title: Signaling of cytokines is important in regulation of GnRH neurons.
abstract: Cytokines encompass a broad class of peptides that mediate signals in a broad range of physiological situations including inflammation, infection, and obesity. The cytokine receptor-associated tyrosine kinase, Jak2, is one of the most important proteins mediating cytokine signaling pathway activation. Recently, our group has demonstrated that Jak2 signaling in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron plays a critical role in fertility in males and females, implicating cytokine activation of the neuron in GnRH neuronal development and function. To date, the specific cytokine(s) essential for activating Jak2 during neuroendocrine development are not known. In this article, we review the evidence for the role of several class 1 cytokines in regulating GnRH neuronal development, GnRH secretion, and GnRH expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. swu24@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D053614:Janus Kinase 2