system that may have important therapeutic and clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrishan S Samuel
- Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Anand-Ivell RJK, Relan V, Balvers M, Coiffec-Dorval I, Fritsch M, Bathgate RAD, Ivell R. Expression of the Insulin-Like Peptide 3 (INSL3) Hormone-Receptor (LGR8) System in the Testis1. Biol Reprod 2006; 74:945-53. [PMID: 16467492 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.105.048165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The new peptide hormone insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a member of the insulin-relaxin family, yet, unlike insulin, it signals through a new G-protein coupled receptor, LGR8, distantly related to the receptors for LH and FSH. INSL3 is produced in large amounts by the Leydig cells of the testis in both fetal and adult mammals. Using a combination of mRNA analysis by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, ligand-binding, and/or bioactivity assays, the distribution of LGR8 expression was assessed in testicular tissues and cells and in the epididymis. There was consistent agreement that LGR8 was expressed in meiotic and particularly postmeiotic germ cells and in Leydig cells, though not in Sertoli or peritubular cells. Leydig cells appear to express only a low level of the LGR8 gene product; other transcripts may be present, representing nonfunctional products. Messenger RNA analysis suggested that LGR8 transcripts in germ cells represented mostly full-length forms. LGR8 mRNA was also expressed in the epididymis, though no function can yet be ascribed to this expression. Therefore, the INSL3/LGR8 system represents a further paracrine hormone-receptor system in the testis, which conveys information about Leydig cell status to germ cells, and possibly as part of an autocrine feedback loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder J K Anand-Ivell
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
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Del Borgo MP, Hughes RA, Bathgate RAD, Lin F, Kawamura K, Wade JD. Analogs of Insulin-like Peptide 3 (INSL3) B-chain Are LGR8 Antagonists in Vitro and in Vivo. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:13068-13074. [PMID: 16547350 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m600472200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a member of the insulin superfamily that plays an important role in mediating testes descent during fetal development. More recently, it has also been demonstrated to initiate oocyte maturation and suppress male germ cell apoptosis. These actions are mediated via a specific G-protein-coupled receptor, LGR8. Little is known regarding the structure and function relationship of INSL3, although it is believed that the principal receptor binding site resides within its B-chain. We subsequently observed that the linear B-chain alone (INSL3B-(1-31)) bound to LGR8 and was able to antagonise INSL3 stimulated cAMP accumulation in HEK-293T cells expressing LGR8. Sequentially N- and C-terminally shortened linear analogs were prepared by solid phase synthesis and subsequent assay showed that the minimum length required for binding was residues 11-27. It was also observed that increased binding affinity correlated with a corresponding increase in alpha-helical content as measured by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Molecular modeling studies suggested that judicious placement of a conformational constraint within this peptide would increase its alpha-helix content and result in increased structural similarity to the B-chain within native INSL3. Consequently, intramolecularly disulfide-linked analogs of the B-chain showed a potentiation of INSL3 antagonistic activity, as well as exhibiting increased proteolytic stability, as assessed in rat serum in vitro. Administration of one of these peptides into the testes of rats resulted in a substantial decrease in testis weight probably due to the inhibition of germ cell survival, suggesting that INSL3 antagonists may have potential as novel contraceptive agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Del Borgo
- Howard Florey Institute, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Richard A Hughes
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Feng Lin
- Howard Florey Institute, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Kazu Kawamura
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5317
| | - John D Wade
- Howard Florey Institute, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Bathgate RA, Ivell R, Sanborn BM, Sherwood OD, Summers RJ. International Union of Pharmacology LVII: recommendations for the nomenclature of receptors for relaxin family peptides. Pharmacol Rev 2006; 58:7-31. [PMID: 16507880 DOI: 10.1124/pr.58.1.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the hormone relaxin was discovered 80 years ago, only in the past 5 years have the receptors for relaxin and three other receptors that respond to related peptides been identified with all four receptors being G-protein-coupled receptors. In this review it is suggested that the receptors for relaxin (LGR7) and those for the related peptides insulin-like peptide 3 (LGR8), relaxin-3 (GPCR135), and insulin-like peptide 5 (LGPCR142) be named the relaxin family peptide receptors 1 through 4 (RXFP1-4). RXFP1 and RXFP2 are leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptors with complex binding characteristics involving both the large ectodomain and the transmembrane loops. RXFP1 activates adenylate cyclase, protein kinase A, protein kinase C, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and extracellular signaling regulated kinase (Erk1/2) and also interacts with nitric oxide signaling. RXFP2 activates adenylate cyclase in recombinant systems, but physiological responses are sensitive to pertussis toxin. RXFP3 and RXFP4 resemble more conventional peptide liganded receptors and both inhibit adenylate cyclase, and in addition RXFP3 activates Erk1/2 signaling. Physiological studies and examination of the phenotypes of transgenic mice have established that relaxin has roles as a reproductive hormone involved in uterine relaxation (some species), reproductive tissue growth, and collagen remodeling but also in the cardiovascular and renal systems and in the brain. The connective tissue remodeling properties of relaxin acting at RXFP1 receptors have potential for the development of agents effective for the treatment of cardiac and renal fibrosis, asthma, and scleroderma and for orthodontic remodelling. Agents acting at RXFP2 receptors may be useful for the treatment of cryptorchidism and infertility, whereas antagonists may be used as contraceptives. The brain distribution of RXFP3 receptors suggests that actions at these receptors have the potential for the development of antianxiety and antiobesity drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross A Bathgate
- Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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