THE CRH-ACTH-BIOGENIC AMINE AXIS IN INVERTEBRATE IMMUNOCYTES ACTIVATED BY PDGF AND TGF-BETA

In immunocytes from the mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis, the major p athway followed by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB and transf orming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 in provoking the release of norepine phrine, epinephrine and dopamine into cell-free hemolymph (serum) is m ediated by a corticotropin-releasing hormone-adrenocorticotropin hormo ne (CRH-ACTH) biogenic amine axis, This axis not only annulled the inh ibiting properties of PDGF-AB, it even reversed the latter's effect, w hile the inducing effect of TGF-beta 1 was amplified. These findings s how that non-classical immune-neuroendocrine molecules, such as PDGF-A B and TGF-beta 1, are involved in building stress response, using the same conserved mechanisms present from invertebrates to vertebrates. ( C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.