Molecular mechanisms of ghrelin secretion from endocrine cells

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460289
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: TSUBOI Takashi 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 教授 (80415231)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 北口 哲也 東京工業大学, 科学技術創成研究院, 准教授 (60432374)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OHTA Kunihiro 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 教授 (90211789)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 開口放出 / イメージング / グレリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ghrelin is a growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide, isolated from the X/A-like cells from stomach, which plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and body metabolism. Although ghrelin secretion is known to be induced by neurotransmitters or hormones or by nutrient sensing in the ghrelin-secreting cells themselves, the mechanism of ghrelin secretion is not clearly understood. In the present study, we found that changing the extracellular glucose concentration from elevated (25 mM) to optimal (10 mM) caused an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration in ghrelin-secreting mouse ghrelinoma 3-1 (MGN3-1) cells, whereas changing the glucose concentration from elevated to lowered (5 or 11 mM) had little effect on the intracellular calcium concentration. These findings suggest that ATP-sensitive K+ channel and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are involved in glucose-dependent ghrelin secretion in MGN3-1 cells.

Free Research Field

分泌生理学