title: Kisspeptin signalling in the physiology and pathophysiology of the urogenital system.
abstract: Kisspeptin is a peptide hormone, which signals via the G-protein-coupled kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R). Kisspeptin-KISS1R signalling has been implicated in various physiological and pathophysiological processes in the urogenital system, including critical roles in ovarian function as a key player in the regulation of oocyte development. Kisspeptin also has roles in several different functions of the male reproductive tract, such as spermatogenesis and sperm capacitation, and is also thought to be involved in kidney physiology - studies in preclinical animal models have reported that expression of kisspeptin and/or KISS1R is altered in chronically impaired kidneys. The wider importance of kisspeptin action in the urogenital tract has been highlighted by the finding that it suppresses metastasis of urogenital carcinomas; besides the possible therapeutic potential of this finding, tissue and tumour-stage-specific alterations in kisspeptin and KISS1/KISS1R expression could potentially be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of urogenital carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Fazal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bibi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atika
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Neuroendocrinology, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320 Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahab
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Behr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: C106628:KISS1 protein, human; C118688:KISS1R protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1