Skip to main content

PACAP as a Potential Biomarker: Alterations of PACAP Levels in Human Physiological and Pathological Conditions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide — PACAP

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Neurotoxicity ((Current Topics Neurotoxicity,volume 11))

Abstract

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide with wide distribution and diverse effects. Its presence has not only been revealed in the nervous system and peripheral organs, but also in the blood and other biological fluids. Although PACAP is rapidly cleaved in the blood by peptidases, increasing number of evidence has been published in the last 10 years that show alterations of PACAP levels in different pathological conditions. The present review summarizes results obtained in the human blood and other fluids under normal, physiological and pathological conditions with clinical relevance, such as pregnancy and delivery, as well as in several diseases. Most clinical data have been obtained so far in neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, migraine, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral hemorrhage, but some other diseases have also been shown to be accompanied by alterations of PACAP levels. These results indicate that the altered levels may have diagnostic and/or prognostic values in several diseases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Edvinsson L, Ekman R, Goadsby PJ. Measurement of vasoactive neuropeptides in biological materials: problems and pitfalls from 30 years of experience and novel future approaches. Cephalalgia. 2010;30:761–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Miyata A, Arimura A, Dahl RR, Minamino N, Uehara A, Jiang L, et al. Isolation of a novel 38 residue-hypothalamic polypeptide which stimulates adenylate cyclase in pituitary cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1989;164:567–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Palkovits M, Somogyvari-Vigh A, Arimura A. Concentrations of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in human brain nuclei. Brain Res. 1995;699:116–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Warren JB, Cockcroft JR, Larkin SW, Kajekar R, Macrae A, Ghatei MA, et al. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide is a potent vasodilator in humans. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1992;20:83–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Freson K, Hashimoto H, Thys C, Wittevrongel C, Danloy S, Morita Y, et al. The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide is a physiological inhibitor of platelet activation. J Clin Invest. 2004;113:905–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Li M, Maderdrut JL, Lertora JJ, Batuman V. Intravenous infusion of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in a patient with multiple myeloma and myeloma kidney: a case study. Peptides. 2007;28:1891–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hansen JM, Fahrenkrug J, Petersen J, Wienecke T, Olsen KS, Ashina M. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the circulation after sumatriptan. Scand J Pain. 2013;4:211–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Birk S, Sitarz JT, Petersen KA, Oturai PS, Kruuse C, Fahrenkrug J, et al. The effect of intravenous PACAP38 on cerebral hemodynamics in healthy volunteers. Regul Pept. 2007;140:185–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Doberer D, Gschwandtner M, Mosgoeller W, Bieglmayer C, Heinzl H, Petkov V. Pulmonary and systemic effects of inhaled PACAP38 in healthy male subjects. Eur J Clin Invest. 2007;37:665–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Reglodi D, Gyarmati J, Ertl T, Borzsei R, Bodis J, Tamas A, et al. Alterations of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-like immunoreactivity in the human plasma during pregnancy and after birth. J Endocrinol Invest. 2010;33:443–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kanasaki H, Purwana IN, Oride A, Mijiddorj T, Sukhbaatar U, Miyazaki K. Circulating kisspeptin and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) do not correlate with gonadotropin serum levels. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2013;29:583–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Winters SJ, King JC, Brees CK, Moore Jr JP. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in fetal cord blood. Early Hum Dev. 2014;90:451–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Amin FM, Hougaard A, Schytz HW, Asghar MS, Lundholm E, Parvaiz AI, et al. Investigation of the pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine attacks induced by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38. Brain. 2014;137:779–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ma BQ, Zhang M, Ba L. Plasma pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide concentrations and mortality after acute spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage. Clin Chim Acta. 2015;439:102–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Jiang L, Wang WH, Dong XQ, Yu WH, Du Q, Yang DB, et al. The change of plasma pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide levels after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Acta Neurol Scand. 2016;197:35–42.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Han P, Liang W, Baxter LC, Yin J, Tang Z, Beach TG, et al. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide is reduced in Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2014;82:1724–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Han P, Tang Z, Yin J, Maalouf M, Beach TG, Reiman EM, et al. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide protects against β-amyloid toxicity. Neurobiol Aging. 2014;35:2064–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Han P, Caselli RJ, Baxter L, Serrano G, Yin J, Beach TG, et al. Association of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide with cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer disease. JAMA Neurol. 2015;72:333–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Nelson KB, Grether JK, Croen LA, Dambrosia JM, Dickens BF, Jelliffe LL, et al. Neuropeptides and neurotrophins in neonatal blood of children with autism or mental retardation. Ann Neurol. 2001;49:597–606.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Tuka B, Helyes Z, Markovics A, Bagoly T, Szolcsanyi J, et al. Alterations in PACAP38-like immunoreactivity in the plasma during ictal and interictal periods of migraine patients. Cephalalgia. 2013;33:1085–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Zagami AS, Edvinsson L, Goadsby PJ. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and migraine. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2014;1:1036–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Baranowska-Bik A, Kochanowski J, Uchman D, Wolinska-Witort E, Kalisz M, Martynska L, et al. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in humans with multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 2013;263:159–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ressler KJ, Mercer KB, Bradley B, Jovanovic T, Mahan A, Kerley K, et al. Post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with PACAP and the PAC1 receptor. Nature. 2011;470:492–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Bukovics P, Czeiter E, Amrein K, Kovacs N, Pal J, Tamas A, et al. Changes of PACAP level in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Peptides. 2014;60:18–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Elefsiniotis IS, Ketikoglou I, Kafiri G, Pantazis KD, Moulakakis A, Mavrogiannis C. Plasma pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) levels in chronic hepatitis B patients under lamivudine treatment. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2003;15:1209–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Eneman B, Freson K, van den Heuvel L, van Hoyweghen E, Collard L, Vande Walle J, et al. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide deficiency associated with increased platelet count and aggregability in nephrotic syndrome. J Thromb Haemost. 2015;13:755–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Koppan M, Varnagy A, Reglodi D, Brubel R, Nemeth J, Tamas A, et al. Correlation between oocyte number and follicular fluid concentration of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in women after superovulation treatment. J Mol Neurosci. 2012;48:617–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Dow RC, Bennie J, Fink G. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide-38 (PACAP)-38 is released into hypophysial portal blood in the normal male and female rat. J Endocrinol. 1994;142:R1–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Brubel R, Reglodi D, Jambor E, Koppan M, Varnagy A, Biro Z, et al. Investigation of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide in human gynecological and other biological fluids by using MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom. 2011;46:189–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Borzsei R, Mark L, Tamas A, Bagoly T, Bay C, Csanaky K, et al. Presence of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-38 in human plasma and milk. Eur J Endocrinol. 2009;160:561–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wu ZL, Ciallella JR, Flood DG, O'Kane TM, Bozyczko-Coyne D, Savage MJ. Comparative analysis of cortical gene expression in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2006;27:377–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. van Landeghem FK, Weiss T, Oehmichen M, von Deimling A. Cellular localization of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) following traumatic brain injury in humans. Acta Neuropathol. 2007;113:683–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kato H, Ito A, Kawanokuchi J, Jin S, Mizuno T, Ojika K, et al. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by suppressing the functions of antigen presenting cells. Mult Scler. 2004;10:651–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tan YV, Abad C, Wang Y, Lopez R, Waschek JA. VPAC2 (vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor type 2) receptor deficient mice develop exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with increased Th1/Th17 and reduced Th2/Treg responses. Brain Behav Immun. 2015;44:167–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Tan YV, Waschek JA. Targeting VIP and PACAP receptor signalling: new therapeutic strategies in multiple sclerosis. ASN Neuro. 2011;3(4):e00065.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Vecsei L, Tuka B, Tajti J. Role of PACAP in migraine headaches. Brain. 2014;137:650–1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Schytz HW, Birk S, Wienecke T, Kruuse C, Olesen J, Ashina M. PACAP38 induces migraine-like attacks in patients with migraine without aura. Brain. 2009;132:16–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Tuka B, Helyes Z, Markovics A, Bagoly T, Nemeth J, Mark L, et al. Peripheral and central alterations of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-like immunoreactivity in the rat in response to activation of the trigeminovascular system. Peptides. 2012;33:307–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Markovics A, Kormos V, Gaszner B, Lashgarara A, Szoke E, Sandor K, et al. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide plays a key role in nitroglycerol-induced trigeminovascular activation in mice. Neurobiol Dis. 2012;45:633–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Tajti J, Tuka B, Botz B, Helyes Z, Vecsei L. Role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in nociception and migraine. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2015;14:540–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Tajti J, Szok D, Majlath Z, Tuka B, Csati A, Vecsei L. Migraine and neuropeptides. Neuropeptides. 2015;52:19–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Somogyvari-Vigh A, Reglodi D. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide: a potential neuroprotective peptide. Curr Pharm Des. 2004;10:2861–89. Review.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Nemeth J, Reglodi D, Pozsgai G, Szabo A, Elekes K, Pinter E, et al. Effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-38 on sensory neuropeptide release and neurogenic inflammation in rats and mice. Neuroscience. 2006;143:223–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Steinhoff M, McGregor GP, Radleff-Schlimme A, Steinhoff A, Jarry H, Schmidt WE. Identification of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and PACAP type 1 receptor in human skin: expression of PACAP38 is increased in patients with psoriasis. Regul Pept. 1999;80:49–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Szanto Z, Sarszegi Z, Reglodi D, Nemeth J, Szabadfi K, Kiss P, et al. PACAP immunoreactivity in human malignant tumor samples and cardiac diseases. J Mol Neurosci. 2012;48:667–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Tamas A, Javorhazy A, Reglodi D, Sarlos DP, Banyai D, Semjen D, et al. Examination of PACAP-like immunoreactivity in urogenital tumor samples. J Mol Neurosci. 2015;2015:PMID:26454744.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Wojtkiewicz J, Jana B, Kozłowska A, Crayton R, Majewski M, Zalecki M, et al. Innervation pattern of polycystic ovaries in the women. J Chem Neuroanat. 2014;6162:147–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Chan MK, Gottschalk MG, Haenisch F, Tomasik J, Ruland T, Rahmoune H, et al. Applications of blood-based protein biomarker strategies in the study of psychiatric disorders. Prog Neurobiol. 2014;122:45–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Tams JW, Johnsen AH, Fahrenkrug J. Identification of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide1-38-binding factor in human plasma, as ceruloplasmin. Biochem J. 1999;341:271–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Bourgault S, Vaudry D, Botia B, Couvineau A, Laburthe M, Vaudry H, et al. Novel stable PACAP analogs with potent activity towards the PAC1 receptor. Peptides. 2008;29:919–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the following grants: OTKA K104984, 115874, 119759, Arimura Foundation, TAMOP 4.2.4.A/2-11-1-2012-0001 “National Excellence Program”, New National Excellence Program (UNKP), Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, MTA-PTE “Lendulet” Program, PTE AOK KA Research Grant, and the National Brain Research Programmes A and B (KTIA_NAP_13-2014-0022 and KTIA_13_NAP-A-III/5, Research site ID number: 888819, Hungary). This work is dedicated to the 650th anniversary of the University of Pecs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dora Reglodi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Reglodi, D., Helyes, Z., Nemeth, J., Vass, R.A., Tamas, A. (2016). PACAP as a Potential Biomarker: Alterations of PACAP Levels in Human Physiological and Pathological Conditions. In: Reglodi, D., Tamas, A. (eds) Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide — PACAP. Current Topics in Neurotoxicity, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-35135-3_48

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics