1
|
Suominen A, Saldo Rubio G, Ruohonen S, Szabó Z, Pohjolainen L, Ghimire B, Ruohonen ST, Saukkonen K, Ijas J, Skarp S, Kaikkonen L, Cai M, Wardlaw SL, Ruskoaho H, Talman V, Savontaus E, Kerkelä R, Rinne P. α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone alleviates pathological cardiac remodeling via melanocortin 5 receptor. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1987-2014. [PMID: 38454158 PMCID: PMC11014855 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00109-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) regulates diverse physiological functions by activating melanocortin receptors (MC-R). However, the role of α-MSH and its possible target receptors in the heart remain completely unknown. Here we investigate whether α-MSH could be involved in pathological cardiac remodeling. We found that α-MSH was highly expressed in the mouse heart with reduced ventricular levels after transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Administration of a stable α-MSH analog protected mice against TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction. In vitro experiments revealed that MC5-R in cardiomyocytes mediates the anti-hypertrophic signaling of α-MSH. Silencing of MC5-R in cardiomyocytes induced hypertrophy and fibrosis markers in vitro and aggravated TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in vivo. Conversely, pharmacological activation of MC5-R improved systolic function and reduced cardiac fibrosis in TAC-operated mice. In conclusion, α-MSH is expressed in the heart and protects against pathological cardiac remodeling by activating MC5-R in cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that analogs of naturally occurring α-MSH, that have been recently approved for clinical use and have agonistic activity at MC5-R, may be of benefit in treating heart failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anni Suominen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Drug Research Doctoral Programme (DRDP), University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Guillem Saldo Rubio
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Saku Ruohonen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Zoltán Szabó
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Lotta Pohjolainen
- Drug Research Program and Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bishwa Ghimire
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Suvi T Ruohonen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Karla Saukkonen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jani Ijas
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sini Skarp
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Leena Kaikkonen
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Minying Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Sharon L Wardlaw
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heikki Ruskoaho
- Drug Research Program and Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virpi Talman
- Drug Research Program and Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eriika Savontaus
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Risto Kerkelä
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Petteri Rinne
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology & Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wabitsch M, Fehnel S, Mallya UG, Sluga-O'Callaghan M, Richardson D, Price M, Kühnen P. Understanding the Patient Experience of Hunger and Improved Quality of Life with Setmelanotide Treatment in POMC and LEPR Deficiencies. Adv Ther 2022; 39:1772-83. [PMID: 35192151 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-022-02059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In patients with pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency, managing obesity and hyperphagia can be burdensome for patients and caretakers. The impacts on health-related quality of life are under-recognized and are not well characterized. METHODS We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews in patients with POMC (n = 3) and LEPR (n = 2) deficiencies participating in an ongoing open-label extension of phase 3 clinical trials with the melanocortin receptor 4 agonist setmelanotide to describe the patient experience of hyperphagia and characterize changes following treatment with setmelanotide. RESULTS Prior to setmelanotide treatment, all five patients described abnormal sensations of hunger with none indicating feeling satiated after meals and also reported that the burden of hyperphagia impacted their families, emotions, and work and/or school functioning. Following setmelanotide treatment, all five patients reported consistent reductions in hunger and weight, decreased eating, and feeling satiated after meals in addition to substantial improvements in each area of functioning they had previously reported. All five patients indicated they were very satisfied with the impact of setmelanotide on their quality of life and would be upset if treatment was discontinued. CONCLUSIONS In patients with POMC or LEPR deficiency, hyperphagia and the inability to feel satiety negatively impacted quality of life. By reducing hunger and improving satiety, setmelanotide facilitated important changes in the lives of these patients. This qualitative research study suggests that the impact of setmelanotide goes beyond favorable clinical changes (e.g., weight and hunger) to also include quality of life improvements that are highly meaningful to patients.
Collapse
|