title: Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin A and neurokinin A (4-10) on the mitogenic response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: (1) We have studied the ability of some regulatory peptides to induce a mitogenic (incorporation of tritiated thymidine) response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to modify the response produced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), a well known PBMC mitogen. (2) Human calcitonin gene-related peptide (hCGRP), human or salmon calcitonin (hCT, sCT), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin (4-10) (up to 1 microM for each peptide) did not produce per se any significant PBMC stimulation. (3) hCGRP (0.1 nM-1 microM) produced a concentration dependent enhancement of the response to a submaximal concentration of PHA (1 microgram/ml). On the other hand, hCGRP decreased the mitogenic response to a maximal concentration of PHA (25 micrograms/ml). (4) Neither hCT nor sCT (0.1 nM-1 microM) had a significant influence on the response to PHA (1-25 micrograms/ml). (5) Both NKA and NKA (4-10) produced a concentration-dependent (1 fM-10 pM) enhancement of the response to 1 microgram/ml PHA, while these compounds had no effect on the response to 25 micrograms/ml PHA. (6) These findings suggest a potent modulatory action of CGRP and NKA, two peptides present in sensory and other nerves, on immune function which is possibly mediated via C2 receptors for CGRP and NK-2 tachykinin receptors, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geppetti
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Surrenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D015288:Neurokinin A; D002116:Calcitonin; C056408:neurokinin A(4-10); D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D013936:Thymidine