title: Differential expression of neurokinin B and hemokinin-1 in human immune cells.
abstract: The tachykinins are a group of related peptides that are mainly synthesized in the central and peripheral nervous system, but are also present in peripheral non-neuronal cells. In humans, substance P (SP) is the most extensively studied tachykinin and is present, along with the NK-1 receptor, in several inflammatory and immune cells. The release of SP under the appropriate stimulus may act as a paracrine or autocrine signal that may help to initiate and/or propagate inflammation. In the present study we have determined the expression pattern of NKB and HK-1 mRNA in human lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils. In addition, we have detected for the first time the presence of NKB protein in these cellular types. These findings reinforce the suggestion that tachykinins play a central role in the pathophysiology of the inflammatory process.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38271 La Laguna, Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Tilman E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Klassert
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: M Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Candenas
authors.forename: María Concepción
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015320:Tachykinins; C507968:hemokinin-1; C100156:leukoagglutinins, plants; D015287:Neurokinin B