Small cell lung carcinoma cell lines express mRNA for calcitonin and alpha- and beta-calcitonin gene related peptides.
Calcitonin (CT) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) are derived from preprohormones encoded by three mRNAs (CT, alpha-CGRP and beta-CGRP) from two genes (CALC1 and CALC2) on chromosome 11. Among 16 small cell lung cancer cell lines examined by RNase protection assay, 9 (56%) had detectable CT mRNA, 8 (50%) had alpha-CGRP mRNA, and 13 (81%) had beta-CGRP mRNA. At least one CALC1 transcript (CT or alpha-CGRP) was found in 11 (69%) cell lines with three having only CT mRNA, two having only alpha-CGRP mRNA, and six having both. beta-CGRP mRNA was detected in all of these 11 cell lines expressing a CALC1 transcript. Immunoreactive CT was detected by radioimmunoassay in eight of nine SCLC cell lines expressing CT mRNA, and immunoreactive CGRP was detected in 12 of 13 cell lines expressing a CGRP mRNA. The variety of expression of these three peptides in different cell lines of the same cell type should provide a useful system for further study of the control of expression of these peptides.
National Cancer Institute, Navy Medical Oncology Branch, Bethesda, MD 20889.
M J
MJ
Kelley
R H
RH
Snider
K L
KL
Becker
B E
BE
Johnson
D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide