Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide Binding Research Articles

Characterization of calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) receptors in guinea pig lung.

Receptors for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the lung membranes of guinea pig were characterized by using a millititer plate precoated with polyethylenimine. Specific binding of 125I-CGRP was time-dependent, rapid, and reversible, and the binding increased linearly with increasing concentrations of membrane protein. Scatchard analysis revealed two classes of CGRP binding sites: high affinity sites with a KD value of 7.17 x 10(-11) M and a Bmax of 364 fmol/mg protein and low affinity sites with a KD value of 1.7 x 10(-8) M and a Bmax of 39594 fmol/mg protein. Furthermore, the specific binding of 125I-CGRP was dissociated in the presence of GTP or Gpp(NH)p, suggesting that CGRP receptors in guinea pig lung membranes were coupled to the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. Scatchard analysis of CGRP binding in the presence of GTP revealed selective inhibition of the binding to high affinity binding sites. Unlabeled CGRP displaced the binding of 125I-CGRP to guinea pig lung membranes with an IC50 value of 3.1 x 10(-10) M. In contrast, salmon calcitonin and human calcitonin displaced the binding at 600-fold higher concentrations. We suggest that both low and high affinity binding sites for CGRP exist in the lung membranes of the guinea pig, and the high affinity binding sites for CGRP may be coupled to GTP binding regulatory protein.

Characterization of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) Receptors in Guinea Pig Lung

Receptors tor calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the lung membranes of guinea pig were characterized by using a millititer plate precoated with polyethylenimine. Specific binding of 125I-CGRP was time-dependent, rapid, and reversible, and the binding increased linearly with increasing concentrations of membrane protein. Scatchard analysis revealed two classes of CGRP binding sites: high affinity sites with a KD value of 7.17×10-11 M and a Bmax of 364 fmol/mg protein and low affinity sites with a KD value of 1.7χ10-8 M and a Bmax of 39594 fmol/mg protein. Furthermore, the specific binding of 125I-CGRP was dissociated in the presence of GTP or Gpp(NH)p, suggesting that CGRP receptors in guinea pig lung membranes were coupled to the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. Scatchard analysis of CGRP binding in the presence of GTP revealed selective inhibition of the binding to high affinity binding sites. Unlabeled CGRP displaced the binding of 125I-CGRP to guinea pig lung membranes with an IC50 value of 3.1 χ 10-10 M. In contrast, salmon calcitonin and human calcitonin displaced the binding at 600-fold higher concentrations. We suggest that both low and high affinity binding sites for CGRP exist in the lung membranes of the guinea pig, and the high affinity binding sites for CGRP may be coupled to GTP binding regulatory protein.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulates adenylate cyclase activation via a guanine nucleotide-dependent process in rat liver plasma membranes.

To evaluate the functional relationship between the liver calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, we investigated the effects of nucleotides not only on adenylate cyclase activation by CGRP, but also on 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding to rat liver plasma membranes. In the presence of GTP, rat CGRP stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent manner in rat liver plasma membranes, and this effect was reduced in the absence of GTP. Salmon calcitonin also enhanced adenylate cyclase activation in the presence of GTP, but only in higher concentrations. On the other hand, guanine nucleotides not only decreased 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding to rat liver plasma membranes, but also accelerated the dissociation of label binding, and the removal of Mg2+ from incubation medium attenuated this inhibitory action of GTP on 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding to membranes. Scatchard analysis of the data revealed that the reduction of 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding by GTP was due to the decrease in binding affinity without a significant change in binding capacity. These findings lead us to conclude that binding of CGRP to its receptors activates adenylate cyclase in rat liver plasma membranes via a guanine nucleotide-dependent process, suggesting the involvement of guanine nucleotide-binding stimulatory protein in the action of CGRP.

Autoradiographic localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) binding sites in human and guinea pig lung.

125I-Human calcitonin gene-related peptide (hCGRP) binding sites were localized in human and guinea pig lungs by an autoradiographic method. Scatchard analysis of saturation experiments from slide-mounted sections of guinea pig lung displayed specific 125I-hCGRP binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.72 +/- 0.05 nM (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 3) and a maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) of 133.4 +/- 5.6 fmol/mg protein. In both human and guinea pig lung, autoradiography revealed that CGRP binding sites were widely distributed, with particularly dense labeling over bronchial and pulmonary blood vessels of all sizes and alveolar walls. Airway smooth muscle and epithelium of large airways was sparsely labeled but no labeling was found over submucosal glands. This localization corresponds well to the reported pattern of CGRP-like immunoreactive innervation. The findings of localization of CGRP binding sites on bronchial and pulmonary blood vessels indicate that CGRP may be important in the regulation of airway and pulmonary blood flow.

Inhibition of mitogen-stimulated T lymphocyte proliferation by calcitonin gene-related peptide

The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on mouse lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by mitogens was studied. CGRP (10 −10–10 −7 M) dose-dependently inhibited the proliferative response of mouse lymph node cells and spleen cells stimulated by T cell mitogens concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemag-glutinin (PHA), whereas a B cell mitogen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not inhibit this response. The maximal inhibition by this peptide was 50% to 80% at 10 −8 and 10 −7 M. The addition of 10 −8 and 10 −7 M CGRP to lymph node cell cultures 24 hr after stimulation with Con A or PHA also had a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferative response. Furthermore, in the same concentration range (10 −10–10 −7 M) CGRP increased intracellular cyclic AMP concentration in nylon wool nonadherent cells, but not in nylon wool adherent cells. CGRP had no significant effect on intracellular cyclic GMP concentration. In addition, specific binding of CGRP was observed in mouse spleen cells. Our present study suggests that CGRP inhibits the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to the mitogens by interacting with cell receptors coupled with adenylate cyclase. CGRP may be implicated in the regulation of T cell function.

The localization of sensory nerve fibers and receptor binding sites for sensory neuropeptides in canine mesenteric lymph nodes

Previous work has established that the central nervous system can modulate the immune response. Direct routes through which this regulation may occur are the sympathetic and sensory innervation of lymphoid organs. We investigated the innervation of canine mesenteric lymph nodes using immunohistochemistry and the expression of binding sites for sensory neuropeptides using quantitative receptor autoradiography. The sympathetic innervation of lymph nodes was examined by immunohistochemical methods using an antiserum directed against tyrosine hydroxylase (TOH), the rate limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. TOH-containing fibers were associated with 90% of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, arterioles and venules) in the hilus, medullary and internodular regions of lymph nodes and in trabeculae with no obvious relationship to blood vessels. The sensory innervation of lymph nodes was investigated using antisera directed against the putative sensory neurotransmitters calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP). CGRP- and SP-containing fibers were detected in the hilus, the medullary region, and the internodular region of lymph nodes usually in association with arterioles and venules. About 50% of the arterioles and venules exhibited a CGRP innervation and a smaller fraction (5–10%) were innervated by SP-containing fibers. Few if any TOH, CGRP, and SP nerve fibers were detected in the germinal centers of lymph nodes. Using quantitative receptor autoradiography we studied the distribution of receptor binding sites for the sensory neuropeptides CGRP, SP, substance K (SK), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), and bombesin. Specific CGRP binding sites were expressed throughout lymph nodes by trabeculae, arterioles, venules and 25% of the germinal centers. SP receptor binding sites were localized to arterioles and venules in the T cell regions and 25–30% of the germinal centers. VIP binding sites were localized to the internodular and T cell regions, to medullary cords, and to 10–20% of germinal centers. SK, SOM, and bombesin binding sites were not detected in the lymph nodes, although receptor binding sites for these peptides were detected with high specific/nonspecific binding ratios in other canine peripheral tissues. Taken together with previous results these findings suggest that the sympathetic and sensory innervation of mesenteric lymph nodes appears to be involved with the regulation of their blood and lymph flow. The neuropeptide receptor binding sites in lymph node germinal centers may be expressed by lymphocytes upon activation by antigens. This suggests that the sensory innervation at the site of injury or infection may play a role in the regulation of the immune response.

Evidence for a new subclass of calcitonin/ calcitonin gene-related peptide binding site in rat brain

Binding sites for calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide are widely distributed in the central nervous system. In this study, binding of [ 125I]-alpha-rat calcitonin gene-related peptide and [ 125I]-salmon calcitonin in adjacent sections of rat brain revealed clearly distinct patterns of binding in most regions although in some restricted areas such as parts of the ventral striatum, including the nucleus accumbens, there was some overlap in the patterns of binding. In the primary olfactory cortex, which bound only calcitonin gene-related peptide, salmon calcitonin was very weak in inhibiting the binding of calcitonin gene-related peptide. In the nucleus accumbens, high affinity binding of calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide at their homologous receptors was observed, with affinity constants for calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide of 1.4 × 10 9 M −1 and 1.2 × 10 9 M −1 respectively. Cross competition studies in this nucleus demonstrated that salmon calcitonin was able to compete for [ 125I]-rat calcitonin gene-related peptide labelled sites with high affinity, with an affinity constant of 0.8 × 10 9 M −1. However, rat calcitonin gene-related peptide was less potent in inhibiting the binding of [ 125I]-salmon calcitonin labelled sites with only 28% inhibition at 10 −6M. Further characterization of the calcitonin sensitive calcitonin gene-related peptide labelled sites demonstrated that a range of calcitonin analogs inhibited the binding of [ 125I]-rat calcitonin gene-related peptide with the same order of potency as the analogs competed for [ 125I]-salmon calcitonin labelled sites. Digital substraction mapping revealed calcitonin-sensitive calcitonin gene-related peptide binding sites over parts of the ventral striatum, including mid-caudal nucleus accumbens and fundus striati; over the lateral border of the lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; part of the central amygdaloid nucleus; the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and area postrema and over the wings of the dorsal raphe. These results demonstrate the existence of a new subtype of calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide binding site, which has high affinity for the two otherwise biochemically distinct peptides.

Characterization of picomolar affinity binding sites for [125I]-human calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat brain and heart.

We have characterized picomolar affinity binding sites for human calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in rat brain and heart (atria and ventricle) membranes. By saturation analysis, apparent dissociation constant (KD) values of high affinity sites for [125I]-human CGRP are 9 approximately 15 pM (brain), 34 pM (ventricle) and 85 pM (atria). Low affinity sites with KD values of about 50 nM are found in rat brain and ventricle, but not in atria. Human and rat CGRP potently inhibited [125I]-human CGRP binding to these high affinity sites with apparent inhibition constant (Ki) values comparable to their KD values. Salmon calcitonin marginally inhibited these binding with Ki values between 0.1 microM and 1 microM. Extremely potent cardiovascular and gastrointestinal actions of CGRP might be mediated through CGRP binding sites with picomolar affinity which are similar to those we characterized in this study.

P-272 - Effects of some cations and nucleotides on the high affinity binding of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to the membrane fraction of rat cerebellum

P-272 - Effects of some cations and nucleotides on the high affinity binding of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to the membrane fraction of rat cerebellum

Localization of binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat brain by in vitro autoradiography

The distribution of binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in rat brain were studied using in vitro autoradiography. In a radioreceptor assay using [ 125I]human calcitonin gene-related peptide as the radioligand, with cerebellar cortical membranes, rat calcitonin gene-related peptide had a binding affinity constant of1.16 ± 0.23 × 10 10 M −1 and a site concentration of43.4 ± 3.4 fmol mg protein. In this system, human calcitonin gene-related peptide had a binding affinity constant of3.9 ± 0.7 × 10 9 M −1 whereas salmon calcitonin was very weak with a binding affinity constant of only6.8 ± 4.0 × 10 5 M −1. CGRP binding localized by in vitro autoradiography, using [ 125I]rat calcitonin gene-related peptide. had a characteristic distinct distribution in the rat brain. There were high concentrations of binding found over the accumbens nucleus, the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, ventral caudate putamen, median eminence, the arcuate nucleus, lateral amygdaloid nucleus and lateral mammillary nucleus, the superior and inferior colliculi, pontine nuclei, molecular and Purkinje cell layers of the cerebellar cortex. the nucleus of the solitary tract, the inferior olivary nuclei, hypoglossal complex and the vestibular and cochlear nuclei. The distribution of these binding sites suggests multiple roles for CGRP in the central nervous system including auditory, visual, gustatory and somatosensory processing, and in neuroendocrine control.

Specific receptor and cardiovascular effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Specific binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were demonstrated in the rat heart and spleen. Autoradiography revealed rat [125I]iodo CGRP binding associated with the intima and media of the aorta, the coronary arteries and the heart valves, and the red pulp of the spleen. Half-maximal inhibition of rat [125I]iodo-CGRP binding to membranes of the rat atria and the spleen was obtained with, respectively, 5 and 0.35 nM unlabeled rat CGRP; these values correspond to EC50 values of 3 and 0.14 nM for activation of adenylate cyclase by CGRP. In the isolated, spontaneously beating right atrium, the EC50 values of stimulation of the force and rate of contraction by rat CGRP were 120 and 70 nM, respectively. Rat CGRP caused relaxation of splenic strips, precontracted with noradrenaline; the EC50 was 50 nM. The beta-adrenergic blocking agent metoprolol, while obliterating the increase in the force and rate of contraction evoked by noradrenaline in the right atrium, did not significantly change the action of CGRP. Similarly, preserved action of CGRP in the presence of indomethacin as well as mepyramine and cimetidine argues against a role of prostaglandins or histamine in the functional responses of CGRP. Much like CGRP, capsaicin, which releases mediators from sensory neurons, caused stimulation of the force and rate of contraction of the isolated right rat atrium. After tachyphylaxis to CGRP, the response to noradrenaline was intact, while the positive chronotropic and inotropic effects of capsaicin were suppressed. The results indicate that the cardiac effects of capsaicin may be due to the release of endogenous CGRP through a local mode of action.

Binding of calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide to calvarial cells and renal cortical membranes.

Binding of calcitonin (CT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to rat hemicalvariae and renal membranes was examined in an effort to determine whether CT and CGRP interact with the same bone cell binding site, and to see whether the binding pattern was similar for bone and renal cortex. Specific binding of 125I-salmon CT to rat calvariae was inhibited by unlabeled salmon, porcine, or human CT, but not by rat CGRP. Binding of 125I-rat CGRP to calvariae was inhibited by CGRP and high doses of salmon CT, but not by human or porcine CT. Binding of 125I-salmon CT to renal membranes was inhibited by unlabeled salmon CT or rat CGRP, but no specific binding of 125I-rat CGRP could be detected. The results suggest that separate bone cell receptors for CT and CGRP exist and that CGRP can interact with renal receptors for CT.

Distinct binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide and salmon calcitonin in rat central nervous system

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) binding sites have been identified in homogenates from the rat brain and spinal cord. Autoradiography with [ 125I]rat CGRP (rCGRP) revealed high grain density over the lateral hypothalamus, vestibular nuclei, colliculi, medial geniculate body, corpus mamillare and the molecular layer of the cerebellum which lacked binding sites for [ 125I]salmon calcitonin (sCT). In contrast, no rCGRP labeling was seen over the anterior and dorsomedial hypothalamus which showed high sCT binding. The different regional distribution of rCGRP and sCT binding sites indicates that the structurally related peptides interact with separate receptors. The overlap between the localization of CGRP binding sites and endogenous CGRP in many regions of the central nervous system suggests that CGRP exerts unique physiological functions in the central nervous system.

Binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide in distinct areas of rat brain

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) binding sites were localized in rat brain and spinal cord by an in vitro labeling light microscopic technique using [ 125I]rCGRP as radioligand. Specific rCGRP binding with a dissociation constant ( K d) of 0.53 nM to membrane preparations from rat brain cortex was characterized. The presence and the selective distribution of specific high affinity CGRP binding sites in the central nervous system suggest a role for this recently predicted peptide as a neurotransmitter.