Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Jan;38(1):7-12. doi: 10.1007/s10571-017-0523-z. Epub 2017 Jul 15.
In the last decade, it has become clear that the neuropeptide "ghrelin" and its principal receptor have a large impact on anxiety and stress. Our recent studies have uncovered a link between plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and ghrelin. BChE actually turns out to be the key regulator of this peptide. This article reviews our recent work on manipulating ghrelin levels in mouse blood and brain by long term elevation of BChE, leading to sustained decrease of ghrelin. That effect in turn was found to reduce stress-induced aggression in group caged mice. Positive consequences were fewer bite wounds and longer survival times. No adverse effects were observed. Further exploration may pave the way for BChE-based treatment of anxiety in humans.
在过去的十年中，神经肽“ghrelin”及其主要受体对焦虑和压力的影响已变得非常明显。我们最近的研究揭示了血浆丁酰胆碱酯酶（BChE）和 ghrelin 之间的联系。BChE 实际上是该肽的关键调节剂。本文综述了我们最近通过长期升高 BChE 来操纵小鼠血液和大脑中 ghrelin 水平的工作，从而导致 ghrelin 的持续下降。结果发现，这种作用可减少群居笼养小鼠的应激诱导攻击行为。积极的结果是减少咬伤伤口和延长生存时间。没有观察到不良反应。进一步的探索可能为基于 BChE 的人类焦虑治疗铺平道路。
