Kisspeptins and their synthetic analogues: structure, mechanism of action and prospects for clinical use

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY — MEDICINE

Keywords:
kisspeptins kisspeptin receptor agonist synthetic analogues G-protein coupled receptors impairment of reproductive function кисспептины агонист рецептора к кисспептинам синтетические аналоги рецепторы, сопряженные с G-белком нарушение репродуктивной функции

Abstract

The literature review compares native kisspeptin (KP) and its synthetic analogues, including modifications that improve its stability in the human body, and characterizes the possibility of their therapeutic use in the correction of reproductive disorders. KP is a key neuropeptide that regulates reproductive function through activation of the KISS1R receptor and stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn RH) secretion. It was found that kisspeptin-10 and kisspeptin-54 have different pharmacokinetics, but KP-10 activates the KISS1R receptor no less effectively. The mechanism of action of CP is associated with the activation of the Gq/11 protein cascade, leading to an increase in intracellular calcium and activation of phospholipase C. Modifications of kisspeptins that improve their stability are described, including the replacement of amino acids, the addition of protective groups that slow down degradation and can significantly increase the half-life of the peptide in the blood. The main areas of application of kisspeptins in clinical practice, including in the treatment of reproductive disorders and oncology, are considered. Synthetic analogues of kisspeptin, especially those modified to improve stability, are of significant interest for the development of new therapeutic strategies in the field of reproductive medicine. Synthetic analogs of KP that are resistant to degradation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2/9) are being developed. Phosphine analogs that inhibit MMP and prolong the half-life are promising.

Author Biographies

Anna O. Drobintseva, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Histology and Embryology named after Professor A.G. Knorre

Tatiana S. Kleimenova, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Associate Professor of the Department of Medical Biology

Elena G. Bogomolova, LLC IQChemical

Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Head of the Laboratory, LLC IQChemical

Pavel M. Kopeikin, LLC IQChemical

Cand. Sci. (Biol.), General Director
of LLC IQChemical

References

1. Lee J.H., Miele M.E., Hicks D.J., Phillips K.K., Trent J.M., Weissman B.E. et al. Ki SS-1, a novel human malignant melanoma metastasis-suppressor gene. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996;88(23):1731–1737. https://doi.org/10.1093/JNCI/88.23.1731.

2. Kutzleb C., Busmann A., Wendland M., Maronde E. Discovery of novel regulatory peptides by reverse pharmacology: spotlight on chemerin and the RF-amide peptides metastin and QRFP. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2005;6(3):265–278. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389203054065419.

3. Skorupskaite K., George J.T., Anderson R.A. The kisspeptin-Gn RH pathway in human reproductive health and disease. Hum Reprod Update. 2014;20(4):485–500. https://doi.org/10.1093/HUMUPD/DMU009.

4. Ciaramella V., Della Corte C.M., Ciardiello F., Morgillo F. Kisspeptin and cancer: molecular interaction, biological functions, and future perspectives. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018;9:115. https://doi.org/10.3389/FENDO.2018.00115.

5. Kanda S., Oka Y. Structure, synthesis, and phylogeny of kisspeptin and its receptor. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013;784:9–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6199-9_2.

6. Kotani M., Detheux M., Vandenbogaerde A., Communi D., Vanderwinden J.M., Le Poul E. et al. The metastasis suppressor gene Ki SS-1 encodes kisspeptins, the natural ligands of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR54. J Biol Chem. 2001;276(37):34631–34636. https://doi.org/10.1074/JBC.M104847200.

7. Sachania S., Nawar N., Ghelut A., Dhillo W., Jonas K.C. Are all kisspeptins equal? The effect of kisspeptin 10 and kisspeptin 54 on kisspeptin-mediated signalling. Endocrine Abstracts. 2019;65:356. https://doi.org/10.1530/ENDOABS.65.P356.

8. Ohtaki T., Shintani Y., Honda S., Matsumoto H., Hori A., Kanehashi K. et al. Metastasis suppressor gene Ki SS-1 encodes peptide ligand of a G-protein-coupled receptor. Nature. 2001;411:613–617. https://doi.org/10.1038/35079135.

9. Izzi-Engbeaya C., Dhillo W.S. Emerging roles for kisspeptin in metabolism. J Physiol. 2022;600(5):1079–1088. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP281712.

10. Abbara A., Clarke S.A., Dhillo W.S. Clinical potential of kisspeptin in reproductive health. Trends Mol Med. 2021;27(8):807–823. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MOLMED.2021.05.008.

11. Trevisan C.M., Montagna E., de Oliveira R.,Christofolini D.M., Barbosa C.P., Crandall K.A. et al. Kisspeptin/GPR54 system: what do we know about its role in human reproduction? Cell Physiol Biochem. 2018;49(4):1259–1276. https://doi.org/10.1159/000493406.

12. Rønnekleiv O.K., Qiu J., Kelly M.J. Coordinate reproductive activities with metabolism. Semin Reprod Med. 2019;37(03):131–140. https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0039-3400251.

13. Tsoutsouki J., Patel B., Comninos A.N., Dhillo W.S., Abbara A. Kisspeptin in the prediction of pregnancy complications. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;19;13:942664. https://doi.org/10.3389/FENDO.2022.942664.

14. Roa J., Navarro V.M., Tena-Sempere M. Kisspeptins in reproductive biology: consensus knowledge and recent developments. Biol Reprod. 2011;85(4):650-–660. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.111.091538.

15. Gomes V.C.L., Sones J.L. From inhibition of trophoblast cell invasion to proapoptosis: what are the potential roles of kisspeptins in preeclampsia? Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2021;321(1):R41–R48. https://doi.org/10.1152/AJPREGU.00258.2020.

16. Mead E.J., Maguire J.J., Kuc R.E., Davenport A.P. Kisspeptins: a multifunctional peptide system with a role in reproduction, cancer and the cardiovascular system. Br J Pharmacol. 2007; 151(8):1143–1153. https://doi.org/10.1038/SJ.BJP.0707295.

17. Pfeil E.M., Brands J., Merten N. Heterotrimeric G protein subunit Gαq is a master switch for Gβγ-mediated calcium mobilization by Gi-coupled GPCRs. Mol Cell. 2020;80(6):940–954.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MOLCEL.2020.10.027.

18. Woll K.A., Van Petegem F. Calcium-release channels: structure and function of IP3 receptors and ryanodine receptors. Physiol Rev. 2022;102(1):209–268. https://doi.org/10.1152/PHYSREV.00033.2020.

19. Xie Q., Kang Y., Zhang C., Xie Y., Wang C., Liu J. et al. The role of kisspeptin in the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproduction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:925206. https://doi.org/10.3389/FENDO.2022.925206.

20. Liu X., Herbison A.E. Kisspeptin regulation of neuronal activity throughout the central nervous system. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2016;31(2):193–205. https://doi.org/10.3803/ENM.2016.31.2.193.

21. Sato K., Shirai R., Hontani M., Shinooka R., Hasegawa A., Kichise T. et al. Potent vasoconstrictor kisspeptin-10 induces atherosclerotic plaque progression and instability: reversal by its receptor GPR54 antagonist. J Am Heart Assoc. 2017;6(4). https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.005790.

22. Dinh H., Kovács Z.Z.A., Márványkövi F. et al. The kisspeptin-1 receptor antagonist peptide-234 aggravates uremic cardiomyopathy in a rat model. Sci Rep. 2023:14046. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41037-0.

23. Qu C., Park J.Y., Yun M.W., He Q.T., Yang F., Kim K. et al. Scaffolding mechanism of arrestin-2 in the c Raf/M EK1/ERK signaling cascade. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(37):e2026491118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2026491118.

24. Babwah A.V., Pampillo M., Min L., Kaiser U.B., Bhattacharya M. Single-cell analyses reveal that KISS1R-expressing cells undergo sustained kisspeptin-induced signaling that is dependent upon an influx of extracellular Ca2+. Endocrinology. 2012;153(12): 5875–5887. https://doi.org/10.1210/EN.2012-1747.

25. Bianco S.D.C., Vandepas L., Correa-Medina M., Gereben B., Mukherjee A., Kuohung W. et al. KISS1R intracellular trafficking and degradation: effect of the Arg386Pro disease-associated mutation. Endocrinology. 2011;152(4):1616–1626. https://doi.org/10.1210/EN.2010-0903.

26. Kroll H., Bolsover S., Hsu J., Kim S.H., Bouloux P.M. Kisspeptin-evoked calcium signals in isolated primary rat gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurones. Neuroendocrinology. 2011;93(2):114–120. https://doi.org/10.1159/000321678.

27. Stincic T.L., Kelly M.J. Estrogenic regulation of reproduction and energy homeostasis by a triumvirate of hypothalamic arcuate neurons. J Neuroendocrinol. 2022;34(6):e13145. https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.13145.

28. Felip A., Zanuy S., Pineda R., Pinilla L., Carrillo M., Tena-Sempere M. et al. Evidence for two distinct Ki SS genes in non-placental vertebrates that encode kisspeptins with different gonadotropin-releasing activities in fish and mammals. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009;312(1-2):61–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2008.11.017.

29. Tomita K., Oishi S., Ohno H., Peiper S.C., Fujii N. Development of novel G-protein-coupled receptor 54 agonists with resistance to degradation by matrix metalloproteinase. J Med Chem. 2008;51:7645–7649. https://doi.org/10.1021/jm800930w.

30. Kirby H.R., Maguire J.J., Colledge W.H., Davenport A.P. International union of basic and clinical pharmacology. LXXVII. Kisspeptin receptor nomenclature, distribution, and function. Pharmacol Rev. 2010;62(4):565–578. https://doi.org/10.1124/PR.110.002774.

31. Roseweir A.K., Millar R.P. Kisspeptin antagonists. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013;784:159–186. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6199-9_8.

32. Gutiérrez-Pascual E., Leprince J., Martínez-Fuentes A.J., Ségalas-Milazzo I., Pineda R., Roa J. et al. In vivo and in vitro structure-activity relationships and structural conformation of kisspeptin-10-related peptides. Mol Pharmacol. 2009;76(1):58–67. https://doi.org/10.1124/MOL.108.053751.

33. Niida A., Wang Z., Tomita K., Oishi S., Tamamura H., Otaka A. et al. Design and synthesis of downsized metastin (45-54) analogs with maintenance of high GPR54 agonistic activity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2006;16(1):134–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2005.09.054.

34. Orsini M.J., Klein M.A., Beavers M.P., Connolly P.J., Middleton S.A., Mayo K.H. Metastin (Ki SS-1) mimetics identified from peptide structure-activity relationship-derived pharmacophores and directed small molecule database screening. J Med Chem. 2007;50(3):462–471. https://doi.org/10.1021/jm0609824.

35. Szeliga A., Podfigurna A., Bala G., Meczekalski B. Kisspeptin and neurokinin B analogs use in gynecological endocrinology: where do we stand? J Endocrinol Invest. 2020;43:555–561. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40618-019-01160-0.

36. Matsui H., Asami T. Effects and therapeutic potentials of kisspeptin analogs: regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitarygonadal axis. Neuroendocrinology. 2014;99(1):49–60. https://doi.org/10.1159/000357809.

37. Radwańska P., Gałdyszyńska M., Piera L., Drobnik J. Kisspeptin-10 increases collagen content in the myocardium by focal adhesion kinase activity. Sci Rep. 2023;3:19977. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-023-47224-3.

38. Sleeboom J.J.F., van Tienderen G.S., Schenke-Layland K., van der Laan L.J.W., Khalil A.A., Verstegen M.M.A. The extracellular matrix as hallmark of cancer and metastasis: From biomechanics to therapeutic targets. Sci Transl Med. 2024;16(728):eadg3840. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adg3840.

39. Kleimenova T., Polyakova V., Linkova N., Drobintseva A., Medvedev D., Krasichkov A. The expression of kisspeptins and matrix metalloproteinases in extragenital endometriosis. Biomedicines. 2024;12(1):94. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12010094.

40. Takino T., Koshikawa N., Miyamori H., Tanaka M., Sasaki T., Okada Y. et al. Cleavage of metastasis suppressor gene product Ki SS-1 protein/metastin by matrix metalloproteinases. Oncogene. 2003;22(30):4617–4626. https://doi.org/10.1038/SJ.ONC.1206542.

41. Jayasena C.N., Nijher G.M.K., Comninos A.N., Abbara A., Januszewki A., Vaal M.L. et al. The effects of kisspeptin-10 on reproductive hormone release show sexual dimorphism in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(12):E1963–E1972. https://doi.org/10.1210/JC.2011-1408.

42. Patel B., Koysombat K., Mills E. G, Tsoutsouki J., Comninos A.N., Abbara A., Dhillo W.S. The emerging therapeutic potential of kisspeptin and neurokinin B. Endocrine Reviews. 2024;45(1);30–68. https://doi.org/10.1210/endrev/bnad023.

43. Abbara A., Eng P.C., Phylactou M., Clarke S.A., Mills E., Chia G. et al. Kisspeptin-54 accurately identifies hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal dysfunction in men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Neuroendocrinology. 2021;111(12):1176–1186. https://doi.org/10.1159/000513248.

44. Hu K.L., Chen Z., Li X. Advances in clinical applications of kisspeptin-Gn RH pathway in female reproduction. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2022;20(1):81. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-00953-y.

45. Abdulbagi M., Wang L., Siddig O., Di B., Li B. D-amino acids and D-amino acid-containing peptides: potential disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets? Biomolecules. 2021;11(11):1716. https://doi.org/10.3390/BIOM11111716.

46. Asami T., Nishizawa N., Ishibashi Y. Serum stability of selected decapeptide agonists of KISS1R using pseudopeptides. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2012;22(20):6391–6396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2012.08.069.

47. Zhang X., Matziari M., Xie Y., Fernig D., Rong R., Meng J. Functional examination of novel kisspeptin phosphinic peptides. PLo S One. 2018;13(4):e0195089. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0195089.

48. Yi T., Tan K., Cho S.G., Wang Y., Luo J., Zhang W. et al. Regulation of embryonic kidney branching morphogenesis and glomerular development by KISS1 receptor (Gpr54) through NFAT2- and Sp1-mediated Bmp7 expression. J Biol Chem. 2010;285(23): 17811–17820. https://doi.org/10.1074/JBC.M110.130740.

49. Georgiadis D., Dive V. Phosphinic peptides as potent inhibitors of zinc-metalloproteases. Top Curr Chem. 2015;360:1–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/128_2014_571.

50. Georgiadis D., Skoulikas N., Papakyriakou A., Stratikos E. Phosphinic peptides as tool compounds for the study of pharmacologically relevant Zn-metalloproteases. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2022;5(12):1228–1253. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.2c00183.

51. Abbara A., Eng P.C., Phylactou M., Clarke S.A., Mills E., Chia G. Kisspeptin-54 accurately identifies hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal dysfunction in men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Neuroendocrinology. 2021;111(12):1176–1186. https://doi.org/10.1159/000513248.

52. Carrasco R.A., Leonardi C.E., Hutt K., Singh J., Adams G.P. Kisspeptin induces LH release and ovulation in an induced ovulator. Biol Reprod. 2020;103(1):49–59. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaa051.

53. Tsoutsouki J., Abbara A., Dhillo W. Novel therapeutic avenues for kisspeptin. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2022;67:102319. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COPH.2022.102319.

54. Tavakoli A., Azar A.T., Taghizabet N., Rezaei-Tazangi F., Ardebili S.N., Mofarahe Z.S. et al. The effect of kisspeptin on the maturation of human ovarian follicles in culture following vitrification-thawing processes. JBRA Assist Reprod. 2023;27(4):668–676. https://doi.org/10.5935/1518-0557.20230045.

55. Meczekalski B., Niwczyk O., Bala G., Szeliga A. Stress, kisspeptin, and functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2022;67:102288. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COPH.2022.102288.

56. Jyasena C.N., Comninos A.N., Narayanaswamy S. Acute and chronic effects of kisspeptin-54 administration on GH, prolactin and TSH secretion in healthy women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2014;81(6):891–898. https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.12512.

57. Podfigurna A., Maciejewska-Jeske M., Meczekalski B., Genazzani A.D. Kisspeptin and LH pulsatility in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Endocrine. 2020;70:635–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12020-020-02481-4.

58. Chan Y.M., Lippincott M.F., Kusa T.O., Seminara S.B. Divergent responses to kisspeptin in children with delayed puberty. JCI Insight. 2018;3(8):e99109. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI.INSIGHT.99109.

59. Cintra R.G., Wajnsztejn R., Trevisan C.M., Zaia V., Laganà A.S., Bianco B. et al. Kisspeptin levels in girls with precocious puberty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Horm Res Paediatr. 2020;93(11-12):589–598. https://doi.org/10.1159/000515660.

60. Harihar S., Welch D.R. KISS1 metastasis suppressor in tumor dormancy: a potential therapeutic target for metastatic cancers? Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2023;42:183–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10555-023-10090-6.

61. Curtis A.E., Cooke J.H., Baxter J.E., Parkinson J.R.C., Bataveljic A., Ghatei M.A. et al. A kisspeptin-10 analog with greater in vivo bioactivity than kisspeptin-10. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2010;298(2). https://doi.org/10.1152/AJPENDO.00426.2009.

62. Scott G., Ahmad I., Howard K., Maclean D., Oliva C., Warrington S. et al. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TAK-683, an investigational metastin analogue in healthy men. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;75(2):381–391. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2125.2012.04385.X.

63. Matsui H., Tanaka A., Yokoyama K., Takatsu Y., Ishikawa K., Asami T. et al. Chronic administration of the metastin/kisspeptin analog KISS1-305 or the investigational agent TAK-448 suppresses hypothalamic pituitary gonadal function and depletes plasma testosterone in adult male rats. Endocrinology. 2012;153(1):5297–5308. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2012-1388.