Maione L, Christin-Maître S, Chanson P, Young J
Université Paris-Sud, Orsay 91400, France; Service d'endocrinologie et des maladies de la reproduction, hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Service de génétique moléculaire, pharmacogénétique et hormonologie, hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
Service d'endocrinologie, hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75012 Paris, France; Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, 75006, Paris, France.
Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2017 Oct;78 Suppl 1:S31-S40. doi: 10.1016/S0003-4266(17)30923-X.
The endocrine and exocrine functions of the gonads are controlled by the gonadotrope axis, whose master regulator is the hypothalamic decapeptide GnRH. The Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B (Kp/NkB) neuronendocrine system is the main physiologic regulator of GnRH neurons. The Kp/NkB system is currently considered the key mediator for the hypothalamic negative feedback exerted by sex steroids and prolactin, as well as by various metabolic signals. Intrinsic alterations or regulatory abnormalities of Kp/NkB system lead to various gonadotrope axis puberty and fertility dysfunctions. Molecular inactivations of Kp/NkB system actors are associated with some forms of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism without anosmia. The Kp/NkB System is also involved in a few forms of precocious puberty. Finally, the Kp/NKB system is also implicated in gonadotrope axis alterations leading to functional hypothalamic amenorrhea or hyperprolactinemia. NkB is particularly and directly involved in vasomotor menopausal hot flushes mechanism. Various Kp/NkB agonist/antagonist compounds have been developed during the last ten years, and are currently being evaluated in humans. These molecules have potential applications not only in rare genetic diseases with Kp/NkB alterations, but also in various gonadotrope axis-related diseases or in vitro fertilization. The administration of NkB antagonists in menopausal women represents a real therapeutic advance because of their impressive effect in controlling vasomotor menopausal hot flushes.
性腺的内分泌和外分泌功能由促性腺激素轴控制,其主要调节因子是下丘脑十肽促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)。 kisspeptin/神经激肽B(Kp/NkB)神经内分泌系统是GnRH神经元的主要生理调节因子。Kp/NkB系统目前被认为是性类固醇、催乳素以及各种代谢信号在下丘脑发挥负反馈作用的关键介质。Kp/NkB系统的内在改变或调节异常会导致促性腺激素轴出现各种青春期和生育功能障碍。Kp/NkB系统相关因子的分子失活与某些形式的先天性低促性腺激素性性腺功能减退且无嗅觉有关。Kp/NkB系统也与几种性早熟有关。最后,Kp/NKB系统还与导致功能性下丘脑闭经或高催乳素血症的促性腺激素轴改变有关。神经激肽B尤其直接参与血管舒缩性绝经潮热的机制。在过去十年中已研发出多种Kp/NkB激动剂/拮抗剂化合物,目前正在对人体进行评估。这些分子不仅在Kp/NkB改变的罕见遗传疾病中有潜在应用,而且在各种与促性腺激素轴相关的疾病或体外受精中也有潜在应用。在绝经后女性中使用神经激肽B拮抗剂是一项真正的治疗进展,因为它们在控制血管舒缩性绝经潮热方面效果显著。