CGRP is expressed in primary cultures of human hepatocytes and in normal liver

• Published in: FEBS letters Vol. 351; no. 1; pp. 63 - 66
• Main Authors: Bracq, S., Clement, B., Pidoux, E., Moukhtar, M.S., Jullienne, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 29.08.1994
• Subjects: Alternative Splicing; Base Sequence; Biosynthesis; BSA, bovine serum albumin; Calcitonin gene related peptide mRNA; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; CGRP, calcitonin gene related peptide; DNA Primers; Human liver; Humans; Liver - cytology; Liver - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Paracrine; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Radioimmunoassay; RIA, radioimmunoassay; RNase A, ribonuclease A; SSC, sodium saline citrate; Polymerase chain reaction; BSA, bovine serum albumin; RNase A, ribonuclease A; Human liver; RIA, radioimmunoassay; Paracrine; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; Biosynthesis; Calcitonin gene related peptide mRNA; CGRP, calcitonin gene related peptide; SSC, sodium saline citrate
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-5793(94)00823-X

We recently reported that human liver and primary cultures of hepatocytes express calcitonin. We therefore studied the expression of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), the alternative splicing product of the calcitonin gene, in hepatocytes and liver. We used polymerase chain reaction amplification with specific primers to detect the presence of CGRP I and II messengers and a specific radioimmunoassay to measure the peptide. We report here that CGRP is synthesized by primary cultures of hepatocytes and in liver. As liver also possesses specific receptors for CGRP in non-parenchymal cells, a paracrine system could be involved in liver metabolism.