title: Expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and the PACAP-selective receptor in cultured rat astrocytes, human brain tumors, and in response to acute intracranial injury.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a bioactive peptide with diverse activities in the nervous system. In addition to its more classic role as a neurotransmitter, PACAP functions as a neurotrophic factor. PACAP exerts these activities by binding to PACAP-selective (PAC1) or nonselective (VPAC1, VPAC2) receptors (-R). Glial cells also exhibit PACAP binding, which is associated with the increased proliferation of astrocytes. The present report demonstrates a distinct spatiotemporal regulation of PACAP, PAC1-R, VPAC1-R, and VPAC2-R expression in primary cultured rat astrocytes. To determine the role of PACAP and PAC1-R expression on glial proliferation, two in vivo models were examined--human brain tumors of glial origin and the reactive gliosis induced by a penetrating stab wound to the mature rat brain. Relative to normal human brain, PAC1-R expression is significantly upregulated in glioma, particularly oligodendrogliomas. While similar polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis does not detect PACAP expression, in situ hybridization studies reveal PACAP expression in a limited number of cells within the tumor. In sharp contrast, neither PACAP nor PAC1-R expression are upregulated consequent to injury. These results suggest a distinct role for PACAP and PAC1-R in glioma development and nervous system response to injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405, USA. djaworsk@zoo.uvm.edu
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jaworski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000378:metabolism; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051239:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II; D051238:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C495401:ADCYAP1 protein, human; C495503:ADCYAP1R1 protein, human; C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; C495505:Adcyap1r1 protein, rat; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone; D051239:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II; D051238:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I; C495506:VIPR1 protein, human; C495509:VIPR2 protein, human; C495508:Vipr1 protein, rat; C495511:Vipr2 protein, rat