Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is an effective calcium mobilization second messenger, which is synthesized from NAD + by ADP-ribosyl cyclase. Cyclic ADP-ribose mainly increases cytosolic calcium through Ryanodine receptor-mediated endoplasmic reticulum release
β-Defensin-2 is a peptide with antimicrobial properties that protects the skin and mucosal membranes of the respiratory, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts.1It inhibits the growth of periodontopathogenic and cariogenic bacteria, includingP. gingivalisandS. salivarius.2β-Defensin-2 (30 μg/ml) stimulates gene expression and production of IL-6, IL-10, CXCL10, CCL2, MIP-3α, and RANTES by keratinocytes.3It also stimulates calcium mobilization, migration, and proliferation of keratinocytes when used at concentrations of 30, 10, and 40 μg/ml, respectively. β-Defensin-2 induces IL-31 production by human peripheral blood-derived mast cellsin vitrowhen used at a concentration of 10 μg/ml and by rat mast cellsin vivofollowing a 500 ng intradermal dose.4Expression of β-defensin-2 is increased in psoriatic skin and chronic wounds.5,6
1.Lehrer, R.I.Primate defensinsNat. Rev. Microbiol.2(9)727-738(2004) 2.Ouhara, K., Komatsuzawa, H., Yamada, S., et al.Susceptibilities of periodontopathogenic and cariogenic bacteria to antibacterial peptides, β-defensins and LL37, produced by human epithelial cellsJ. Antimicrob. Chemother.55(6)888-896(2005) 3.Niyonsaba, F., Ushio, H., Nakano, N., et al.Antimicrobial peptides human β-defensins stimulate epidermal keratinocyte migration, proliferation and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokinesJ. Invest. Dermatol.127(3)594-604(2007) 4.Niyonsaba, F., Ushio, H., Hara, M., et al.Antimicrobial peptides human β-defensins and cathelicidin LL-37 induce the secretion of a pruritogenic cytokine IL-31 by human mast cellsJ. Immunol.184(7)3526-3534(2010) 5.Huh, W.-K., Oono, T., Shirafuji, Y., et al.Dynamic alteration of human β-defensin 2 localization from cytoplasm to intercellular space in psoriatic skinJ. Mol. Med. (Berl.)80(10)678-684(2002) 6.Butmarc, J., Yufit, T., Carson, P., et al.Human β-defensin-2 expression is increased in chronic woundsWound Repair Regen.12(4)439-443(2004)
β-Defensin-4 is a peptide with antimicrobial properties that protects the skin and mucosal membranes of the respiratory, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. It induces migration of monocytes in vitro when used at a concentration of 10 nM but does not affect migration of neutrophils and eosinophils. β-Defensin-4 (30 μg/ml) stimulates gene expression and production of IL-6, IL-10, CXCL10, CCL2, MIP-3α, and RANTES by keratinocytes. It also stimulates calcium mobilization, migration, and proliferation of keratinocytes when used at concentrations of 30, 10, and 40 μg/ml, respectively. β-Defensin-4 induces IL-31 production by human peripheral blood-derived mast cells in vitro when used at a concentration of 10 μg/ml and by rat mast cells in vivo following a 500 ng intradermal dose. It also inhibits growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus with lethal concentration (LC) values of 5, 12, and 15 μM, respectively, of S. carnosus (MIC = 4.5 μg/ml), and of C. albicans with a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) value of 7.5 μM.
Neuromedin U-23 (NMU-23) is a neuropeptide involved in diverse biological processes, including smooth muscle contraction, energy homeostasis, and nociception.1It is an agonist of neuromedin-U receptor 1 (NMUR1; EC50= 0.17 nM for the human receptor in a calcium mobilization assay using HEK293 cells) and NMUR2 (EC50= ~1.4-2 nM for arachidonic acid release in CHO cells expressing the human receptor).2,3NMU-23 (1 μM) induces contractions in isolated rat colon smooth muscle strips.4It decreases body weight and food intake and increases core body temperature in mice when administered at a dose of 36 μg/animal.5Intrathecal administration of NMU-23 decreases the mechanical pain threshold in the von Frey test in rats.6
1.Mitchell, J.D., Maguire, J.J., and Davenport, A.P.Emerging pharmacology and physiology of neuromedin U and the structurally related peptide neuromedin SBr. J. Pharmacol.158(1)87-103(2009) 2.Szekeres, P.G., Muir, A.I., Spinage, L.D., et al.Neuromedin U is a potent agonist at the orphan G protein-coupled receptor FM3J. Biol. Chem.275(27)20247-20250(2000) 3.Hosoya, M., Moriya, T., Kawamata, Y., et al.Identification and functional characterization of a novel subtype of neuromedin U receptorJ. Biol. Chem.275(38)29528-29532(2000) 4.Brighton, P.J., Wise, A., Dass, N.B., et al.Paradoxical behavior of neuromedin U in isolated smooth muscle cells and intact tissueJ. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.325(1)154-164(2008) 5.Peier, A., Kosinski, J., Cox-York, K., et al.The antiobesity effects of centrally administered neuromedin U and neuromedin S are mediated predominantly by the neuromedin U receptor 2 (NMUR2)Endocrinology150(7)3101-3109(2009) 6.Yu, X.H., Cao, C.Q., Mennicken, F., et al.Pro-nociceptive effects of neuromedin U in ratNeuroscience120(2)467-474(2003)
Migrastatin is a bacterial metabolite that has been found inStreptomyceswith antimuscarinic and anticancer activities.1,2It binds to M1-5muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (Kis = >200, 200, 31, 43, and >200 μM, respectively) and inhibits calcium mobilization induced by carbamoylcholine in SK-N-SH cells (IC50= 28 μM), as well as in primary rat bladder smooth muscle cells.1Migrastatin inhibits the migration of EC17 esophageal cancer cells in a wound healing assay (IC50= 10 μg/ml) and 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma cells in a chamber cell migration assay (IC50= 29 μM).2It enhances cytotoxicity induced by vinblastine in vincristine-resistant P388/VCR cells.3
Marcfortine A is an indole alkaloid originally isolated from P. roqueforti. It has nematocidal activity against the parasitic nematode H. contortus (LD99 = 0.06 μg/ml) and inhibits motility of adult worms (EC50 = 2 μM)., Marcfortine A eliminates H. contortus, T. colubriformis, and O. ostertagi from experimentally infected jirds (ED95s = 0.33, 0.11, and 2.5 mg/animal, respectively). It dose-dependently inhibits nicotine-induced calcium mobilization in SH-SY5Y and TE-671 cells expressing α3 subunit-containing human nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and muscle-type nAChRs, respectively.
Kisspeptin-54 is a peptide ligand of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR54 (Kis = 1.81 and 1.45 nM for rat and human receptors, respectively).1 It is a 54 amino acid peptide encoded by the metastasis suppressor gene KISS-1. Kisspeptin-54 induces calcium mobilization in CHO-K1 cells expressing rat and human receptors (EC50s = 1.39 and 5.47 nM, respectively). It also induces arachidonic acid release in CHO cells expressing rat and human GPR54 in a concentration-dependent manner. Kisspeptin-54 (10-1,000 nM) inhibits insulin secretion from isolated mouse pancreatic β-cells in the presence of 2.8 mM, but not 11.1 mM, glucose.2 Kisspeptin-54 (1-5 nmol, i.c.v.) increases serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) in mice, an effect which is reversed by the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GNRH) antagonist acycline.3References1. Kotani, M., Detheux, M., Vandenbogaerde, A.L., et al. The metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1 encodes kisspeptins, the natural ligands of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR54. J. Biol. Chem. 276(37), 34631-34636 (2001).2. Vikman, J., and Ahrén, B. Inhibitory effect of kisspeptins on insulin secretion from isolated mouse islets. Diabetes Obes. Metab. 11(Suppl 4), 197-201 (2009).3. Gottsch, M.L., Cunningham, M.J., Smith, J.T., et al. A role for kisspeptins in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion in the mouse. Endocrinology 145(9), 4073-4077 (2004).
Kisspeptin-54 is a peptide ligand of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR54 (Kis = 1.81 and 1.45 nM for rat and human receptors, respectively).1 It is a 54 amino acid peptide encoded by the metastasis suppressor gene KISS-1. Kisspeptin-54 induces calcium mobilization in CHO-K1 cells expressing rat and human receptors (EC50s = 1.39 and 5.47 nM, respectively). It also induces arachidonic acid release in CHO cells expressing rat and human GPR54 in a concentration-dependent manner. Kisspeptin-54 (10-1,000 nM) inhibits insulin secretion from isolated mouse pancreatic β-cells in the presence of 2.8 mM, but not 11.1 mM, glucose.2 Kisspeptin-54 (1-5 nmol, i.c.v.) increases serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) in mice, an effect which is reversed by the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GNRH) antagonist acycline.3
References1. Kotani, M., Detheux, M., Vandenbogaerde, A.L., et al. The metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1 encodes kisspeptins, the natural ligands of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR54. J. Biol. Chem. 276(37), 34631-34636 (2001).2. Vikman, J., and Ahrén, B. Inhibitory effect of kisspeptins on insulin secretion from isolated mouse islets. Diabetes Obes. Metab. 11(Suppl 4), 197-201 (2009).3. Gottsch, M.L., Cunningham, M.J., Smith, J.T., et al. A role for kisspeptins in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion in the mouse. Endocrinology 145(9), 4073-4077 (2004).
PAR2 (1-6) amide is a synthetic peptide agonist of proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) that corresponds to residues 1-6 of the amino terminal tethered ligand sequence of human PAR2 and residues 37-42 of the full-length sequence.1It binds to NCTC 2544 cells expressing human PAR2 (Ki= 9.64 μM in a radioligand binding assay) and induces calcium mobilization in the same cells (EC50= 0.075 μM).2PAR2 (1-6) amide (100 μM) reduces colony formation of A549 lung cancer cells.1It induces superoxide production and degranulation in isolated human eosinophils when used at a concentration of 500 μM.3PAR2 (1-6) amide (5 μmol/kg) induces tear secretion in rats when used in combination with amastatin .4
1.Bohm, S.K., Kong, W., Bromme, D., et al.Molecular cloning, expression and potential functions of the human proteinase-activated receptor-2Biochem. J.314(Pt 3)1009-1016(1996) 2.Kanke, T., Ishiwata, H., Kabeya, M., et al.Binding of a highly potent protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) activating peptide, [3H]2-furoyl-LIGRL-NH2, to human PAR2Br. J. Pharmacol.145(2)255-263(2005) 3.Miike, S., McWilliam, A.S., and Kita, H.Trypsin induces activation and inflammatory mediator release from human eosinophils through protease-activated receptor-2J. Immunol.167(11)6615-6622(2001) 4.Nishikawa, H., Kawai, K., Tanaka, M., et al.Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2)-related peptides induce tear secretion in rats: Involvement of PAR-2 and non-PAR-2 mechanismsJ. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.312(2)324-331(2005)