Title:An Overview of Non-Neural Sources of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
Volume: 23
Issue: 8
Author(s): Rong Hu, Yuan-Jian Li and Xiao-Hui Li
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Adipocytes, CGRP, endothelial cells, EPCs, epithelial cells, hepatocytes, immunocytes.
Abstract: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is extensively distributed throughout the central
and peripheral nervous systems and has been shown to be a 37 amino acid multifunctional neuropeptide
involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. Recently, there is increasing
evidence suggesting that CGRP also exists in non-nerve cells, such as epithelial cells, endothelial
cells, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMCs), and adipocytes. The existence of CGRP in non-neural tissue is of great importance
to the regulation of multiple physiological and pathological processes via different pathways,
especially through an autocrine/paracrine mode. This review integrates evidence from recent developments and aims to
provide novel insights into non-neural sources of CGRP and its effects on physiological and pathological processes.
