Vasoactive intestinal contractor, a novel peptide, shares a common receptor with endothelin-1 and stimulates Ca 2+ mobilization and DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells

Abstract

Vasoactive intestinal contractor peptide (VIC), a novel member of the endothelin family, stimulated a rapid increase in the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration in fura-2-loaded Swiss 3T3 cells. Sequential addition of VIC and endothelin-1 (ET 1) demonstrated the induction of both homologous and heterologous desensitization. VIC was as potent as ET 1 in displacing the binding of 125I-ET 1 and in stimulating mitogenesis in Swiss 3T3 cells. These findings suggest that VIC and ET 1 share a common receptor in Swiss 3T3 cells.