title: Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits interleukin 2 production by murine T lymphocytes.
abstract: Evidence from the literature suggests that the nervous and the immune systems closely interact via neuromediators, which affect the immune system, and cytokines, which control nerve cell growth and activity. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide that has been identified in numerous tissues including immune organs and inhibits the proliferation of spleen cells. We investigated whether CGRP altered the function of T lymphocytes. We present evidence that CGRP induces a dose-dependent cAMP accumulation in interleukin 2-producing TH1 cells and inhibits their production of interleukin 2. These effects are prevented by CGRP8-37, a CGRP antagonist that is missing the first 7 amino acids. This CGRP-mediated inhibition of interleukin 2 production is accompanied by a decrease in interleukin 2 mRNA accumulation. CGRP also inhibits the accumulation of mRNA coding for tumor necrosis factor-alpha and -beta and interferon-gamma. Thus, we have identified one mechanism by which CGRP inhibits the proliferation of spleen cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bottomly
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vignery
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine