The Endocrine Versatility of the Gut: General and Evolutionary Aspects of the Active Peptides of the Gastrointestinal Tract
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J Clin Pathol: first published as 10.1136/jcp.s1-8.1.1 on 1 January 1978. Downloaded from J. clin. Path., 33, Suppl. (Ass. Clin. Path.), 8, 1-6 The endocrine versatility of the gut: general and evolutionary aspects of the active peptides of the gastrointestinal tract G. J. DOCKRAY From the Physiological Laboratory, University ofLiverpool, Brownlow Hill, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX Recent years have seen an unprecedented expansion system, and other peptides previously identified in of interest in the gastrointestinal endocrine system brain have since been found in the gut. These that shows no signs of abating. In large measure this developments raise questions of fundamental im- awakening can be attributed to the chemical studies portance about the interrelationships ofthe brain-gut that have resulted in the isolation and elucidation of peptides and their roles in health and disease that, structure of a wide variety of biologically active gut taken together, point to the need for a re-evaluation peptides (Gregory and Tracy, 1975; Mutt, 1976). of the system of peptide messengers as a whole. An The availability of highly purified preparations of important aspect of such an analysis is the extent to these peptides has made possible detailed studies of which the chemical and functional relationships of their effects and mode of action at the cellular level. these peptides can be accounted for in evolutionary In addition, it has become possible to apply immuno- terms. The relevance of this approach is emphasised copyright. chemical methods of analysis that have helped to by the similarity in structure of groups of brain-gut reveal the cellular origins of the peptides and have peptides that suggest a shared ancestry, both of the allowed their estimation in blood and tissue extracts. molecules in question, and of the entire system of Several unexpected findings have emerged from these neuronal and hormonal peptides. studies. For example, it now seems possible that some of the peptides produced by gut endocrine Interrelationships of nerves and endocrine cells are the stream, but cells not secreted into blood http://jcp.bmj.com/ rather act locally by diffusion to their targets through At least eight peptides have been reported to occur the extracellular space (paracrine effects). Further- in mammalian gut endocrine cells and in central or more, it is now clear that many of the active peptides peripheral nerve fibres (Table 1). Only substance P in gut extracts originate not just in gut endocrine and neurotensin have been isolated from both cells but also in nerve fibres. Peptides of the en- tissues (Leeman et al., 1977); much of the evidence teric plexuses are also found in the central nervous for the distribution of the other peptides rests on on October 2, 2021 by guest. Protected Peptide Gut Gut Brain Amphibian Other tissues nerves endocrine cells skin glands + + + GastrinCholecystokn + + + f Cacrulein (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 in mollusc nerves) VIP + + + _ Glucagon - + - - Vertebrate pancreas GIP - + - - Secretin - + - - Motilin - + - - Somatostatin + + + - Protochordate gut endocrine cells TRF ? ? + + Insect ganglia Bombesin + + + + Substance P + + + Physaelemin Eledoisin in cephalopod salivary gland Neurotensin - + + Xenopsin Enkephalin + + + Chymodenin ? ? ACTH - + + - Vertebrate pituitary Table 1 Distribution ofpeptides found in vertebrate gut extracts + Identified by isolation and/or immunochemical methods; - absent, or not yet reported; ? present in extracts but cellular origin uncertain. 1 J Clin Pathol: first published as 10.1136/jcp.s1-8.1.1 on 1 January 1978. Downloaded from 2 G. J. Dockray radioimmunoassay or immunocytochemistry, and thus one of the earliest forms of extracellular the possibility cannot be excluded that these sub- control to be mediated by peptides. stances exist as distinct but cross-reacting molecules On present evidence, peptide-secreting glandular in the brain and gut. As yet, cellular aspects of endocrine cells appear to be absent from the lower synthesis and secretion have been studied for only a metazoans, so that, in a sense, peptidergic neurones few peptides, but the balance of evidence favours can be considered ancestral to the endocrine cells the view that both hormonal and neuronal peptides of higher species. This need not imply direct are synthesised initially as large precursors which evolutionary descent of endocrine cells from are sequestered into secretory granules or vesicles, peptidergic neurones, although Pearse (1975) has converted by proteolytic and other enzymes to presented the evidence for this case. The ability to yield the active peptide, and are then released by produce and secrete active polypeptides occurs exocytosis or a related process. There may also be widely throughout both vertebrates and inverte- similarities in the electrical excitability of nerves and brates. For example, substance P is present in endocrine cells (Tischler et al., 1977). The differences mammalian nerves and gut enterochromaffin cells; between neuronal and hormonal peptides can there- in some amphibian species there are also high fore be seen to lie largely in the mode of their delivery concentrations of substance P-like peptides (physa- to target cells: on the one hand classical neurotrans- laemin) in skin, and a related peptide (eledoisin) has mitters diffuse across a synapse to act at a post- been isolated from the salivary gland of the cepha- synaptic site, and on the other hand hormones are lopod mollusc, Eledone. The wide distribution of released into the blood stream and so transported substance P-like peptides is not unique, and other to their targets. However, between these two ex- groups of peptides, such as those related to brady- tremes there are a variety of intermediate situations. kinin, also exhibit a wide distribution. In mammals, For example, some nerves, notably those associated bradykinin is generated in the peripheral circulation with the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis, by the action of proteolytic enzymes on a precursor copyright. secrete hormonal peptides directly into the blood protein produced in the liver, but related peptides stream. Other neuronal peptides are apparently not again occur in high concentrations in the skin of released either at synapses or capillaries, but may some amphibia, as well as in the venom secretion of nevertheless mediate nerve-nerve interactions with certain wasps (Bertaccini, 1976). Both examples slower onset and over longer periods than is gener- serve to illustrate the fact that related active peptides ally associated with classical neurotransmitters or their precursors can be found in a variety of (Barker, 1977). Similarly, it is thought that in the quite distinct systems with no obvious phylogenetic gut some endocrine cells might release peptides or functional relationships. Conceivably, the re- http://jcp.bmj.com/ which diffuse to, and act on, adjacent mucosal cells lated peptides of these diverse systems may have in a local or paracrine mode of regulation (Pearse arisen by a process of convergent evolution. It et al., 1977). Thus, there is no straightforward seems more reasonable to suppose, however, that distinction to be made between the mode of action these and probably other peptides were established of neuronal and hormonal peptides; instead there early in evolution and have since been strongly is an almost continuous spectrum between true conserved. Obviously, active peptides form only one hormones on the one hand and true neurotrans- link in a chain of communication that necessarily on October 2, 2021 by guest. Protected mitters on the other. includes other elements, such as appropriate target The evolutionary origins of peptides that function organ receptors and postreceptor transducing as extracellular molecular messengers are still mechanisms. Once established, the capacity to uncertain, and are in any case part of a larger employ a peptide as a molecular messenger might be problem that includes other aspects of cell-cell drawn upon independently by systems as different interaction, such as the origins of the regulation of as brain and gut by virtue of changes in the pattern growth and differentiation in multicellular organisms. of gene expression in these tissues. This is not There is evidence that nerves specialised for the particularly surprising for there are obvious ad- secretion of peptides, so called neurosecretory vantages to be gained by deploying in more than one neurones, are present in the most primitive of meta- biological context a single system of extracellular zoans (the coelenterates) and so can be considered communication molecules, for which the necessary an ancient feature established early in the evolution genetic information is already available. Set in this of nervous systems (Scharrer, 1978). The coelenter- light the dual distribution of peptides in gut and ate neuropeptides are thought to control growth and brain can be seen as an act of biological economy development, and since there is no circulatory or conservation. system in these animals they must presumably The dual function of a molecule as both hormone diffuse to their targets. Paracrine-like regulation is and neurotransmitter is not particularly novel, the J Clin Pathol: first published as 10.1136/jcp.s1-8.1.1 on 1 January 1978. Downloaded from The endocrine versatility of the gut 3 catecholamines being a well known case in point. (Gnathostomata) by over 500 million years of The successful application of the same messenger in evolution. The