Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01185 (vasopressin)
 23,126 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The presence of 3 different neuropeptide mRNAs with a strict cell-specific expression in vivo was investigated in 13 tumor cell lines from neuroendocrine and in 23 tumor cell lines from non-neuroendocrine origin. Northern blots showed no expression of mRNA for vasopressin (VP) in the 36 tested cell lines. Very low oxytocin (OT) mRNA hybridization signals were detected in the rat pituitary tumor cell line GH4C2 and the rat pancreas tumor cell line RIN5. Both the rat pituitary tumor cell line AtT-20 and the human myeloid leukemia cell line K562, contained proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA. The low incidence of VP, OT and POMC gene expression in the tested tumor cell lines was not influenced by treatments inducing differentiation. In contrast, the cholecystokinin (CCK) gene which is widely present in nervous and endocrine systems was abundantly expressed in the human primitive neuroepithelioma cell line SK-N-MC and its clonal derivative SK-N-MC-IX-C. The results indicate that the expression of neuropeptide genes is very rare in tumor cell lines. The lack of expression in undifferentiated cells agrees with the appearance of expression after day 13 of the embryogenesis when maturation of neurons begins.
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PMID:Survey of neuropeptide gene expression in tumor cell lines. 132 Aug 92

The opioid peptide, beta-endorphin, originates from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) under the influence of corticotropin releasing hormone (CHR). It increases the threshold of pain and has a certain influence on the formation of hypophyseal hormones, especially in stress. It is found that beta-endorphin stimulates the secretion of prolactin, a growth hormone, and vasopressin; it inhibates formation of follicle-stimulating and luteinizating hormones, oxytocin and dopamine, and gonadotropin, a releasing hormone. The process of acetylization decreases its activity. The results of experimental trials revealed that acetylisation in the foetal period was absent. The aim of the study was to define beta-endorphin concentration during normal vaginal labor and Cesarean section. Samples of peripheral blood of patients with spontaneous vaginal labor (n = 15) and of those in whom labor was operatively terminated (Cesarean section) (n = 10), were analysed. Values of this opiate were determined in the umbilical cord of newborn infants, in the amniotic fluid and placental compartment. The obtained results were statistically analysed. In intrapartum beta-endorphins were significantly increased reaching the highest level during expulsion (326 pg/ml); in the placental compartment these values were higher (in retroplacental blood 514 pg/ml) reaching the highest value of 917 pg/ml, p less than 0.01 in the placenta. In Cesarean section beta-endorphin values in the peripheral blood showed no significant differences during spontaneous vaginal labor. However, increased values of this natural opiate were observed six hours after surgery. Beta-endorphin concentrations in the placental compartment and the placenta during normal vaginal labor were significantly higher in comparison with labor by Cesarean section (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[The opioid peptide, beta-endorphin, in spontaneous vaginal delivery and cesarean section]. 180 97

A 44-yr-old man with hypocortisolism was shown to have an undetectable basal plasma ACTH level and absent or subnormal ACTH and beta-lipotropin responses to provocative testing with insulin, vasopressin, and CRH. Endocrine function after glucocorticoid replacement was otherwise normal, thus establishing the diagnosis of isolated ACTH deficiency. This patient's serum was tested immunohistochemically for the presence of an antipituitary antibody by indirect immunofluorescence of rat pituitary tissue. Positive immunostaining was observed in stellate-shaped cells in the anterior and intermediate lobes. Immunopositive cells were shown by immunoelectron microscopy to have ultrastructural characteristics of corticotrophs. Immunoreactivity was concentrated in secretory granules 120-170 nm in diameter. In a double immunolabeling procedure, staining by the patient's serum was shown to colocalize with rabbit antiserum to ACTH, but not with antisera to PRL, GH, beta TSH, or beta LH. Immunoabsorption of the patient's serum with ACTH-(1-24), ACTH-(1-39), gamma MSH, corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide, beta-endorphin, or beta-lipotropin failed to diminish immunolabeling in the pituitary. We conclude that the antipituitary antibody in this patient's serum shows immunohistochemical specificity for a rat corticotroph antigen located in secretory granules that is neither ACTH nor any of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides tested. The autoantigen could be a cell-specific granular factor involved in the posttranslational processing of POMC or secretion of ACTH. We postulate that an autoimmune process may account for this patient's disease, and that his antipituitary antibody could play a pathogenic role by either inhibiting a POMC-processing enzyme or initiating an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity reaction, resulting in the selective destruction of corticotrophs.
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PMID:Isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency associated with an autoantibody to a corticotroph antigen that is not adrenocorticotropin or other proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides. 215 84

It may sometimes be difficult to distinguish Cushing's disease from ectopic ACTH syndrome. A case is described here of a patient with a Cushing's syndrome and diagnostic difficulties. Initial features were consistent with a Cushing's disease (in particular metopirone test was positive). Because of relapse of hypercortisolism after mitotane therapy, total adrenalectomy was performed. Thereafter features occurred that evoked Nelson's syndrome, including high plasma ACTH levels and a pituitary mass syndrome. Pituitary reserve testings by vasopressin or corticotropin-releasing factor were positive, although inconstantly, in that plasma ACTH increased. A lung tumor was discovered about 20 yr after the first clinical signs of hypercortisolism. Its removal led to the discovery of a bronchial carcinoid tumor and was followed by normalization of plasma ACTH levels. An analysis of proopiomelanocortin-related peptides was performed postoperatively on the blood drawn before and after the tumor resection and on the tumor; the results of this study would have been contributive to the diagnosis of occult ectopic ACTH tumor. In conclusion this case demonstrates the limitations of the conventional procedures in the diagnosis of the ectopic ACTH syndrome. At contrast the newer biochemical procedures may be very useful in determining the type of hypercortisolism.
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PMID:A case of pseudo-Nelson's syndrome: cure of ACTH hypersecretion by removal of a bronchial carcinoid tumor responsible for Cushing's syndrome. 217 23

To evaluate the possibility that the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptide gamma 2-melanocyte stimulating hormone (gamma 2-MSH) has a role in circulatory regulation in man we studied circulating levels of this peptide at three different stages of physical activity in 10 young healthy subjects. The results were compared to simultaneously measured plasma levels of catecholamines, neuropeptide Y, vasopressin, renin activity, aldosterone and human alpha-atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) and of the vasodilatory peptides calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide. The plasma levels of gamma 2-MSH-LI (like immunoreactivity) increased from 1009 +/- 101 pmol l-1 at supine rest to 1281 +/- 79 pmol l-1 when measured after 10 min walking (P less than 0.05), and remained at this increased level also after a consecutive further increase of physical activity (4 min stair rush), 1293 +/- 87 pmol l-1 (P less than 0.05 vs. at rest). The increase in circulating gamma 2-MSH-LI levels preceded the elevation of the venous plasma noradrenaline level, but did not rise further with more pronounced activation of the sympathetic nervous system at the highest grade of physical activity examined.
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PMID:Gamma 2-MSH increases during graded exercise in healthy subjects: comparison with plasma catecholamines, neuropeptides, aldosterone and renin activity. 220 97

The present study describes the topography of immunoreactive (ir) oxytocin (OXY) and vasopressin (AVP) neurons in the forebrain of Equus caballus and the coexistence of ir proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides in the same cells. These data are compared to those for other mammalian species and the possible significance of species variations is considered. As expected, magnocellular neurons of the equine hypothalamus, which contain ir OXY or AVP, have prominent discernible projections to the neurohypophysis. Further, as in other mammalian species, the field of ir OXY perikarya generally extends rostral and dorsal to groups of ir AVP cell bodies, and caudal projections from OXY neurons appear to be more numerous than ir AVP projections to the brainstem and/or spinal cord. Interestingly, however, the brain of E. caballus also contains: (1) perikarya staining for OXY in the arcuate nucleus, (2) ir AVP and OXY cell bodies in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and (3) neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei that stained for beta-endorphin but not for other posttranslational products of POMC or dynorphin. These results give further credence to the proposal that there is an evolutionary relationship between OXY-, AVP- and POMC-producing hypothalamic neurons. Whether or not species differences in peptide coexistence reflect functional differences in neuronal populations or species differences in residual genomic expression by these neuroendocrine cells warrants further investigation.
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PMID:Topography of oxytocin and vasopressin neurons in the forebrain of Equus caballus: further support of proposed evolutionary relationships for proopiomelanocortin, oxytocin and vasopressin neurons. 252 77

In order to investigate the production and secretion of hypothalamic factors by the prolactin and proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived, peptide-producing, transplantable rat pituitary tumor 7315a, we determined the concentrations of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)- and vasopressin (AVP)-like immunoreactivities (IR) in the tumor extracts [14.0 +/- 1.6 (SE) and 4.2 +/- 0.9 pmol/g, respectively] and incubation media (0.26 +/- 0.01 and 0.07 +/- 0.01 pmol/10(7) cells/h, respectively). Total peptide content correlated well with tumor weight. Moreover, there is a very good correlation between the CRF and AVP IR, but not as good between CRF or AVP IR and POMC peptide IR tumor contents. Tumor extracts were chromatographed on Sephadex G-75 and compared with chromatograms of stalk median eminence (SME) extracts from normal Buffalo rats. CRF IR in tumor chromatograms gave an unusual pattern of peaks. About 31% of the total CRF IR was eluted in the high molecular weight region. The major portion of CRF IR was located in a wide region of lower molecular weight. The AVP radioimmunoassay revealed a similar pattern of peaks in tumor and SME chromatograms. A propressophysin-like peak and a smaller peak coeluting with synthetic AVP were detected. Immunohistochemical staining of consecutive sections of the tumor indicated that AVP and CRF are often found in the same cell, but the CRF and AVP-producing cells are clearly distinct from the POMC peptide-producing cells.
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PMID:Corticotropin-releasing factor and vasopressin production in the rat pituitary tumor 7315a: biochemical and immunohistochemical studies. 254 Sep 7

The possible role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism of action of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on proopiomelanocortin cells of anterior and intermediate pituitary glands was examined after pretreatment of cells in culture with the PKC inhibitor retinal or the phorbol ester PMA, which depletes cell stores of the kinase. We found that these drugs not only abolished ACTH response to PMA and vasopressin, which both activate PKC, but unexpectably also dampened by 80-90% the stimulatory effect of CRF. Cell treatment with retinal failed to prevent CRF-induced accumulation of cyclic AMP. Retinal and PMA pretreatments of intermediate pituitary cells likewise inhibited alpha-MSH secretion stimulated by CRF. These data provide evidence to suggest that the mechanism of action of CRF on pituitary cells involves both cyclic AMP and PKC messenger systems.
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PMID:Indirect evidence that protein kinase C plays a critical role in signal transduction of both vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing factor on pituitary cells in culture. 255 Dec 65

Hormones of the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (LHPA) system are much involved in central nervous system regulation. The major LHPA neuropeptides, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), vasopressin (AVP) and corticotropin (ACTH) do not only coordinate the neuroendocrine response to stress, but also induce behavioral adaptation. Transcription and post-translational processing of these neuropeptides is regulated by corticosteroids secreted from the adrenal cortex after stimulation by ACTH and other proopiomelanocortin derived peptides. These steroids play a key role as regulators of cell development, homeostatic maintenance and adaptation to environmental challenges. They execute vitally important actions through genomic effects resulting in altered gene expression and nongenomic effects leading to altered neuronal excitability. Since excessive secretory activity of this particular neuroendocrine system is part of an acute stress response or depressive symptom pattern, there is good reason to suspect that central actions of these steroids and peptides are involved in pathophysiology determining the clinical phenotype, drug response and relapse liability. This overview summarizes the clinical neuroendocrine investigations of the author and his collaborators, while they worked at the Department of Psychiatry in Mainz. The major conclusions from this work were: (1) aberrant hormonal responses to challenges with dexamethasone, ACTH or CRH are reflecting altered brain physiology in affective illness and related disorders; (2) hormones of the LHPA axis influence also nonendocrine behavioral systems such as sleep EEG; (3) physiologically significant interactions exist between LHPA hormones, the thyroid, growth hormone, gonadal and other neuroendocrine systems; (4) hormones of the LHPA axis constitute a bidirectional link between immunoregulation and brain activity; and (5) future psychiatric research topics such as molecular genetics of affective disorders, familial risk studies, drug response analysis and neurobiology of aging will benefit from extended knowledge of neural corticosteroid effects at a clinical, cellular, and molecular level.
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PMID:Psychiatric implications of altered limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical activity. 267 May 76

This study reports the presence in AtT-20 corticotrophs of high affinity-low capacity receptors for arginine-vasopressin (AVP), whose binding capacity was considerably enhanced by the divalent metal ion nickel. These binding sites, when analyzed in the presence of nickel, showed high affinity for AVP, vasotocin and oxytocin, but recognized to a lesser extent the V2-agonist 1-deamino-AVP, as well as V1-antagonists. Surprisingly, AVP failed to alter secretion of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides from the cells or corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-induced cAMP synthesis, as reported in normal corticotrophs. Exposure of cells to CRF elicited an increase in mRNAPOMC levels, while, in contrast, AVP was without significant effect. It thus appears that in AtT-20 tumor cells, the AVP receptors are not coupled to either the biochemical or biological cellular response.
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PMID:Evidence that AVP receptors in AtT-20 corticotrophs are not coupled to secretion of POMC-derived peptides. 282 11


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