title: WE-14, a chromogranin a-derived neuropeptide.
abstract: The neuropeptide WE-14 is derived from the posttranslational processing of chromogranin A (CgA). While CgA is expressed in a preponderance of neuroendocrine cells, WE-14 is generated in a distinct subpopulation of CgA-immunopositive cells, most notably in the adrenal, pituitary, and parathyroid glands. Physiological and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that CgA is cleaved to generate WE-14 in the adrenal chromaffin cell population and in the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells of the oxyntic mucosa. Pathological analyses of neuroendocrine tumors have revealed a heterogeneous pattern of WE-14 immunostaining, with variable concentrations quantified and chromatographically resolved in tissue extracts. Phylogenetic surveys have demonstrated that WE-14 exhibits an ancient lineage, while ontogenetic examination has shown that it is generated at an early stage during fetal development. Putative WE-14 receptor binding sites have been identified in several tissues; however, the physiological role of WE-14 remains enigmatic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and School of Clinical Medicine, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. j.w.curry@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Barkatullah
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norlen
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: McCollum
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: McVicar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: C506150:CHGA protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C074381:chromogranin A-derived peptide, WE-14