B. Emadikhiav et al., HUMAN AND RAT CUTANEOUS MAST-CELLS - INVOLVEMENT OF A G-PROTEIN IN THE RESPONSE TO PEPTIDERGIC STIMULI, European journal of pharmacology, 272(1), 1995, pp. 97-102
Recent evidence suggests that peptides induce the release of mediators
from rat peritoneal mast cell by means of a receptor-independent mech
anism, possibly involving an interaction with sialic acid residues at
the cell surface followed by the activation of a guanine nucleotide bi
nding protein (G protein). We have now examined the potential involvem
ent of sialic acid residues and of G protein stimulation in the activa
tion of both human and rat cutaneous mast cells by neuropeptide Y, its
C-terminal fragments and the wasp venom peptide, mastoparan. Neuropep
tide Y-(18-36) was the most effective histamine releaser of the fragme
nts tested, the order of potency being neuropeptide Y-(18-36)>neuropep
tide Y-(22-36)>neuropeptide Y-(1-36). This order of potency suggests t
hat the effects of the peptides are not mediated through classical NPY
receptors. The hydrolysis of sialic acid residues by neuraminidase an
d the inhibition of G proteins by benzalkonium chloride or pertussis t
oxin significantly inhibited the secretory response of cutaneous mast
cells to neuropeptide Y-(18-36) and mastoparan. These results demonstr
ate that the peptidergic pathway described for the activation of perit
oneal rat mast cells is also involved in the response of cutaneous hum
an and rat mast cells to peptides.