Study summary · research use only
Roles of the kisspeptin/GPR54 system in pathomechanisms of atherosclerosis
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review (combining human cell studies — HUVECs, human monocyte-derived macrophages, human aortic smooth muscle cells — and Apoe-/- mouse studies) examined roles of the kisspeptin-10 (KP-10)/GPR54 system in atherosclerosis. The authors describe reports that KP-10 suppressed migration and proliferation of HUVECs while inducing senescence and increasing monocyte adhesion, and stimulated expression of several inflammatory and adhesion molecule genes in HUVECs; KP-10 was also associated with foam cell formation and, in aortic smooth muscle cells, suppressed angiotensin II-induced migration and proliferation while enhancing apoptosis and MMP-2/MMP-9 activity. A four-week infusion of KP-10 into Apoe-/- mice was associated with accelerated aortic atherosclerotic lesion development, increased monocyte/macrophage infiltration and vascular inflammation, and decreased intraplaque smooth muscle cell content; these effects were attenuated by the GPR54 antagonist P234.
Abstract
Kisspeptin-10 (KP-10), a potent vasoconstrictor and inhibitor of angiogenesis, and its receptor, GPR54, have currently received much attention with respect to atherosclerosis, since both KP-10 and GPR54 are expressed at high levels in atheromatous plaques and restenotic lesions after wire-injury. The present review introduces the emerging roles of the KP-10/GPR54 system in atherosclerosis. KP-10 suppresses migration and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and induces senescence in HUVECs. KP-10 increases adhesion of human monocytes to HUVECs. KP-10 also stimulates expression of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin genes in HUVECs. KP-10 enhances oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced foam cell formation associated with upregulation of CD36 and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase-1 in human monocyte-derived macrophages. In human aortic smooth muscle cells, KP-10 suppresses angiotensin II-induced migration and proliferation, however, it enhances apoptosis and activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 by upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38, Bax, and caspase-3. Four-week-infusion of KP-10 into Apoe-/- mice accelerates development of aortic atherosclerotic lesions with increased monocyte/macrophage infiltration and vascular inflammation, also, it decreases intraplaque vascular smooth muscle cell content. Proatherosclerotic effects of endogenous and exogenous KP-10 were completely attenuated upon infusion of P234, a GPR54 antagonist, in Apoe-/- mice. These findings suggest that KP-10 may contribute to acceleration of progression and to the instability of atheromatous plaques, leading to rupture of plaques. This GPR54 antagonist may be useful for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Thus, the KP-10/GPR54 system may serve as a novel therapeutic target for atherosclerotic diseases.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source — it sells nothing, ships nothing, and gives no medical, dosing, or human-use guidance. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.