title: Expression of mRNAs for PACAP and its receptor in human neuroblastomas and their relationship to catecholamine synthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a member of the secretin/glucagon/vasoactive intestinal peptide family, induces the expression of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes in adrenal medullary cells. In addition, PACAP and its receptor have been detected in human neuroblastoma tissues and cell lines, though it is not yet known whether PACAP enhances the expression of genes encoding catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes. To address this question, we analyzed PACAP, PACAP receptor and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNAs in neuroblastomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of mRNA for PACAP and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), as well as their receptors and the mRNA for TH were measured by RT-PCR or real-time PCR analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VPAC1R mRNA was detected in all of 16 tissues and 3 cell lines that were examined, while VPAC2R mRNA was detected in 5 of 16 (31%) tissue and 2 of 3 cell lines. PAC1R mRNA was detected in 6 out of 16 (38%) tissues and none of 3 cell lines. mRNA expression of PACAP and TH were detected in many tissues (10/16 and 16/16, respectively). However, neither in tissues nor cell lines did PACAP mRNA expression correlate with TH mRNA expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that PACAP is not involved in the regulation of expression of TH in neuroblastomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. k-isobe@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Sumiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nissato
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nanmoku
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takekoshi
authors.forename: Yukichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawakami
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000235:genetics*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000235:genetics; D051238:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C495401:ADCYAP1 protein, human; C495503:ADCYAP1R1 protein, human; D002395:Catecholamines; D017931:DNA Primers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D051238:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase