title: Endogenous tetrapeptide from neuroblastoma and new-born pig brain inhibits neuroblastoma cell growth in vitro.
abstract: Neuroblastoma, the most frequent malignant tumour in neonates and young children, has an unusual clinical behaviour, age being the most important single factor. This could indicate that some growth-regulating mechanism in lost, or changed, during the first years of life. In search for possible growth-modifying factors, we identified a tetrapeptide, acetyl-Asp-Gln-Tyr-GlyNH2, in extracts of neuroblastoma tissue, in neuroblastoma cell cultures and in new-born pig brain tissue. The purified native peptide as well as a synthetic peptide with the same structure decreases in vitro growth of neuroblastoma cells at a restricted, low (picomolar) range. The structure of the peptide as well as its dose-response characteristics, indicates that it belongs to a group of endogenous growth-modifying oligopeptides that previously have been isolated from other organs and tissues. A possible role for the new peptide in clinical medicine is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, National Hospital (Rikshospitalet), NO-0027 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Paal H H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lindenskov
authors.forename: Jan Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: Karl L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Reichelt
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elgjo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003911:Dextrans; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D009842:Oligopeptides; C025614:sephadex