title: The role of prokineticins in the pathogenesis of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
abstract: The prokineticin system comprises two multifunctional secreted proteins, prokineticin-1 (PROK1) and prokineticin-2 (PROK2), and their cognate G protein-coupled receptors. The prokineticins were originally identified as endogenous regulators of gastrointestinal motility. Currently, these bioactive peptides are involved in a wide spectrum of biological functions, including angiogenesis, neurogenesis, circadian rhythms, nociception, hematopoiesis and immune response. Mice homozygous for null mutations in Prokr2 or Prok2 recapitulate the human phenotype of Kallmann syndrome, exhibiting severe atrophy of the reproductive system and hypoplastic olfactory bulbs. Indeed, the evidence from several naturally inactivating mutations in the PROK2 and PROKR2 genes in patients with Kallmann syndrome and normosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism also indicate the essential role of PROK2 in olfactory bulb morphogenesis and GnRH secretion in humans.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular, LIM/42, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Ursula B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Ana Claudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Latronico
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D042662:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; 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