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)

When primary cultured bovine adrenocortical cells were treated with substance P (SP) at concentrations higher than 10 pM, cortisol output increased in a dose-dependent fashion. Although other neurokinins, such as neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB), were also effective in secreting cortisol, SP was the most potent among the tested neurokinins, the potency order being SP greater than NKA much greater than NKB. This suggests that the NK-1 type receptor on adrenocortical cells may be the site of action of SP on cortisol secretion. The maximal response in SP-induced cortisol secretion was comparable to that elicited by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). SP-induced cortisol secretion was dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ concentrations, and 45Ca2+ uptake into adrenocortical cells treated with SP was long-lasting. While, in the case of ACTH, 45Ca2+ uptake proceeded transiently, the increase in intracellular cAMP content was much greater compared with that of SP. Although KT-5720, an inhibitor of protein kinase A, inhibited potently ACTH-induced cortisol secretion, SP-induced secretin was not affected by this inhibitor at all. On the other hand, calmodulin inhibitors, such as calmidazolium, trifluoperazine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, were not more effective in inhibiting SP-induced cortisol secretion than secretion induced by ACTH. The present study indicates that SP may be one of the physiological stimulants of cortisol secretion and that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and the subsequent activation of calmodulin may precede SP-induced cortisol secretion.
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PMID:Cortisol secretion induced by substance P from bovine adrenocortical cells and its inhibition by calmodulin inhibitors. 137 83

The pattern of expression of at least four neuropeptides contained in adrenomedullary chromaffin cells is altered by exposure to the cytokines interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), alone or in combination with stimulation of other second messenger pathways. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was elevated 2- to 3-fold by 1 nM IL-1 alpha within 48 h of exposure, while neurotensin and substance P synthesis were unaffected, and met-enkephalin levels were decreased 25-35%. Stimulation of VIP and substance P biosynthesis by forskolin was markedly enhanced by IL-1 alpha, while forskolin stimulation of enkephalin and neurotensin biosynthesis was unaffected. IL-1 alpha amplified the effect of phorbol myristate acetate to increase the VIP content of chromaffin cells, but antagonized phorbol ester-induced elevation of neurotensin levels. TNF alpha also demonstrated a neuropeptide-specific pattern of modulation of second-messenger effects on chromaffin cell neuropeptide levels similar to those seen with IL-1 alpha. The neuroendocrine actions of IL-1 alpha described above, unlike IL-1 action in the immune system, do not appear to be mediated through IL-2 as this cytokine did not affect VIP or enkephalin expression in the presence or absence of protein kinase stimulation. Neither IL-1 alpha nor TNF alpha affected the calcium-coupled stimulation of neuropeptide secretion and biosynthesis that occurs in response to cell depolarization in these and other neuroendocrine cells in vitro and in vivo. These data provide a functional demonstration of IL-1 and TNF receptors in chromaffin cell cultures and suggest a physiological role for cytokine production in the adrenal medulla. Since both the magnitude and direction of neuropeptide synthesis modulation by IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha are highly peptide-specific, it appears that these cytokines do not merely augment second messenger pathways that affect neuropeptide synthesis, but potentially regulate the activity of factors controlling the pattern of neuropeptide gene expression in chromaffin cells.
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PMID:Interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha differentially regulate enkephalin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neurotensin, and substance P biosynthesis in chromaffin cells. 137 39

The effect and mode of action of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), a peptidergic neuromodulator in the gastrointestinal nervous system, were investigated in isolated muscle strips of the guinea-pig ileum. VIP induced concentration-dependent (20 nM-1 microM) contractions of longitudinal ileal strips. TTX (1 microM), a mixture of atropine (3 microM) and spantide (30 microM), a mixture of atropine (3 microM) and omega-conotoxin GVIA (100 nM), somatostatin (60 nM) and dynorphin (100 nM) abolished the effect of VIP. In most cases a small relaxation became evident. Desensitization to substance P in the presence of atropine prevented VIP-induced contraction. A partial inhibition was observed in the presence of atropine (3 microM), spantide (30 microM), omega-conotoxin GVIA (100 nM), beta-endorphin (265 nM), met-enkephalin (1100 nM) and a mixture of spantide (30 microM) and omega-conotoxin GVIA (100 nM). The action of VIP was not significantly modified by guanethidine (3 microM) or hexamethonium (150 microM). In circular ileal strips VIP (10-300 nM) caused concentration-dependent relaxations through a direct myogenic effect. These results indicate that the VIP produced contractions of the guinea-pig ileum are exclusively neurally mediated and involve a cholinergic as well as a noncholinergic-nonadrenergic (NANC) pathway. It is concluded that besides acetylcholine (Ach) VIP releases the peptidergic transmitter substance P from postganglionic nerve fibers of myenteric plexus. Opioid peptides and somatostatin modulate the activity of cholinergic and peptidegic nerves in the guinea-pig ileum. The release of substance P appears to depend completely on N-type voltage sensitive calcium channels.
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PMID:Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide induces neurogenic contraction of guinea-pig ileum. Involvement of acetylcholine and substance P. 137 93

This in vitro study examined the effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interferon-gamma (Ifn-gamma) on the release of cholecysto-kinin (CCK) from superfused hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal complexes (HNC) of rats. An increase of CCK from HNC was elicited in a dose-dependent manner by recombinant human IL-1 alpha and -1 beta in concentrations of 0.1-10 nM. In contrast, the release of CCK from HNC was not affected by recombinant human Ifn-gamma at any dose tested (0.1, 1 and 10 nM). The increased release of CCK elicited by IL-1 was calcium-dependent, as was that induced by potassium (60 mM), but it was biphasic and had a different time course and a lower magnitude than those induced by potassium and veratridine. These results suggest that IL-1 activates pituitary-adrenal axis by stimulating CCK neurons in the hypothalamus and/or neurohypophysis to release CCK, since CCK has been implicated in the regulation of adrenocorticotropin release.
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PMID:Stimulation of cholecystokinin (CCK) release from superfused rat hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal complexes by interleukin-1 (IL-1). 145 18

beta-endorphin, when added at the same time as the mitogenic lectin concanavalin A to mouse BALB/c spleen lymphocytes, inhibits cell proliferation. The suppressive effect of beta-endorphin is not exercised through a cAMP-dependent mechanism and is also observed when splenic lymphocytes are stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (4 micrograms/ml), anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, or the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (250 nM) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (1 ng/ml). The inhibitory effect of beta-endorphin on lymphocyte proliferation is dose and time dependent: when beta-endorphin is added 20 h after Con A stimulation no suppression of lymphocyte proliferation is observed. beta-Endorphin inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, the release of interleukin-2 in concanavalin A-stimulated splenic lymphocytes, measured 24 h after stimulation. beta-Endorphin also controls the appearance of interleukin-2 receptors in the plasma membrane, but does not regulate the expression of the c-myc protooncogene. These data indicate that beta-endorphin inhibits lymphocyte activation signal transmission, downstream the generation of the second messengers Ca2+ and diacylglycerol and the expression of the protooncogene c-myc, by blocking interleukin-2 release and interleukin-2 receptors expression. Once the cells are in the G1 stage, beta-endorphin is no longer able to block lymphocyte proliferation.
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PMID:Beta-endorphin inhibits interleukin-2 release and expression of interleukin-2 receptors in concanavalin A-stimulated splenic lymphocytes. 147 86

The release of the neuropeptide Met-enkephalin (Met-ENK) from isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) of the rat forebrain was characterized with respect to the subcellular distribution, the release upon addition of various stimulatory agents, the release kinetics, the cation-dependence of release and the relationship between Met-ENK release and elevations of the intraterminal free Ca(2+)-concentration ([Ca]i). A highly specific radioimmunoassay was developed for determination of Met-ENK (H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-OH). Truncated and elongated forms of Met-ENK, Leu-enkephalin, beta-endorphin and dynorphin displayed negligible cross-reactivity. Met-ENK-like immunoreactivity (Met-ENK-LI) is enriched in the purified synaptosomal fraction of rat forebrain homogenates and is released in a strictly Ca(2+)-dependent manner upon chemical depolarization or stimulation with the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin. A correlation exists between the release of Met-ENK-LI and the elevations of [Ca]i. Barium ions are able to replace Ca2+ in triggering Met-ENK-LI release. The release of Met-ENK-LI is initiated within 20 s after depolarization and is terminated after 3-5 min, although depolarization and [Ca]i elevation are maintained. At this time, > 90% of the initial Met-ENK-LI is still present inside the synaptosomes. Repolarization and renewed stimulation again evokes Ca(2+)-dependent release of this retained Met-ENK-LI. It is concluded that Met-ENK release from isolated nerve terminals is exocytotic, and that exocytosis is terminated by a regulatory mechanism in synaptosomes after 3-5 min of depolarization, a process which can be reversed by repolarization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Characterization of the release of Met-enkephalin from isolated nerve terminals: release kinetics and cation-dependence. 148 89

To investigate phagocytosis, an assay enabling flow cytometric analysis of single cells having internalized fluorescent carboxyl microspheres was employed. Greater than 80% of murine testicular Sertoli line (TM4) cells were found to phagocytose one or more microspheres within six hours and electron microscopy confirmed carboxyl microsphere internalization. This level was equivalent to that of a macrophage-like cell line and much greater than the levels of testicular Leydig (TM3) cells. Reducing extracellular calcium or using a calcium channel blocker profoundly inhibited phagocytosis suggesting that phagocytosis by Sertoli cells requires extracellular Ca++. Although follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone had no significant effects on Sertoli cell phagocytosis, insulin, epidermal growth factor, and hydrocortisone enhanced activity. In contrast, beta-endorphin and 8-bromoadenosine-cyclic monophosphate had an inhibitory effect. In contrast to augmenting macrophage phagocytosis, 1,25-(OH)2D3, interferon-gamma, prostaglandin E2, and lipopolysaccharides, had no apparent effect on that by Sertoli cells. Additionally, neither C3bi receptors (Mac-1 antigen) nor FcRII could be detected on Sertoli cells. In total, the findings demonstrated that the murine Sertoli line exhibits potent phagocytic function and suggest the regulation of this activity may differ from that in "professional" phagocytic cells.
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PMID:Phagocytosis by the murine testicular TM4 Sertoli cell line in culture. 153 Aug 70

Advances in neuropeptide neurobiology in the last decade are illustrated by studies of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), the 41 amino acid-containing peptide that controls the anterior pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropin and other pro-opiomelanocortin products. Corticotropin-releasing factor is synthesized in both hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic perikarya in a large prohormone form, (186 amino acids), then it is processed and transported to nerve terminals where it is released in its active form by a calcium-dependent mechanism. Corticotropin-releasing factor biosynthesis can now be measured by in situ hybridization because of the elucidation of the CRF gene sequence. Once released, CRF acts on high-affinity CRF receptors, and signal transduction is mediated by activation of adenylate cyclase in certain brain areas, and perhaps by phosphoinositide hydrolysis. In other brain areas CRF is inactivated by peptidases that degrade the hormone, though these are not well characterized. A CRF binding protein has been identified in plasma, and perhaps in brain. Considerable evidence exists from cerebrospinal fluid studies, postmortem tissue receptor measurements, and CRF stimulation test studies to support the hypothesis that CRF is hypersecreted in depression, resulting in both pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity and certain signs and symptoms of depression, e.g., decreased libido, insomnia, and decreased appetite. There is also evidence for an involvement of CRF in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders and in the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines. The development of selective CRF-receptor antagonists will permit direct testing of the hypothesis that CRF hypersecretion is responsible for certain of the cardinal features of affective and anxiety disorders.
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PMID:New vistas in neuropeptide research in neuropsychiatry: focus on corticotropin-releasing factor. 161 Apr 87

The effect of opiate peptides on basal and potassium-stimulated endogenous dopamine (DA) release from striatal slices was studied in vitro. Dual stimulation of the striatal slices gave a reproducible increase in DA release that was calcium dependent. Addition of the delta-opiate receptor agonists Met5-enkephalin, [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), and [D-Ser2]Leu-enkephalin-Thr (DSLET), increased the basal DA release without affecting potassium-stimulated release in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of DADLE was antagonized by the addition of naloxone. In contrast, the mu-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO) and the epsilon-opioid agonist beta-endorphin inhibited the stimulated DA release without changing the basal release. The inhibitory effect of DAGO on potassium-stimulated release was antagonized by naloxone. The addition of ethanol (75 mM) to the incubation media produced a delayed increase of both the basal and stimulated DA release. There was no change in stimulated DA release when the change in basal release was subtracted, suggesting that ethanol produced a dose-dependent, selective increase in basal DA release. Naloxone and the selective delta-opiate antagonist ICI 174864 inhibited the ethanol-induced increase in basal DA release. Naloxone and ICI 174864 added alone did not alter either basal or stimulated DA release. We therefore suggest that the ethanol-induced increase in basal DA release is an indirect effect involving an endogenous delta-opiate agonist.
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PMID:Ethanol-induced increase in endogenous dopamine release may involve endogenous opiates. 161 96

Secretion of beta-endorphin from mouse pituitary AtT20 cells is stimulated by a variety of compounds that raise intracellular cAMP and Ca2+. To investigate the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinases in secretion, AtT20 cells were transfected with an expression vector coding for a regulatory (R) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase containing mutations in both cAMP-binding sites. Expression of the mutant regulatory subunit in stable transformants (RAB cells) results in a dominant inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Isoproterenol (1 microM) or analogs of cAMP stimulated beta-endorphin secretion from AtT20 cells, but failed to stimulate secretion in RAB cells expressing the mutant R subunit. Secretion in response to CRF (100 nM) was inhibited by 80% in these mutant clones, whereas the secretory response to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP; 100 nM) or phorbol ester (100 nM phorbol myristate acetate) was not inhibited by the R subunit mutation. Intracellular cAMP was elevated in response to CRF (11- to 15-fold), isoproterenol (5- to 10-fold), and VIP (4- to 8-fold) in RAB cells. Similar concentrations of VIP were required to evoke beta-endorphin secretion in either RAB cells or AtT20 cells. As with most secretagogues, VIP-induced secretion was inhibited in the presence of either EGTA or a voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel antagonist, PN200-110. The secretory response to VIP was unaffected by down-regulation of protein kinase-C. These results suggest that CRF and isoproterenol work via cAMP-dependent protein kinase to activate beta-endorphin secretion, whereas VIP can act by a different mechanism that does not involve cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase-C.
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PMID:Role of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in hormone-stimulated beta-endorphin secretion in AtT20 cells. 164 51


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