Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P20366 (substance P)
 21,176 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Merkel cells (MCs) are specialized sensory cells widely distributed in the epithelia of vertebrates. A variable immunohistochemical pattern of neuronal and neurotransmitter markers has been demonstrated in MCs of several species including man. In the present study, we investigated the expression of neurochemical markers in a selected population of human cutaneous MCs by immunofluorescence. The structural neural proteins protein gene product 9.5 and neuron-specific enolase were found to be the most reliable markers for MC identification. Moreover, neurofilament immunoreactivity was shown in a small subset of epidermal MCs. Among the neurotransmitter markers, evidence for expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide histidine isoleucine amide, neuropeptide Y, neurokinin A, galanin, substance P, somatostatin and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase was found. These immunoreactivities were highly variable as far as number of positive cells and staining intensity were concerned. The results indicate that a complex and heterogeneous immunophenotype can be expressed even within a homogeneous population of human MCs.
Exp Dermatol 1995 Dec
PMID:Neurochemical markers in human cutaneous Merkel cells. An immunohistochemical investigation. 860 44

Nitric oxide is a potent mediator of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, the synthesis of which is catalyzed by the constitutively expressed enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase. In this study we have investigated whether human dermal microvascular endothelial cells express endothelial oxide synthase and whether the vasodilator neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P, stimulate the release of nitric oxide from these cells. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase was identified by immunohistochemistry in the blood vessels in both the papillary and deep dermis of normal skin, and also in monolayers of human dermal microvascular extracts prepared from both the dermis of normal human skin and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells, a 135-kDa band corresponding to endothelial nitric oxide synthase was identified. Nitric oxide was released from unstimulated human dermal microvascular endothelial cells as assessed by inhibition of platelet aggregation and nitrate formation. Endothelial cell-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation was blocked by hemoglobin. Calcitonin gene-related peptide, (100 pM to 100 nM) directly inhibited platelet aggregation, and this direct effect was not modulated by microvascular endothelial cells. Substance P (10 nM to 1 muM) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (100 pM to 10 nM) significantly (p<0.05) increased nitrite formation, and this increase was blocked by the competitive nitric oxide synthase antagonist, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. These results demonstrate that endothelial nitric oxide synthase is expressed in the microvascular endothelium of normal human skin and that human dermal microvascular endothelial cells release nitric oxide constitutively and in response to vasodilator neuropeptides.
J Invest Dermatol 1996 Apr
PMID:Neuropeptides induce release of nitric oxide from human dermal microvascular endothelial cells. 861

Corticotropin releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone either inhibit or enhance in a dose-dependent fashion an interleukin-4 (IL-4) driven human IgE synthesis in vitro. Here, we show that culture conditions strongly influence the earlier observed dose- and donor-dependent effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone. The effect of ACTH on IgE synthesis became only apparent late during culture periods, suggesting an indirect effect via the cellular microenvironment rather than by acting directly at the level of B-cell isotype switching. Thus, we studied other proopiomelanocortin (POMC) derived peptides and neuropeptides known to influence the cellular microenvironment. Indeed, similar modulatory effects on IgE synthesis were also observed by the addition of other proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides such as alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphins as well as by the opioid binding pentapeptide Leu-enkephalin. Furthermore the neuropeptide substance P accentuated an IL-4 or an IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody driven class switch to IgE. In contrast to ACTH, substance P interfered not only with IgE synthesis but also with the synthesis of the other immunoglobulin isotypes. Thus, systemically acting neuroendocrine peptides such as ACTH and locally acting neuropeptides such as the enkephalins and substance P can modulate the magnitude of an IL-4 induced IgE response.
Exp Dermatol 1996 Feb
PMID:Neuropeptides accentuate interleukin-4 induced human immunoglobuline E synthesis in vitro. 862 10

The purpose of this study was to monitor histamine release in immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions in the skin of 10 atopic patients, sensitive to cow, by using the microdialysis technique. Three healthy subjects, without any atopic features or background, served as the control group. The probe inserted into the forearm dermal skin was perfused with isotonic saline solution. Samples were collected at 15-min intervals. After the first allergen challenge of four prick tests close to the probe with cow allergen extract, the skin was similarly repricked again in five patients and three healthy subjects, and in five other patients, 25 microliters of 10 mumol/l substance P (SP) was injected intracutaneously. The samples were analysed for histamine by radioenzyme assay. The patients were clinically evaluated for allergic symptoms, prick- and scratch-patch test reactivity and for serum cow-specific, and total, IgE levels. The baseline histamine concentration was 7.5 +/- 4.0 nmol/l (mean +/- standard deviation: SD; n = 10). After the allergen challenge, the histamine concentration in the consecutive samples was 11.9 +/- 11.0 nmol/l, 91.1 +/- 127.3 nmol/l, 61.0 +/- 94.2 nmol/l and 33.7 +/- 53.7 nmol/l. The peak concentration was detected in the 15-30 min fraction, and it varied between 0 and 406 nmol/l regardless of the weal size. The second allergen challenge was unable to induce marked additional histamine release, but SP induced extensive histamine liberation in those patients who did not exhibit histamine release during the preceding prick tests. In three healthy subjects, the baseline histamine concentration was 6.2 +/- 3.9 nmol/l. After the allergen challenge, no additional histamine liberation could be measured. Surprisingly, the histamine release was not related to the size of the cow-induced weal nor was it related to any specific allergic symptoms or IgE levels. The results suggest that, in some patients, mast cell mediators other than histamine play a significant part in immediate-type allergic reactions of skin.
Br J Dermatol 1996 Jan
PMID:Histamine release in skin monitored with the microdialysis technique does not correlate with the weal size induced by cow allergen. 874 92

Cell priming and stimulation of different cytokines (which include chemokines and growth factors) are typical features of human basophils. Recently, it has been shown that the macrophage chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), RANTES and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) are potent direct secretagogues for human basophils and that interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are priming factors for subsequent potentiation of mediator release from basophils induced by different stimuli. This observation may be clinically important for the activation and recruitment of inflammatory cells in different immune responses of the skin (e.g. late-phase reactions). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cytokines and chemokines are also capable of priming or stimulating isolated human skin mast cells (SMC). SMC were either stimulated directly with the cytokines alone or preincubated with these factors for 10 min before being activated with suboptimal concentrations of anti-IgE, A23187 or substance P. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, platelet factor-4 (PF-4), IL-8, MCP-1 and MIP-1 alpha (each at concentrations of 1 ng/ml to 1 microgram/ml, log steps) did not significantly modulate histamine release from SMC induced by the three different secretagogues. RANTES exhibited a weak but significant potentiating effect on IgE-mediated activation. Stem cell factor (SCF) as a positive control was able to prime mast cell histamine release strongly. In addition, PF-4, MCP-1, RANTES and MIP-1 alpha were incapable of inducing direct histamine release from SMC. In experiments with isolated human peripheral basophils, however, we observed potent Fc epsilon RI-mediated priming effects evoked through IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF. We conclude that SMC derived from healthy donors are not targets of (immuno)modulatory factors that prime or stimulate basophils.
Arch Dermatol Res 1996 Jul
PMID:Effects of basophil-priming and stimulating cytokines on histamine release from isolated human skin mast cells. 884 26

Using mouse peritoneal cavity mast cells, we investigated the effects of FK506 and cyclosporin A (CsA) on cell proliferation and histamine release induced by anti-IgE antibody, calcium ionophore (A23 187), or neuropeptide (substance P). Both FK506 and CsA inhibited cytokine-dependent mast cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of these compounds on mast cell proliferation was reversible; the removal of the chemicals from the incubation medium resulted in the reinitiation of mast cell proliferation. Flow cytometric analysis suggested that the inhibitory effect of FK506 and CsA was mostly due to G1/S boundary block, although a significant number of G2-arrested cells were also observed following FK506 treatment. Both FK506- and CsA-treated mast cells showed a similar inhibition of histamine release induced by A23187. However, CsA at higher concentrations inhibited the histamine release induced by anti-IgE antibody or substance P more markedly than FK506. Cellular histamine content was decreased by CsA treatment while FK506 had no effect. The staining properties of peritoneal mast cells changed from connective tissue-type mast cell-like to mucosal mast cell-like during CsA treatment but not during FK506 treatment. Thus FK506 and CsA have different effects on mast cell proliferation as well as histamine release, that might be associated with a phenotypic change of the cells during culture.
Arch Dermatol Res 1996 Jul
PMID:Effects of FK506 and cyclosporin A on proliferation, histamine release and phenotype of murine mast cells. 884 28

There is increasing evidence that neuropeptides may be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). This study examines whether neuropeptide distribution in the skin of patients with AD differs from normal controls. The distribution and density of several neuropeptides were examined in lesional and non-lesional skin of AD patients (n = 5) and in normal controls (n = 4) using indirect immunofluorescence and image analysis. Cholinergic innervation was studied using cholinesterase histochemistry. Staining with the general neuronal marker protein gene product 9 x 5 showed a subepidermal network of nerves with fibres penetrating the epidermis, and nerves around blood vessels, sweat glands and hair follicles. Image analysis of nerves around sweat glands showed a significantly higher nerve density in non-lesional compared with both normal controls and lesional skin (P < 0.05); lesional compared with control skin showed no significant difference. In the epidermis the density of nerves was not significantly greater in non-lesional compared with lesional skin and controls. Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity was similar in all subjects except in three of the AD patients, where more nerves appeared to penetrate the epidermis. Substance P immunoreactivity in the papillary dermis was seen in all AD patients but no controls. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and neuropeptide Y staining were similar in all groups. Acetylcholinesterase-positive nerves were found around sweat glands in all subjects, the staining being greatest in non-lesional and least in lesional skin. Occasional nerves were seen in the papillary dermis in lesional skin of two out of the four patients. We have demonstrated quantitative differences in nerve growth in clinically normal skin of AD patients, and altered cutaneous neuropeptide expression in these patients which may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. The cause of atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been fully established but it is believed that there is a complex interaction between genetic susceptibility, precipitating environmental factors and disordered immune responsiveness. There is increasing evidence that neuropeptides may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Exacerbations of the disease can be provoked by stress, scratching and sweating which may be the result of neurogenic inflammation. One of the first features of an exacerbation is flushing of the affected skin and pruritus. Several neuropeptides that have been identified in human skin are potent inducers of vasodilation and may induce pruritus. Substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) all cause vasodilation when injected intradermally, and SP and CGRP have been shown to be mediators of the weal and flare reaction. Spantide, a competitive antagonist of SP, has been shown to inhibit immediate and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Part of these responses may be due to release of histamine and indeed elevated concentrations of histamine have been found in vivo in the skin and plasma of patients with AD. In this study the distribution and density of several neuropeptides were examined in lesional and nonlesional skin of AD patients and in normal controls using indirect immunofluorescence and image analysis. Cholinergic innervation was studied using cholinesterase histochemistry. Because many afferent fibres do not express CGRP or SP, the general neuronal marker protein gene product (PGP 9 x 5) was used to assess the overall nerve supply to the skin.
Clin Exp Dermatol 1995 Nov
PMID:Neuropeptides in the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis. 885 37

The ability of the cellular components of the skin immune system to mount various types of immune responses is largely dependent upon their ability to release and to respond to different signals provided by immunoregulatory mediators such as cytokines and neuropeptides. In principle, almost every cytokine known so far, including interleukins (IL), interferons (IFN), tumor necrosis factors (TNF), colony stimulating factors (CSF) and several growth factors can be detected in the skin under certain physiological or pathological conditions. There is recent evidence that neuropeptides such as substance P, calcitonin-related gene product (CGRP) a.o. as well as neurohormones such as proopiomelanocortin (POMC), which is the precursor of several peptidehormones including melanocyte stimulating hormones (MSH), are present in epidermal cells, cutaneous tumors and inflammatory cells infiltrating the skin. In addition to their well known functions as neurotransmitters or hormones, these peptides have recently been recognized as potent immunomodulating agents which inhibit the production and activity of immunoregulatory and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IFN gamma) but induce the release of factors, e.g., IL-10, which downregulate immune responses. Accordingly, in animals, alpha MSH and CGRP have been shown to inhibit the induction of contact hypersensitivity reactions. Therefore, a complex network of interacting mediators including cytokines and neuropeptides within the cutaneous microenvironment are crucial elements of the induction, elicitation and regulation of cutaneous immune responses.
J Dermatol Sci 1996 Oct
PMID:Regulation of the immune response by epidermal cytokines and neurohormones. 890 47

Substance P (SP) released by cutaneous C fibres is involved in the physiopathology of cutaneous lesions. As normal human keratinocytes have been reported to express SP receptors, we studied the effects of SP on keratinocyte activation markers such as ICAM-1 induction and cytokine production. Human keratinocytes derived from skin obtained during plastic surgery were cultured in defined medium (MCDB 153) and were stimulated by SP. Flow cytometry analysis showed that SP (10(-7) and 10(-5) M) as well as the specific NK1 agonist Sar9Met(O2)11SP (Sar Met) induced a slight but significant expression of ICAM-1 at the cell surface during treatment periods of 24 h and 48 h. SP (10(-5) M) also induced a significant but transient increase in the production of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist and IL-8 which was detectable by ELISA techniques 6 h after stimulation. This elevation returned to constitutive levels 24 or 48 h postinduction. TNFalpha secretion was detected in stimulated cells only after 48 h. These results suggest that SP can activate keratinocytes and support its role in the local inflammatory reaction.
Arch Dermatol Res 1996 Feb
PMID:Substance P and keratinocyte activation markers: an in vitro approach. 893 86

We recently demonstrated that cultured malignant schwannoma (MS)-derived cells can support human skin mast cell (HSMC) survival in vitro. Cultured HSMCs were spindleshaped in close contract with MS-derived cells, suggesting cell to cell interaction. To elucidate the mechanism of the enhanced HSMC survival in coculture with MS-derived cells and the cellular interactions between HSMC and MS-derived cells, we examined the immunocytochemical characteristics of MS-derived cells using immunofluorescence. Morphologically, cultured MS-derived cells were polygonal with abundant cytoplasm and resembled perineurial cells. The cultured cells immunoreacted positively with vimentin, fibronectin, laminin and collagen IV, but negatively with anti-S100 protein, anti-neuron specific enolase, and anti-neurofilament (68 kd, 145 kd, 200 kd) antibodies. MS-derived cells were distinct from Schwann cells in their lack of S100 protein and also distinguishable from endoneurial fibroblasts that produce fibronectin, but never expressed laminin or collagen IV. MS-derived cells thus possess the characteristics of perineurial cells in their general morphology and their immunocytochemical properties. Immunoreactivity for substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) was found in the cytoplasm of these cells, particularly around the nuclei. Vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin, and calcitonin gene related peptide were negative. From these findings, we characterized the MS-derived cell's in vitro properties and concluded that it is similar to a perineurial cell. The extracellular matrix protein, laminin, and fibronectin expressed in the MS-derived cell might contribute to HSMC survival and morphology through cell to matrix adhesion. Neuropeptides such as SP and NKA, expressed in the MS-derived cell, might play some role in enhanced HSMC survival in vitro.
J Dermatol 1997 Jan
PMID:Immunocytochemical characterization of malignant schwannoma-derived cells in culture. 904 33


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