title: Effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone-related peptide on stem cell factor expression in cultured rat Sertoli cells.
abstract: The growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) gene produces a precursor molecule that contains GHRH and a carboxyl-terminal peptide that we have named GHRH-related peptide (GHRH-RP). This peptide, like GHRH, stimulates the expression of stem cell factor (SCF), an important reproductive and hematopoietic cytokine, in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, using primary cultures of rat Sertoli cells, we compared the time course of action and the level of SCF stimulation seen following treatment with GHRH-RP and GHRH. Additionally, we investigated the activity of a truncated peptide, p75-92NH2, whose sequence is contained within GHRH-RP. All three of these peptides were shown to stimulate the steady-state levels of SCF mRNA to a comparable degree. However, the time course of action for GHRH-RP differed markedly from that of GHRH. GHRH-RP and p75-92NH2, similar to GHRH, induce SCF expression, at least in part, via the activation of the protein kinase A/cyclic adenosine monophosphate intracellular signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA. opescovi@iupui.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lazzaro
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rothrock
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Pescovitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D007700:Kinetics; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D008297:Male; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; C099166:growth hormone releasing hormone-related peptide; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases