Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulates proenkephalin A mRNA expression in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.
The effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) on the amount of proenkephalin A (ProEnk A) mRNA in cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were examined. Exposure of chromaffin cells to 5 microM VIP for 24 h produced a significant elevation in ProEnk A mRNA. The stimulatory effect of VIP could be abolished by the presence of the calcium channel blocker D600 or actinomycin D but was not affected by the nicotinic antagonist hexamethonium. The results suggest that VIP may induce transcription of ProEnk A mRNA by a Ca2+-dependent, non-cholinergic mechanism. By contrast, SP (5 microM) had no effect on the amount of ProEnk A mRNA. Since VIP is found in nerve terminals and the ganglion cells within the adrenal medulla, this peptide could be an endogenous regulator of adrenal enkephalin gene expression.
Wan
D C
DC
Department of Biochemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Livett
B G
BG
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics*; D005711:Gallopamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004745:Enkephalins; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C029992:proenkephalin; D003609:Dactinomycin; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D005711:Gallopamil