title: Adrenomedullin stimulates proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of immature rat thymocytes cultured in vitro.
abstract: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a hypotensive peptide, which derives from the proteolytic cleavage of pro(p)AM, and acts through two subtypes of receptors, named L1-receptor (L1-R) and calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR). CRLR functions as either a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor or a selective AM receptor depending on which member of a family of receptor-activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) is expressed: RAMP1 generates CGRP receptors, while RAMP2 and RAMP3 produce AM receptors. Reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) consistently allowed the detection of pAM and peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (the enzyme converting immature AM to the mature peptide) mRNAs in the thymus cortex of immature (10-day-old) rats. Accordingly, radioimmune assay (RIA) measured low but sizeable AM concentrations in this tissue. RT-PCR also demonstrated the presence of the specific mRNAs of L1-R, CRLR and RAMPs. AM (from 10(-9) to 10(-7)M) increased proliferation index and lowered apoptotic index of cultured immature rat thymocytes, and the effects were annulled by the AM receptor antagonist AM(22-52). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that (1) immature rat thymus cortex expresses AM and the AM receptors L1-R and CRLR/RAMP; and (2) AM, acting via AM(22-52)-sensitive receptors, exerts a potent growth promoting effect on immature rat thymus, by enhancing proliferation and lowering apoptotic death of thymocytes. Taken together, these findings could suggest that AM may play a role in the development of immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Section of Anatomy, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 65, I-35121, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trejter
authors.forename: Ludwik K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Malendowicz
authors.forename: Gastone G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nussdorfer
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D058286:Calcitonin Receptor-Like Protein; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058262:Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 1; D058263:Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2; D058264:Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 3; D058261:Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins; D058265:Receptors, Adrenomedullin; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin / Q000235:genetics; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C545578:CALCRL protein, human; D058286:Calcitonin Receptor-Like Protein; C545580:Calcrl protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C545502:RAMP1 protein, human; C545503:RAMP2 protein, human; C545504:RAMP3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C545508:Ramp1 protein, rat; C545509:Ramp2 protein, rat; C545510:Ramp3 protein, rat; D058262:Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 1; D058263:Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2; D058264:Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 3; D058261:Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins; D058265:Receptors, Adrenomedullin; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D053607:Adrenomedullin