title: The calcitonin gene peptides: biology and clinical relevance.
abstract: The calcitonin/CGRP multigene complex encodes a family of peptides: calcitonin, its C-terminal flanking peptide, katacalcin, and a third novel peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The 32-amino acid peptide calcitonin inhibits the osteoclast, thereby conserving skeletal mass during periods of potential calcium lack, such as pregnancy, growth, and lactation. This hormonal role is emphasized by observations that lower circulating calcitonin levels are associated with bone loss and that calcitonin replacement prevents further bone loss. Structurally, CGRP resembles calcitonin and has been implicated in neuromodulation and in the physiological regulation of blood flow. Here we review the molecular genetics, structure, and function of the calcitonin-gene peptides as analyzed in the laboratory and focus on more recent clinical studies relating to disorders and therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, England.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Moonga
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bevis
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Bascal
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Breimer
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000503:physiopathology; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000502:physiology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013045:Species Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002118:Calcium