title: The surging role of Chromogranin A in cardiovascular homeostasis.
abstract: Together with Chromogranin B and Secretogranins, Chromogranin A (CGA) is stored in secretory (chromaffin) granules of the diffuse neuroendocrine system and released with noradrenalin and adrenalin. Co-stored within the granule together with neuropeptideY, cardiac natriuretic peptide hormones, several prohormones and their proteolytic enzymes, CGA is a multifunctional protein and a major marker of the sympatho-adrenal neuroendocrine activity. Due to its partial processing to several biologically active peptides, CGA appears an important pro-hormone implicated in relevant modulatory actions on endocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune systems through both direct and indirect sympatho-adrenergic interactions. As a part of this scenario, we here illustrate the emerging role exerted by the full-length CGA and its three derived fragments, i.e., Vasostatin 1, catestatin and serpinin, in the control of circulatory homeostasis with particular emphasis on their cardio-vascular actions under both physiological and physio-pathological conditions. The Vasostatin 1- and catestatin-induced cardiodepressive influences are achieved through anti-beta-adrenergic-NO-cGMP signaling, while serpinin acts like beta1-adrenergic agonist through AD-cAMP-independent NO signaling. On the whole, these actions contribute to widen our knowledge regarding the sympatho-chromaffin control of the cardiovascular system and its highly integrated "whip-brake" networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tota
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Angelone
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cerra
keywords: Catestatin; Chromogranin A; Serpinin; Vasostatin 1; adreno-sympathetic control; cardioprotection; endothelial signaling; vasoactive peptides