Neurokinin B in a human pheochromocytoma measured with a specific radioimmunoassay.
An N-terminally directed antiserum to neurokinin B was raised in rabbits using an immunogen prepared by coupling the free-SH group of neurokinin B extended from its C-terminus by a cysteine residue (NKB-Cys) to an -NH2 group on human serum albumin using a heterobifunctional cross-linking reagent. In radioimmunoassay with 125I-Bolton-Hunter-labelled NKB-Cys as tracer, the antiserum showed no cross-reactivity with other tachykinins. An extract of a human pheochromocytoma, previously shown to contain peptides derived from preprotachykinin A, contained NKB-LI (13 pmol/g wet weight). The retention time of tumor neurokinin on reversed-phase HPLC was the same as that of synthetic neurokinin B. Peptides with the retention times of substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin A (3-10)-peptide and neuropeptide K were also identified in the tumor extract. NKB-LI was not detected in extracts of a further nine pheochromocytomas or in five carcinoid tumors that expressed the preprotachykinin A gene.
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft University of Gottingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
R
R
Kage
J M
JM
Conlon
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000032:analysis*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods
D007106:Immune Sera; D015287:Neurokinin B