title: Adrenocorticotropin is a specific mitogen for mammalian myogenic cells.
abstract: Peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) have been found to stimulate the proliferation of murine myogenic cells. Among these peptides, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH) were found to be active, whereas the opioid peptides were not. At clonal density, both ACTH and MSH caused a three- to fourfold increase in the average number of cells per clone in myogenic but not in fibroblast colonies. At high cell density, ACTH and MSH caused a three- to fourfold increase in proliferation of myogenic cells, reflected by an increased accumulation of skeletal myosin. On the other hand mouse embryo skin or muscle fibroblasts or vertebral chondroblasts did not increase proliferation in response to POMC-derived peptides. The half-maximal dose at which ACTH stimulated myoblast proliferation was around 5 nM, and the mitogenic effect was doubled by suboptimal doses of fibroblast growth factor. The possible physiological significance of the mitogenic effect of ACTH on myogenic cells is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia generale, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossu
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cusella-De Angelis
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Senni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vivarelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouchè
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boitani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molinaro
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D009218:Myosins