scholarly journals Prokineticin 1 induces a pro-inflammatory response in murine fetal membranes but does not induce preterm delivery

Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 581-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamsin R M Lannagan ◽  
Martin R Wilson ◽  
Fiona Denison ◽  
Jane E Norman ◽  
Rob D Catalano ◽  
...  

The mechanisms that regulate the induction of term or preterm delivery (PTD) are not fully understood. Infection is known to play a role in the induction of pro-inflammatory cascades in uteroplacental tissues associated with preterm pathological parturition. Similar but not identical cascades are evident in term labour. In the current study, we used a mouse model to evaluate the role of prokineticins in term and preterm parturition. Prokineticins are multi-functioning secreted proteins that signal through G-protein-coupled receptors to induce gene expression, including genes important in inflammatory responses. Expression of prokineticins (Prok1andProk2) was quantified in murine uteroplacental tissues by QPCR in the days preceding labour (days 16–19).Prok1mRNA expression increased significantly on D18 in fetal membranes (compared with D16) but not in uterus or placenta. Intrauterine injection of PROK1 on D17 induced fetal membrane mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory mediatorsIl6,Il1b,Tnf,Cxcl2andCxcl5, which are not normally up-regulated until D19 of pregnancy. However, intrauterine injection of PROK1 did not result in PTD. As expected, injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced PTD, but this was not associated with changes in expression ofProk1or its receptor (Prokr1) in fetal membranes. These results suggest that althoughProk1exhibits dynamic mRNA regulation in fetal membranes preceding labour and induces a pro-inflammatory response when injected into the uterus on D17, it is insufficient to induce PTD. Additionally, prokineticin up-regulation appears not to be part of the LPS-induced inflammatory response in mouse fetal membranes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 6577-2021
Author(s):  
ANNA RAPACZ-LEONARD

The placenta is a temporary organ necessary for prenatal life and the development of eutherian mammals. In the mare it should be expelled within 3 hours of expulsion of the fetus. A delay in its separation can have serious or fatal consequences for mares. The preparation of the mare for the expulsion of the fetal membranes most likely requires immunological interactions between placental antigen and the mare’s immune system. The latest results suggest that fetal membrane retention is related to disorders of inflammatory processes in the placenta, including a lower expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2. These disorders in the pro-inflammatory response and disturbances in the activity of the proteolytic enzyme network may lead to adhesion between the fetal and the maternal parts of the placenta. The resulting adhesion may cause the fetal membranes to be thicker and less flexible, making them difficult to expel. Understanding the mechanism of placental retention may contribute to the development of effective methods to prevent and treat this condition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil N. Patel ◽  
Alan D. Workman ◽  
Noam A. Cohen

Evidence is emerging that shows taste receptors serve functions outside of taste sensation of the tongue. Taste receptors have been found in tissue across the human body, including the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, brain, and airway. These extraoral taste receptors appear to be important in modulating the innate immune response through detection of pathogens. This review discusses taste receptor signaling, focusing on the G-protein–coupled receptors that detect bitter and sweet compounds in the upper airway epithelium. Emphasis is given to recent studies which link the physiology of sinonasal taste receptors to clinical manifestation of upper airway disease.


Author(s):  
Gayathri Viswanathan ◽  
Argen Mamazhakypov ◽  
Ralph T. Schermuly ◽  
Sudarshan Rajagopal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Schlichting ◽  
Shlesha Richhariya ◽  
Nicholas Herndon ◽  
Dingbang Ma ◽  
Jason Xin ◽  
...  

The metronome-like circadian regulation of sleep timing must still adapt to an uncertain environment. Recent studies in Drosophila indicate that neuromodulation not only plays a key role in clock neuron synchronization but also affects interactions between the clock network and brain sleep centers. We show here that the targets of neuromodulators, G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), are highly enriched in the fly brain circadian clock network. Single cell sequencing indicates that they are not only differentially expressed but also define clock neuron identity. We generated a comprehensive guide library to mutagenize individual GPCRs in specific neurons and verified the strategy with a targeted sequencing approach. Combined with a behavioral screen, the mutagenesis strategy revealed a novel role of dopamine in sleep regulation by identifying two dopamine receptors and a clock neuron subpopulation that gate the timing of sleep.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Lattanzi ◽  
Cinzia Severini ◽  
Daniela Maftei ◽  
Luciano Saso ◽  
Aldo Badiani

The prokineticin (PK) family, prokineticin 1 and Bv8/prokineticin 2 (PROK2), initially discovered as regulators of gastrointestinal motility, interacts with two G protein-coupled receptors, PKR1 and PKR2, regulating important biological functions such as circadian rhythms, metabolism, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, muscle contractility, hematopoiesis, immune response, reproduction and pain perception. PROK2 and PK receptors, in particular PKR2, are widespread distributed in the central nervous system, in both neurons and glial cells. The PROK2 expression levels can be increased by a series of pathological insults, such as hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, beta amyloid and excitotoxic glutamate. This suggests that the PK system, participating in different cellular processes that cause neuronal death, can be a key mediator in neurological/neurodegenerative diseases. While many PROK2/PKRs effects in physiological processes have been documented, their role in neuropathological conditions is not fully clarified, since PROK2 can have a double function in the mechanisms underlying to neurodegeneration or neuroprotection. Here, we briefly outline the latest findings on the modulation of PROK2 and its cognate receptors following different pathological insults, providing information about their opposite neurotoxic and neuroprotective role in different pathological conditions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Chiok ◽  
Kevin Hutchison ◽  
Lindsay Grace Miller ◽  
Santanu Bose ◽  
Tanya A Miura

Critically ill COVID-19 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 display signs of generalized hyperinflammation. Macrophages trigger inflammation to eliminate pathogens and repair tissue, but this process can also lead to hyperinflammation and resulting exaggerated disease. The role of macrophages in dysregulated inflammation during SARS-CoV-2 infection is poorly understood. We used SARS-CoV-2 infected and glycosylated soluble SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 subunit (S1) treated THP-1 human-derived macrophage-like cell line to clarify the role of macrophages in pro-inflammatory responses. Soluble S1 upregulated TNF-α and CXCL10 mRNAs, and induced secretion of TNF-α from THP-1 macrophages. While THP-1 macrophages did not support productive SARS-CoV-2 replication, virus infection resulted in upregulation of both TNF-α and CXCL10 genes. Our study shows that S1 is a key viral component inducing inflammatory response in macrophages, independently of virus replication. Thus, virus-infected or soluble S1-activated macrophages may become sources of pro-inflammatory mediators contributing to hyperinflammation in COVID-19 patients.


Biochimie ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 28-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Soubias ◽  
Walter E. Teague ◽  
Kirk G. Hines ◽  
Klaus Gawrisch

Author(s):  
Valentine Suteau ◽  
Valérie Seegers ◽  
Mathilde Munier ◽  
Rym Ben Boubaker ◽  
Cécile Reyes ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancers have poor outcomes and limited therapeutic options, i.e tyrosine kinase inhibitors, due to transient efficacy and toxicity of treatments. Therefore, combinatorial treatments with new therapeutic approaches are needed. Many studies link G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) to cancer cell biology. Objective To perform a specific atlas of GPCRs expression in progressive and refractory thyroid cancer to identify potential targets among GPCRs aiming at drug repositioning. Method We analyzed samples from tumor and normal thyroid tissues from 17 patients with refractory thyroid cancer (twelve papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) and five follicular thyroid cancers (FTC)). We assessed the GPCR mRNA expression using the NanoString technology with a custom panel of 371 GPCRs. The data were compared with public repositories and pharmacological databases to identify eligible drugs. The analysis of prognostic value of genes was also performed with TCGA datasets. Results With our transcriptomic analysis, 4 receptors were found down regulated in FTC (VIPR1, ADGRL2/LPHN2, ADGRA3 and ADGRV1). In PTC, 24 receptors were deregulated, seven of which identified also by bioinformatics analyses of publicly available dataset on primary thyroid cancers (VIPR1, ADORA1, GPRC5B, P2RY8, GABBR2, CYSLTR2 and LPAR5). Among all the differentially expressed genes, 22 GPCRs are the target of approved drugs and some GPCRs were also associated with prognostic factors. Conclusions For the first time, we performed GPCR mRNA expression profiling in progressive and refractory thyroid cancers. These findings provide an opportunity to identify potential therapeutic targets for drug repositioning and precision medicine in radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 5139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhan-Guo Gao ◽  
Kenneth A. Jacobson

There are four subtypes of adenosine receptors (ARs), named A1, A2A, A2B and A3, all of which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Locally produced adenosine is a suppressant in anti-tumor immune surveillance. The A2BAR, coupled to both Gαs and Gαi G proteins, is one of the several GPCRs that are expressed in a significantly higher level in certain cancer tissues, in comparison to adjacent normal tissues. There is growing evidence that the A2BAR plays an important role in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune suppression. Thus, A2BAR antagonists are novel, potentially attractive anticancer agents. Several antagonists targeting A2BAR are currently in clinical trials for various types of cancers. In this review, we first describe the signaling, agonists, and antagonists of the A2BAR. We further discuss the role of the A2BAR in the progression of various cancers, and the rationale of using A2BAR antagonists in cancer therapy.


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