title: GPR109A (PUMA-G/HM74A) mediates nicotinic acid-induced flushing.
abstract: Nicotinic acid (niacin) has long been used as an antidyslipidemic drug. Its special profile of actions, especially the rise in HDL-cholesterol levels induced by nicotinic acid, is unique among the currently available pharmacological tools to treat lipid disorders. Recently, a G-protein-coupled receptor, termed GPR109A (HM74A in humans, PUMA-G in mice), was described and shown to mediate the nicotinic acid-induced antilipolytic effects in adipocytes. One of the major problems of the pharmacotherapeutical use of nicotinic acid is a strong flushing response. This side effect, although harmless, strongly affects patient compliance. In the present study, we show that mice lacking PUMA-G did not show nicotinic acid-induced flushing. In addition, flushing in response to nicotinic acid was also abrogated in the absence of cyclooxygenase type 1, and mice lacking prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) receptors had reduced flushing responses. The mouse orthologue of GPR109A, PUMA-G, is highly expressed in macrophages and other immune cells, and transplantation of wild-type bone marrow into irradiated PUMA-G-deficient mice restored the nicotinic acid-induced flushing response. Our data clearly indicate that GPR109A mediates nicotinic acid-induced flushing and that this effect involves release of PGE(2) and PGD(2), most likely from immune cells of the skin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Benyó
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gille
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kero
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Csiky
authors.forename: Marie Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Suchánková
authors.forename: Rolf M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nüsing
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moers
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfeffer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Offermanns
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007107:Immune System; D008024:Ligands; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D009525:Niacin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000235:genetics; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E / Q000235:genetics; D058306:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP1 Subtype; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D005227:Fatty Acids; C530636:HCAR2 protein, human; C473653:HCAR3 protein, human; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008024:Ligands; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; C545635:PTGER1 protein, human; C545636:Ptger1 protein, mouse; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E; D058306:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP1 Subtype; D014280:Triglycerides; D009525:Niacin; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D002118:Calcium; C036293:prostaglandin D2 receptor