Amino-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein: specific binding and cytosolic calcium responses in rat insulinoma cells.

PTH-related protein (PTHrP), originally identified through its causative role in human humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, is now known to be a normal gene product expressed in a wide variety of neuroendocrine, epithelial, and mesoderm-derived tissues. PTHrP gene expression has recently been demonstrated in fetal and adult, benign and malignant, as well as human and rodent pancreatic islets. As in other tissues, the role of PTHrP expression in the normal islet is only beginning to be explored.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein: structure, function, and measurement.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHRP) is a 139- to 173-amino-acid protein with N-terminal homology to parathyroid hormone (PTH). Initially isolated from tumors from patients with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, PTHRP appears to be of far more widespread physiological importance. Its complex gene is expressed in a surprising diversity of tissues.

A pharmacological comparison of parathyroid hormone receptors in human bone and kidney.

While abundant information is available characterizing PTH receptor properties in other species, data on human PTH receptors is very limited. We have been interested in the possibility that tissue-specific differences among human PTH receptors (i.e.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein. Evidence for secretion of a novel mid-region fragment by three different cell types.

The cDNA-predicted amino acid sequence of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) contains multiple basic amino acid motifs, suggesting that PTHrP undergoes extensive post-translational processing prior to secretion. The secretory forms of the peptide are currently unknown. To identify these secretory forms, medium was harvested from three cell types: human renal carcinoma (SKRC-1) cells, human keratinocytes, and rat insulinoma cells stably transfected with the cDNA for PTHrP(1-141) (RIN-141 cells).

Analysis of PTHRP binding and signal transduction mechanisms in benign and malignant squamous cells.

We have explored a potential autocrine role for parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHRP) in malignant squamous carcinoma cells (SqCC) and their nonmalignant counterpart, human epidermal keratinocytes (HK). Specific binding of Tyr36 human PTHRP-(1-36)NH2 (125I-[Tyr36]hPTHRP-(1-36)NH2) was identified in 75% of unselected SqCC lines. In contrast, no binding was detected on the mouse keratinocyte line BALB-MK or on five different HK lines.

Glycosylation of parathyroid hormone-related peptide secreted by human epidermal keratinocytes.

While the gene and mRNA transcripts encoding PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) have been well characterized, the actual secretory form(s) of the peptide is unknown. Accordingly, synthetic and recombinant PTHrPs employed to date for biological and immunological characterization have necessarily been of arbitrary lengths. No prior evidence for glycosylation of PTHrPs has been described.

Depression and the chronic pain experience.

The present study examined the relationship between depression and a constellation of pain-related variables that describe the experience of chronic pain patients. Thirty-seven depressed and 32 non-depressed heterogeneous chronic pain patients were identified through structured interviews, use of standardized criteria and scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The 2 groups were compared on demographic variables and scores on the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale (MC), as well as measures of disability and medication use, pain severity, interference due to pain and reported pain behaviors.

Fluorescence spectroscopy in cardiovascular disease Fundamental concepts and clinical applications.

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy can distinguish atherosclerotic from normal arteries by their characteristic fluorescence spectra. The ability to perform remote spectroscopy through optical fibers can be incorporated into a "smart" laser angioplasty system. By detecting the presence of atherosclerosis, and by signaling completion of plaque ablation, fluorescence spectroscopy could guide selective laser ablation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Immunochemical characterization of circulating parathyroid hormone-related protein in patients with humoral hypercalcemia of cancer.

Tumors from patients with humoral hypercalcemia of cancer produce a parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHRP). We have developed two region-specific immunoassays capable of measuring PTHRP in plasma: an immunoradiometric assay directed toward PTHRP amino acid sequence 1 to 74 and a radioimmunoassay directed toward PTHRP amino acid sequence 109 to 138. Sixty normal subjects had low or undetectable plasma PTHRP (1 to 74) concentrations (mean, 1.