Current Protein and Peptide Science - Volume 14, Issue 4, 2013

Adrenomedullin (AM) was originally isolated from human pheochromocytoma as a biologically active peptide with potent vasodilating action but is now known to exert a wide range of physiological effects, including cardiovascular protection, neovascularization, and apoptosis suppression. A variety of tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract, have been shown to constitutively produce AM. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such a Read More

Many neurohumoral factors play important roles in the regulation of the cardiovascular system and in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilatory peptide originally discovered in the acid extract of human pheochromocytoma tissue but now known to exert a variety of effects within the cardiovascular system. AM expression is widely distributed throughout the cardiovascular s Read More

Sensory nerves are abundant in lymphoid organs and rapidly release the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in response to injury or infection. CGRP directly acts on macrophages and dendritic cells and inhibits the capacity of these cells to produce inflammatory cytokines and to present antigens to T cells. Effector mechanisms, by which CGRP acts on innate immune cells, include upregulation of IL-10, IL-10-ind Read More

Insulin resistance is defined as a preliminary step of type 2 diabetes mellitus with decreased insulin action evoked by continuous postprandial hyperglycemia, which is provoked by high fat and calories dieting, a lack of physical activity and obesity. In the early phase of type 2 diabetes mellitus, patients have a hyperinsulinemia to compensate deficient insulin action by increased secretion from the pancreas to maintain Read More

Vertebrates have expanded their habitats from aquatic to terrestrial environments, which has accompanied the evolution of cardiovascular and osmoregulatory hormones. Specifically, mammals have developed mechanisms to maintain high blood pressure and blood volume, while extant fishes have developed hypotensive and Na-extruding mechanisms to adapt to the marine environment where they underwent a vast div Read More

Intermedin/adrenomedullin-2 (IMD/AM2) belongs to the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) / adrenomedullin (AM) family. The biological actions of this family are attributed to their actions at three receptor subtypes comprising the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) complexed with one of three receptor activity modifying proteins. In contrast to AM and CGRP, IMD binds non-selectively to all three receptor subtypes: CGRP, A Read More

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, amylin) is a 37 amino acid residue hormone expressed mainly by pancreatic islet beta cells and to less extent by some gastrointestinal endocrine cells and by certain regions in central nervous system. In experimental systems a number of different effects have been ascribed to IAPP but the in vivo importance of many of them is still unknown. At least effects on the central nervous system and on Read More

Amylin (islet amyloid polypeptide) and amyloid beta protein (Aβ), identified as proteinaceous deposits within the pancreas of diabetics and the brain of Alzheimer’s patients respectively, share many biophysical, physiological and neurotoxic properties. Although no specific “Aβ receptor” has been identified, emerging evidence suggests that the amylin receptor serves a putative target receptor for the actions of Aβ; in the brain. The Read More