scholarly journals Gonadoliberin – Synthesis, Secretion, Molecular Mechanisms and Targets of Action

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-15
Author(s):  
A. O. Shpakov ◽  
K. V. Derkach

Decapeptide gonadoliberin (GnRH) is the most important regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis that controls the synthesis and secretion of the luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones by gonadotrophs in the adenohypophysis. GnRH is produced by the specialized hypothalamic neurons using the site-specific proteolysis of the precursor protein and is secreted into the portal pituitary system, where it binds to the specific receptors. These receptors belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors, and they are located on the surface of gonadotrophs and mediate the regulatory effects of GnRH on the gonadotropins production. The result of GnRH binding to them is the activation of phospholipase C and the calcium-dependent pathways, the stimulation of different forms of mitogen-activated protein kinases, as well as the activation of the enzyme adenylyl cyclase and the triggering of cAMP-dependent signaling pathways in the gonadotrophs. The gonadotropins, kisspeptin, sex steroid hormones, insulin, melatonin and a number of transcription factors have an important role in the regulation of GnRH1 gene expression, which encodes the GnRH precursor, as well as the synthesis and secretion of GnRH. The functional activity of GnRH-producing neurons depends on their migration to the hypothalamic region at the early stages of ontogenesis, which is controlled by anosmin, ephrins, and lactosamine-rich surface glycoconjugate. Dysregulation of the migration of GnRH-producing neurons and the impaired production and secretion of GnRH, lead to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and other dysfunctions of the reproductive system. This review is devoted to the current state of the problem of regulating the synthesis and secretion of GnRH, the mechanisms of migration of hypothalamic GnRH-producing neurons at the early stages of brain development, the functional activity of the GnRH-producing neurons in the adult hypothalamus and the molecular mechanisms of GnRH action on the pituitary gonadotrophs. New experimental data are analyzed, which significantly change the current understanding of the functioning of GnRH-producing neurons and the secretion of GnRH, which is very important for the development of effective approaches for correcting the functions of the HPG axis.

2002 ◽  
Vol 103 (s2002) ◽  
pp. 132S-136S ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey SOROKIN ◽  
Marco FOSCHI ◽  
Michael J. DUNN

The molecular mechanisms of endothelin (ET)-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase were studied in rat and human renal glomerular mesangial cells. ET-1 induced a rapid and transient activation of Ras in renal mesangial cells, which was dependent upon the formation of the Shc/Grb2/Sos1 signalling complex and resulted in transient ERK activation. We have observed that Pyk2, a calcium-dependent cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, was expressed in human renal mesangial cells and was tyrosine phosphorylated after ET-1 treatment. ET-1-induced activation of p38 MAPK pathway (but not ERK pathway) was inhibited in human and in rat glomerular mesangial cells expressing dominant-negative form of Pyk2, suggesting the engagement of Pyk2 in ET-1-mediated activation of p38 MAP kinase cascade. Contractive responsiveness of renal mesangial cells was shown to depend on activation of the p38 MAP kinases. Thus, p38 MAP kinase stimulation could perhaps partially account for ET-1 contractive properties, whereas ET-1-induced cell proliferation occurs primarily via Ras-dependent activation of the ERK.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian-Hao Zhu ◽  
Warwick Stiller ◽  
Philippe Moncuquet ◽  
Stuart Gordon ◽  
Yuman Yuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Fiber mutants are unique and valuable resources for understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling initiation and development of cotton fibers that are extremely elongated single epidermal cells protruding from the seed coat of cottonseeds. In this study, we reported a new fuzzless-tufted cotton mutant (Gossypium hirsutum) and showed that fuzzless-tufted near-isogenic lines (NILs) had similar agronomic traits and a higher ginning efficiency compared to their recurrent parents with normal fuzzy seeds. Genetic analysis revealed that the mutant phenotype is determined by a single incomplete dominant locus, designated N5. The mutation was fine mapped to an approximately 250-kb interval containing 33 annotated genes using a combination of bulked segregant sequencing, SNP chip genotyping, and fine mapping. Comparative transcriptomic analysis using 0–6 days post-anthesis (dpa) ovules from NILs segregating for the phenotypes of fuzzless-tufted (mutant) and normal fuzzy cottonseeds (wild-type) uncovered candidate genes responsible for the mutant phenotype. It also revealed that the flanking region of the N5 locus is enriched with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the mutant and wild-type. Several of those DEGs are members of the gene families with demonstrated roles in cell initiation and elongation, such as calcium-dependent protein kinase and expansin. The transcriptome landscape of the mutant was significantly reprogrammed in the 6 dpa ovules and, to a less extent, in the 0 dpa ovules, but not in the 2 and 4 dpa ovules. At both 0 and 6 dpa, the reprogrammed mutant transcriptome was mainly associated with cell wall modifications and transmembrane transportation, while transcription factor activity was significantly altered in the 6 dpa mutant ovules. These results imply a similar molecular basis for initiation of lint and fuzz fibers despite certain differences.


2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Sattler ◽  
Michael Tymianski

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Sun ◽  
wugui chen ◽  
Songtao Li ◽  
Sizhen Yang ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) has been found to induce osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: Osteoclastogenesis was evaluated by number of TRAP-positive multinuclear (≥3) osteoclasts, bone resorption pits and expression levels of related genes. Autophagy activity were evaluated by LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, number of autophagic vacuoles and adenovirus-mRFP-GFP-tagged LC3 reporting system; Inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) was used to verified the role of autophagy in RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis; Via downregulating Nox4 with inhibitor (DPI) and retrovirus-conveyed shRNA, we further explored the importance of Nox4 in RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis, as well as the regulatory effects of Nox4 on nonmitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4 pathway. Intracellular ROS scavenger (NAC), mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant (MitoTEMPO) and inhibitor of PERK (GSK2606414) were also employed to investigate the role of ROS and PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4 pathway in RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis. Results: RANKL markedly increased autophagy, while CQ treatment caused reduction of RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis. Consistent with the increased autophagy, the protein levels of Nox4 were significantly increased, and Nox4 was selectively localized within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) after RANKL stimulation. DPI and shRNA efficiently decreased the protein level and (or) activity of Nox4 in the ER and inhibited RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis. Mechanistically, we found that Nox4 regulates RANKL-induced autophagy activation and osteoclastogenesis by stimulating the production of nonmitochondrial ROS. Additionally, Nox4-derived nonmitochondrial ROS dramatically activate PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4, which is a critical unfolded protein response (UPR)-related signaling pathway during ER stress. Blocking the activation of the PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4 signaling pathway either by Nox4 shRNA, ROS antioxidant or PERK inhibitor (GSK2606414) treatment significantly inhibited endoplasmic reticulum autophagy (ER-phagy) during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. Conclusions: Our findings provide new insights into the processes of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and will help the development of new therapeutic strategies for osteoclastogenesis-related diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-177
Author(s):  
Nazli Khajehnasiri ◽  
◽  
Homayoun Khazali ◽  
Farzam Sheikhzadeh Hesari, ◽  
Hamid Reza Sadeghnia ◽  
...  

Introduction: In the arcuate nucleus, kisspeptin, neurokinin-B and pro-dynorphin (KNDy) neurons control the function of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. Early investigations indicated that exercise with various intensities affects luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) in different ways. Meanwhile the molecular mechanisms underlying its function not yet been fully understood. Accordingly, the present study evaluated the role of alterations in the levels of KNDy mRNA upstream of GnRH neurons in conveying the effects of various short-term exercise intensities on the male hypothermic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Methods: Twenty-one adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, one-month regular moderate exercise (ME) and one-month regular intensive exercise (IE). In ME (22m/min) and IE (35m/min) groups, the rats were treated 5 days a week for 60min each day. Finally, we assessed serum levels of LH and T using the ELIZA technique and KNDy and Gnrh mRNA expression by the real-time PCR method. Results: The results revealed that in ME group the expression of Nkb was reduced and the expression of Gnrh mRNA and the LH and T serum levels were increased. However, intensive exercise did not change the serum levels of LH and T or the relative expression of kiss1, Nkb, Pdyn and Gnrh genes. Conclusion: The results suggested that monthly moderate exercise improved male reproductive axis function, while intensive exercise did not have an adverse effect on the reproductive axis. These various effects on the male HPG axis may be propagated by the change in hypothalamic Nkb gene expression.


Open Biology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 130067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopal P. Sapkota

The signalling pathways downstream of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) family of cytokines play critical roles in all aspects of cellular homeostasis. The phosphorylation and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been implicated in TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and apoptosis. The precise molecular mechanisms by which TGFβ cytokines induce the phosphorylation and activation of p38 MAPK are unclear. In this study, I demonstrate that TGFβ-activated kinase 1 (TAK1/MAP3K7) does not play a role in the TGFβ-induced phosphorylation and activation of p38 MAPK in MEFs and HaCaT keratinocytes. Instead, RNAi -mediated depletion of MAP3K4 and MAP3K10 results in the inhibition of the TGFβ-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, the depletion of MAP3K10 from cells homozygously knocked-in with a catalytically inactive mutant of MAP3K4 completely abolishes the TGFβ-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, implying that among MAP3Ks, MAP3K4 and MAP3K10 are sufficient for mediating the TGFβ-induced activation of p38 MAPK.


Vrach ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Barinov ◽  
Kh. Grigoryan ◽  
T. Faber ◽  
V. Sokhina ◽  
A. Perenesenko

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 369 (6509) ◽  
pp. 1318-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  

The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project was established to characterize genetic effects on the transcriptome across human tissues and to link these regulatory mechanisms to trait and disease associations. Here, we present analyses of the version 8 data, examining 15,201 RNA-sequencing samples from 49 tissues of 838 postmortem donors. We comprehensively characterize genetic associations for gene expression and splicing in cis and trans, showing that regulatory associations are found for almost all genes, and describe the underlying molecular mechanisms and their contribution to allelic heterogeneity and pleiotropy of complex traits. Leveraging the large diversity of tissues, we provide insights into the tissue specificity of genetic effects and show that cell type composition is a key factor in understanding gene regulatory mechanisms in human tissues.


Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaishali Aggarwal ◽  
Hardeep Tuli ◽  
Ayşegül Varol ◽  
Falak Thakral ◽  
Mukerrem Yerer ◽  
...  

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in biological processes and continuous ROS production in normal cells is controlled by the appropriate regulation between the silver lining of low and high ROS concentration mediated effects. Interestingly, ROS also dynamically influences the tumor microenvironment and is known to initiate cancer angiogenesis, metastasis, and survival at different concentrations. At moderate concentration, ROS activates the cancer cell survival signaling cascade involving mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (MAPK/ERK1/2), p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/ protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), which in turn activate the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). At high concentrations, ROS can cause cancer cell apoptosis. Hence, it critically depends upon the ROS levels, to either augment tumorigenesis or lead to apoptosis. The major issue is targeting the dual actions of ROS effectively with respect to the concentration bias, which needs to be monitored carefully to impede tumor angiogenesis and metastasis for ROS to serve as potential therapeutic targets exogenously/endogenously. Overall, additional research is required to comprehend the potential of ROS as an effective anti-tumor modality and therapeutic target for treating malignancies.


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