Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In homogenate of rat olfactory bulb, the opioid receptor agonists beta-endorphin, Leu-enkephalin, and dynorphin A stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, with half-maximal effects displayed at 22, 63, and 176 nM, respectively. The maximal stimulation of the enzyme activity corresponded to about a 40% increase of basal activity for all three peptides. Naloxone antagonized the stimulation of beta-endorphin, Leu-enkephalin, and dynorphin A, with pA2 values of 8.0, 7.7, and 8.1, respectively. Kinetic analysis performed with Leu-enkephalin showed that the opioid peptide increased the Vmax of the enzyme, without changing the Km for the substrate Mg-ATP. Moreover, the opioid stimulation was associated with a significant increase of the affinity of the enzyme for Mg2+ activation and occurred in membranes incubated in a Ca2(+)-free medium. Addition of exogenous GTP at micromolar concentrations was absolutely necessary for the detection of the opioid effect. Treatment of olfactory bulbs with cholera toxin did not alter the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by Leu-enkephalin. However, the opioid stimulation disappeared in membranes obtained from bulbs injected with pertussis toxin. These results demonstrate the presence in the brain of a new functional class of opiate receptors coupled to stimulation of adenylate cyclase via a transduction mechanism that is Ca2+ independent and seems to involve a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein.
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PMID:Naturally occurring opioid receptor agonists stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in rat olfactory bulb. 167 23

Release of alpha-MSH from the pars intermedia melanotrope cells of Xenopus laevis is regulated by various classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. We have examined the effect of two of these regulatory substances, the neurotransmitter GABA and the CRF-related peptide sauvagine, on the adenylate cyclase system of the melanotrope cells. Sauvagine treatment, which stimulates alpha-MSH release, lead to an elevation in the level of cyclic-AMP, an effect which was potentiated by cholera toxin. Treatment with baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, gave a pertussis toxin-sensitive decrease in the cyclic-AMP level and an inhibition of alpha-MSH release. We conclude that sauvagine stimulates alpha-MSH secretion through activation of adenylate cyclase and that GABAB receptor activation inhibits secretion through inhibition of cyclic-AMP production. Baclofen treatment sensitized melanotrope cells to the stimulatory action of 8-bromo-cyclic-AMP on the secretion of alpha-MSH. This observation supports the conclusion that GABAB receptor activation inhibits cyclic-AMP production.
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PMID:The CRF-related peptide sauvagine stimulates and the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen inhibits cyclic-AMP production in melanotrope cells of Xenopus laevis. 185 60

Cholera toxin, an agent that impairs the function of Gs transducer proteins, was injected (0.5 microgram/mouse, icv) and the antinociceptive activity of opioids and clonidine was studied 24h later in the tail-flick test. In these animals, an enhancement of the analgesic potency of morphine, beta-endorphin and clonidine could be observed. Cholera toxin did not modify the antinociception evoked by the enkephalin derivatives DAGO and DADLE. Pertussis toxin that catalyses the ADP ribosylation of alpha subunits of Gi/Go regulatory proteins was given icv (0.5 microgram/mouse). This treatment reduced the analgesic effect of opioids and clonidine. However, while the analgesia elicited by DAGO, DADLE and clonidine was greatly decreased, the effect of morphine and beta-endorphin was reduced to a moderate extent. It is concluded that Gi/Go regulatory proteins functionally coupled to opioid and alpha 2 receptors are implicated in the efficacy displayed by opioids and clonidine to produce supraspinal analgesia. Moreover, these two receptors are susceptible to regulation by a process that might involve a Gs protein.
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PMID:Cholera toxin and pertussis toxin on opioid- and alpha 2-mediated supraspinal analgesia in mice. 185 Apr 93

beta-Endorphin 1-31 and several structurally related peptides were tested for their ability to alter mitogen-induced T cell proliferation. Rat beta-endorphin 1-31 and human beta-endorphin 1-27 increased phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation into rat lymph node cells. However, when PHA-induced proliferation was suppressed by the inclusion of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), human beta-endorphin 1-31 and a number of structurally similar peptides, including some peptides that did not alter mitogen-induced proliferation, significantly reduced the PGE1 inhibition of PHA-stimulated T cell proliferation. Although the N-terminus of beta-endorphin was necessary for potency, inclusion of the opioid antagonist naloxone together with beta-endorphin 1-31 did not alter the blockage of PGE1 inhibition of PHA-induced proliferation caused by beta-endorphin. The inhibition of mitogen-stimulated proliferation by either cholera toxin or forskolin, two additional compounds that like PGE1 also elevate cyclic AMP levels, was not blocked by beta-endorphin. Verapamil suppression of proliferation was not modified by beta-endorphin, indicating that the beta-endorphin stimulatory effect was probably not due to Ca2+ influx through verapamil-sensitive Ca2+ channels. These data suggest that beta-endorphin, acting through a nonopioid beta-endorphin receptor, may modulate immunocompetence by stimulating T cell proliferation and by counteracting the inhibitory effects of PGE1.
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PMID:Beta-endorphin stimulates rat T lymphocyte proliferation. 217 Apr 40

The murine B cell line CH12.LX.C4.5F5 (CH12 (5F5) expresses adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) receptors, which can modulate IgM secretion by these cells. Interestingly, the response to ACTH was concentration dependent, inducing IgM secretion at subnanomolar amounts and suppressing secretion at micromolar amounts. With the use of an enzyme-linking immunospot assay it was possible to demonstrate that the ACTH-induced increase in IgM secretion by CH12 (5F5) cells was caused at least in part by an increase in the number of cells secreting IgM. CH12 (5F5) cells activated with suboptimal concentrations of LPS demonstrated a similar biphasic response. ACTH at concentrations of 10(-13) to 10(-9) M augmented IgM secretion in LPS-activated cells as much as sixfold, whereas 10(-6) M ACTH slightly decreased LPS-induced IgM secretion. At the mRNA level, subnanomolar concentrations of ACTH increased microH chain mRNA expression up to twofold in unstimulated or LPS-stimulated CH12 (5F5) cells. Taken together, these studies show that physiologically relevant concentrations of ACTH can interact directly with receptors on these B lymphocytes to enhance IgM secretion and microH chain mRNA expression. Although ACTH does increase intracellular cAMP levels in CH12 (5F5) B cells, it is unlikely that the induction of this second messenger pathway is by itself responsible for the ACTH induced B cell differentiation. The concentration of ACTH necessary to stimulate significant intracellular cAMP increases was 10- to 100-fold higher than that required to increase IgM secretion. Furthermore, CH12 (5F5) cells treated with varying concentrations of 8-bromo cAMP or cholera toxin were inhibited in their ability to secrete IgM. These results strongly suggest that the enhancing effects of ACTH on CH12 (5F5) IgM secretion are via mechanisms independent of those mediated by cAMP.
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PMID:Modulation of IgM secretion and H chain mRNA expression in CH12.LX.C4.5F5 B cells by adrenocorticotropic hormone. 217 28

Using a double immunostaining technique with unconjugated cholera toxin (CT) as a retrograde tracer, we have demonstrated in the cat that the nucleus raphe pallidus receives two major afferent projections from the hypothalamus: the preoptic periventricular nucleus; and the peri- and paraventricular zones of the posterior hypothalamic area. Some CT-labeled neurons in the preoptic periventricular nucleus showed Met-Enk-like immunoreactivity, while many CT-labeled neurons in the posterior hypothalamic area presented either corticotropin-releasing-factor-like or Met-Enk-like immunoreactivity.
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PMID:Peptidergic hypothalamic afferents to the cat nucleus raphe pallidus as revealed by a double immunostaining technique using unconjugated cholera toxin as a retrograde tracer. 243 65

The concentration of mRNA encoding proopiomelanocortin (POMC) was measured in AtT-20/D-16v cells, a clonal pituitary tumor cell line. Treatment of the cells with potassium (20 mM) or veratridine (10 microM) for 12, 24 and 48 h caused a time-dependent increase in the levels of POMC mRNA which became significant after 24 h. These effects were not seen in the presence of the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (5 microM). In addition, the calcium channel blocker verapamil (10 microM) completely abolished the responses to either potassium or veratridine, whereas the calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 (0.1 microM) potentiated the effect of potassium. Furthermore, the calcium channel blockers verapamil (10 microM) and nidefipine (1 microM) significantly decreased not only basal levels of POMC mRNA but also the increase of mRNA levels induced by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF; 0.1 microM), 8-bromo-cAMP (1 mM) or cholera toxin (100 ng/ml). The drug-induced alterations in the mRNA POMC levels of the cells were, in each case, associated with similar alterations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in the medium. These results indicate that membrane depolarization to activate sodium channels and calcium channels initiates an entry of calcium ions which triggers POMC gene expression in the AtT-20 cells. Moreover, calcium entry into the cells may exert a tonic stimulatory effect on POMC mRNA under basal conditions and may also contribute to the enhancing effect of CRF or cAMP on POMC mRNA in these cells.
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PMID:Influence of calcium ions on proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels in clonal anterior pituitary cells. 244 1

Normal human melanocytes, unlike malignant melanoma cells, required at least three growth-promoting agents, i.e., phorbol ester for protein kinase C activation and the growth factors basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin, for growth in chemically defined W489 medium. Cell growth was further stimulated by addition of agents that increase intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) to the medium. Among these agents, the pituitary hormones alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and follicle-stimulating hormone were the most potent, whereas bacterial toxins, including cholera, tetanus, and pertussis toxin and their subunits either were less mitogenic or gave variable results depending on the culture tested. Medium containing phorbol ester PMA, growth factors bFGF and insulin (or insulin-like growth factor-I), and synthetic alpha-MSH supported melanocyte growth for more than 5 months with doubling times between 5 and 8 days. Two copper-binding proteins, ceruloplasmin and tyrosinase, were mitogenic when added to medium and ceruloplasmic induced a long bi- to tripolar-shape of cells. Addition of 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP to the medium led to the formation of dendrites in all cells, with an average of 28 extensions per cell. Although cell growth was inhibited by dibutyryl cAMP, cells were not terminally differentiated and continued to proliferate. Dendritic melanocytes showed a 2.2-fold increase in activity of the tyrosine kinase pp60c-src. The induction of dendritic processes in melanocytes by dibutyryl cAMP or sodium butyrate was reversible and appears to reflect the expression of the mature melanocytic phenotype in situ.
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PMID:Regulatory factors that determine growth and phenotype of normal human melanocytes. 246 9

It is well established that in the pituitary gland corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulates the release of beta-endorphin (beta-E) via a cAMP-linked mechanism. Studies of the mechanisms underlying the CRH stimulation of beta-E release from rat hypothalamic slices perifused in vitro are reported in this paper. The data indicate that both a cAMP-dependent and non-cAMP-dependent mechanism mediate the action of CRH in the hypothalamus. The presence of a cAMP-linked mechanism was suggested by the finding that cholera toxin (0.1-10 nM) and forskolin (2.5 x 10(-6) M), both of which act to raise intracellular cAMP levels, stimulated the release of beta-E. In both cases, no further stimulation was seen upon addition of CRH (10(-8)M). However, it was also found that preincubation of the tissue with pertussis toxin (PTX; 100 ng/ml) prevented both the CRH- and forskolin-stimulated release of beta-E. This indicated that, in addition to the cAMP-linked mechanism, a further messenger system which is connected to a PTX-sensitive G-protein may also play a role. The latter observation also implied that a further substance, which utilizes a separate second messenger system, might be involved in the CRH stimulation of beta-E release. In this regard the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) was investigated due to the known interaction between CRH and AVP in the pituitary gland. AVP (10(-12) to 10(-6)M) itself potently and dose-dependently stimulated beta-E release, producing a maximal increase of 220% above basal levels. The AVP-induced release of beta-E was abolished in PTX-pretreated hypothalami. The apparently obligatory requirement of AVP for the CRH-stimulation of beta-E release was illustrated by the finding that blockade of AVP receptors using the AVP antagonist d(CH2)5 [Tyr(OEt)2,Val4]-AVP almost completely attenuated the CRH-stimulated release of beta-E. Furthermore, in the presence of a high concentration of AVP (10(-6)M) no further stimulation of release was seen with CRH (10(-8)M). These data therefore strongly indicate that CRH acts via the intermediacy of AVP to release beta-E from hypothalamic slices in vitro and that two separate second messenger systems are involved: a cAMP-linked mechanism connected to a cholera toxin-sensitive G-protein (CRH) and a second system linked to a PTX-sensitive G-protein (AVP).
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PMID:A two-step mechanism by which corticotropin-releasing hormone releases hypothalamic beta-endorphin: the role of vasopressin and G-proteins. 252 50

The present study examined the effects of both insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on cell division and specific functions of cultured adrenocortical cells from 100- to 122-day-old ovine fetuses. When culture was performed in a serum-free medium containing transferrin and ascorbic acid, the number of cells increased only slightly (1.2-fold) over a 4-day period. Addition of insulin or IGF-I in the culture medium enhanced the number of cells counted on Day 5. The effect of both peptides was dose-dependent, but 10 ng/ml IGF-I was as potent as 10 micrograms/ml insulin. The acute cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and steroidogenic responses to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH1-24) decreased in fetal cells cultured in the absence of insulin or ACTH. Insulin at micromolar concentrations not only prevented this decrease but enhanced the acute ACTH1-24-induced cAMP output on Day 5 over that observed on Day 2. Treatment of fetal cells for 4 days with increasing concentrations of insulin or IGF-I enhanced the acute cAMP and steroidogenic responses (3- to 4-fold) to ACTH1-24 over that of control cells. The ED50 of IGF-I was about 3 ng/ml (congruent to 0.4 nM) whereas that of insulin was about 10 ng/ml (1.7 nM). However, a second plateau was apparent at concentrations of insulin above 1 microgram/ml. The acute cholera toxin stimulation of cAMP production of cells cultured in the absence of insulin or ACTH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:In vitro effect of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I on cell multiplication and adrenocorticotropin responsiveness of fetal adrenal cells. 254 62


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