title: Calcitonin gene-related peptide enhances apoptosis of thymocytes.
abstract: The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide, on the apoptosis of murine thymocytes was investigated. CGRP enhanced apoptosis of thymocytes beyond the spontaneous level at concentrations of 10(-11) M or higher, and the effect attained a plateau at 10(-9) M, mainly by stimulating cAMP formation. Implication of cAMP-independent mechanism was also suggested in the CGRP-induced apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CGRP caused apoptosis preferentially in CD4+8+ thymocytes. In addition, RNA and protein synthesis was required for apoptosis induced by CGRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakuta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008916:Miotics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D008916:Miotics; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C058636:calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37); D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide