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Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin A and neurokinin A (4–10) on the mitogenic response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

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Summary

(1)We have studied the ability of some regulatory peptides to induce a mitogenic (incorporation of tritiated thymidine) response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to modify the response produced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), a well known PBMC mitogen. (2) Human calcitonin gene-related peptide (hCGRP), human or salmon calcitonin (hCT, sCT), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin (4–10) (up to 1 μM for each peptide) did not produce per se any significant PBMC stimulation. (3) hCGRP (0.1 nM −1 μM) produced a concentration dependent enhancement of the response to a submaximal concentration of PHA (1 μg/ml). On the other hand, hCGRP decreased the mitogenic response to a maximal concentration of PHA (25 μg/ml). (4) Neither hCT nor sCT (0.1 nM−1 μM) had a significant influence on the response to PHA (1–25 μg/ml). (5) Both NKA and NKA (4–10) produced a concentration-dependent (1 fM −10 pM) enhancement of the response to 1 μg/ml PHA, while these compounds had no effect on the response to 25 μg/ml PHA. (6) These findings suggest a potent modulatory action of CGRP and NKA, two peptides present in sensory and other nerves, on immune function which is possibly mediated via C2 receptors for CGRP and NK-2 tachykinin receptors, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, Gastroenterology Unit, Italy

    Alessandro Casini & Calogero Surrenti

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence, Italy

    Pierangelo Geppetti

  3. Pharmacology Department, Research Laboratory, A. Menarini Pharmaceuticals, Florence, Italy

    Carlo Alberto Maggi

Authors
  1. Alessandro Casini
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  2. Pierangelo Geppetti
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  3. Carlo Alberto Maggi
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  4. Calogero Surrenti
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Casini, A., Geppetti, P., Maggi, C.A. et al. Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin A and neurokinin A (4–10) on the mitogenic response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 339, 354–358 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00173591

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