title: Kisspeptin signalling and its roles in humans.
abstract: Kisspeptins are a group of peptide fragments encoded by the KISS1 gene in humans. They bind to kisspeptin receptors with equal efficacy. Kisspeptins and their receptors are expressed by neurons in the arcuate and anteroventral periventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. Oestrogen mediates negative feedback of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone secretion via the arcuate nucleus. Conversely, it exerts positive feedback via the anteroventral periventricular nucleus. The sexual dimorphism of these nuclei accounts for the differential behaviour of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis between genders. Kisspeptins are essential for reproductive function. Puberty is regulated by the maturation of kisspeptin neurons and by interactions between kisspeptins and leptin. Hence, kisspeptins have potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Kisspeptin agonists may be used to localise lesions in cases of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis dysfunction and evaluate the gonadotrophic potential of subfertile individuals. Kisspeptin antagonists may be useful as contraceptives in women, through the prevention of premature luteinisation during in vitro fertilisation, and in the treatment of sex steroid-dependent diseases and metastatic cancers.
authors.affiliation: Associate Consultant, Department of Medicine, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, 1 Jurong East Street 21, Singapore 609606.
authors.forename: Eng Loon
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Tng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D012098:Reproduction; D012737:Sex Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; C106628:KISS1 protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis; kisspeptins