title: Effect of urotensin II on PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells.
abstract: Urotensin II (U-II), initially identified as a cyclic peptide from fish urophysis, acts both as a strong vasoconstrictor and vasodilator in the vasculature via its receptor, G-protein coupled receptor 14. In addition, U-II and its receptor are co-expressed in the adrenal medulla, as well as in human pheochromocytomas, suggesting that this peptide may have some function in chromaffin cells. However, the precise role of U-II in these cells is unknown. In the present study, we initially demonstrate that U-II and its receptors mRNA are co-expressed in the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. Moreover, U-II has not effect on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of catecholamine, in terms of enzyme activity or at the mRNA level. However, U-II does induce an increase in the phosphorylation of TH specifically at Ser31 without affecting phosphorylation at the two other sites (Ser19 and Ser40). U-II also markedly activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and p38, but not Jun N-terminal kinase. Blockade of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor by AG1478 significantly reduces activation of ERK, suggesting that EGF receptor transactivation could act upstream of the ERK pathway in PC12 cells. Furthermore, U-II significantly increases dopamine secretion from PC12 cells. Finally, we show that U-II induced significant DNA synthesis in a ERKs and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent manner. The results obtained indicate that U-II may exert its effects as a neuromodulator in chromaffin cells.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takekoshi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011799:Quinazolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020032:Tyrphostins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014579:Urotensins / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D020032:Tyrphostins; D014579:Urotensins; C473142:Uts2r protein, rat; C101044:RTKI cpd; D004247:DNA; C029677:urotensin II; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D004298:Dopamine