Brain-gut communication: cortistatin, somatostatin and ghrelin.
Although cortistatin (CST) shares great structural homology with somatostatin (SST) and binds to all SST receptor subtypes with similar affinity, these neurohormones have divergent biological roles, as evidenced by their different patterns of tissue expression and biological actions. Moreover, CST, but not SST, can bind to the proadrenomedullin N-terminal peptide (PAMP) receptor MrgX2 and type 1a growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor (GHSR-1a), also known as the 'ghrelin' receptor. These findings suggest that CST-specific actions could be mediated by the GHSR-1a and CST might represent a link between the ghrelin and the SST systems. Here, we review the data leading to this working hypothesis and discuss the in vitro, in vivo and clinical implications of potential SST-receptor-independent, GHSR-1a-mediated neuroendocrine and metabolic effects of CST.
Broglio
Fabio
F
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, corso Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy. fabio.broglio@unito.it
Papotti
Mauro
M
Muccioli
Giampiero
G
Ghigo
Ezio
E
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000378:metabolism; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D054439:Ghrelin; D009479:Neuropeptides; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; C099323:cortistatin; D013004:Somatostatin