Potential roles of the prokineticins in reproduction.
Prokineticins are multifunctional secreted proteins that were originally identified as regulators of intestinal contraction but subsequently shown to affect vascular function, hyperalgesia, spermatogenesis, neuronal survival, circadian rhythm, nociception, feeding behaviour, immune responses, haematopoiesis and the development of the olfactory and gonadotropin-releasing hormone systems. Their role in the reproductive tract is still not fully elucidated, although they are reputed to increase microvascular permeability. Expression of prokineticins and their receptors has been reported in the ovary, uterus, placenta, testis and prostate. Their expression has also been reported in various pathologies of the reproductive tract, and future studies will highlight whether inhibition of prokineticin function in these pathologies would be a useful therapeutic target.
Maldonado-Pérez
David
D
MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
Evans
Jemma
J
Denison
Fiona
F
Millar
Robert P
RP
Jabbour
Henry N
HN
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006058:Gonadal Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000502:physiology; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D042662:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived / Q000502:physiology*
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; C467610:PROK1 protein, human; C423608:PROK2 protein, human; C470837:PROKR1 protein, human; C470838:PROKR2 protein, human; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D042662:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived