Effect of short peptides on expression of signaling molecules in organotypic pineal cell culture.

Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine2011PMID: 22803060

Animal StudyIn VitroPinealon

Plain Language Summary

In pineal gland cell cultures, the peptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly specifically stimulated cell division and enhanced the secretory activity of pinealocytes, the cells responsible for producing melatonin and related compounds. Other tested peptides including Lys-Glu-Asp and Glu-Asp-Arg did not trigger cell death. The ability of Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly to selectively activate pineal cell function may make it useful for restoring pineal gland activity that declines with age.

Abstract

We demonstrated the influence of short peptides on the expression of signaling molecules in organotypic culture of the pineal gland from 3-month-old rats. Peptides Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly and Lys-Glu-Asp stimulate the expression of proliferative protein Ki-67 in pineal gland culture. These peptides as well as Glu-Asp-Arg and Lys-Glu do not affect the expression of apoptosis marker AIF. The synthesis of transcription factor CGRP by pinealocytes was stimulated only by Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. Thus, peptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly tissue-specifically stimulates proliferative and secretory activities of pinealocytes, which can be used for recovery of pineal gland functions at the molecular level.

Authors

Khavinson, V Kh; Linkova, N S; Chalisova, N I; Dudkov, A V; Koncevaya, E A