title: Beta-endorphin stimulates proliferation of small cell lung carcinoma cells in vitro via nonopioid binding sites.
abstract: The small cell lung carcinoma cell line U-1690 bound beta-endorphin via nonopioid binding sites also recognized by the C-terminal part of this opioid peptide Lys-Lys-Gly-Glu, but not by opiate alkaloids such as naloxone and morphine or other opioid peptides. The beta-endorphin binding did not affect the production of cAMP, but was enhanced by dexamethasone pretreatment. The beta-endorphin-stimulated proliferation of U-1690 cells was inhibited by Lys-Lys-Gly-Glu and increased by dexamethasone pretreatment. The cells also produce beta-endorphin, suggesting an autocrine mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Melzig
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nylander
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vlaskovska
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terenius
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009294:Narcotics / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000242:Cyclic AMP