Characteristics of the Cholecystokinin-Induced Depolarization of Pacemaking Activity in Cultured Interstitial Cells of Cajal from Murine Small Intestine

TLDR

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide hormone and neurotransmitter present in the gastrointestinal tract and enteric nervous system that regulates motor and sensory functions through CCK1 and CCK2 receptors, influencing digestion, motility, and food intake. The review aims to examine recent advances in the biological role of CCK and CCK1 antagonists, focusing on their basic and clinical status in gastroenterology and potential therapeutic applications. The authors conduct a literature review of recent studies on CCK biology and CCK1 antagonist development. Encouraging results have been reported for CCK1 antagonists in sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and certain gastrointestinal cancers.

Abstract

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide hormone which is found both in the gastrointestinal tract throughout the human small intestine and nerves in the myenteric plexus of the enteric nervous system and in the central nervous system. This dual location constitutes the anatomical basis for this in functions as a hormone and a neurotransmitter implicated in the regulation of both systems. CCK regulates not only motor functions in the gastrointestinal tract like lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation, gastric secretion and emptying, gall bladder contractility and bile secretion into the duodenum, intestinal and colonic motility, but also sensory functions and plays a role in the regulation of food intake. These effects are mediated through selective receptors CCK1 and CCK2. Over the last few years, research has focused on understanding the role of CCK, its receptors with antagonists at the biological, pharmacological, clinical and therapeutic level. As far as the CCK1 antagonists is concerned, important inroads have been made in the potential role of these antagonists in the treatment of GERD, IBS and pancreatitis. They have also shown encouraging results in sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and some gastrointestinal cancers. This review focuses on the recent ad vances of the biological role of CCK and their CCK1 antagonists: their current basic and clinical status in gastroenterology, with particular emphasis on the potential therapeutic role of the CCK1 antagonists and future research directions.