LGR4: A New Receptor Member in Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases

Abstract

Classic hormone membrane receptors, such as leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein–coupled receptor (LGR) 1 (follicle-stimulating hormone receptor), LGR2 (luteinizing hormone receptor), and LGR3 (thyrotropin receptor), are crucial in endocrinology and metabolism, and the identification of new receptors can advance this field. LGR4 is a new member of this G protein–coupled receptor family and shows ways of expression and function similar to those of LGR1/2/3. Several recent studies have reported that, unlike LGR5/6, LGR4 plays essential roles in endocrine and metabolic diseases, including hypothalamic–gonadal axis defects, mammary gland dysplasia, osteoporosis, cardiometabolic diseases, and obesity. An inactivating mutation p.R126X in LGR4 leads to osteoporosis, electrolyte disturbance, abnormal sex hormone levels, and weight loss, whereas an activating mutation p.A750T is associated with bone mineral density, insulin resistance, and adiposity. Though several paracrine ligands are known to act on LGR4, the endocrine ligands of LGR4 remain poorly defined. In this review, we highlight LGR4 dysfunction in clinical diseases, animal models, and pathophysiological changes, discuss their known ligands and downstream signaling pathways, and identify unresolved questions and future perspectives of this new receptor.