© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 149
T. Angelone et al. (eds.), Chromogranins: from Cell Biology to Physiology
and Biomedicine, UNIPA Springer Series, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-58338-9_10
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Action
of CgA-Derived Peptides in Cardiomyocytes
and Endothelial Cells
Giuseppe Alloatti and Maria Pia Gallo
G. Alloatti (*)
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
National Institute for Cardiovascular Research (INRC), Bologna, Italy
e-mail: [email protected]
M.P. Gallo
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract Several studies indicate that Chromogranin A (CgA)-derived peptides, in
particular Vasostatin-1 (VS-1), Catestatin (CST), Chromofungin and Serpinin, exert
important regulatory effects in numerous organs/systems, including the cardiovas-
cular system. This chapter focuses on the recently discovered signalling pathways
activated by CgA-derived peptides in cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, giving
insights into the mechanisms at the basis of their inotropic and cardioprotective
effects. Several evidences provided convincing support for VS-1 and CST as cardiac
inotropic peptides, indirectly acting on cardiomyocytes through a Ca2+-independent/
PI3K-dependent NO release from endothelial cells. This pathway appears to be trig-
gered by the interaction of these peptides with the plasma membrane, as suggested
by the biochemical features of VS-1 and CST, structurally characterized by amphipa-
thic properties, and their ability to interact with mammalian and microbial mem-
branes. However, recent data suggest that both VS-1 and CST are also able to exert
direct cardioprotective effects in isolated cardiomyocytes, independently from the
presence of endothelial cells. Interestingly, both direct and indirect effects seem to
be characterized by the absence of specific membrane receptors on target cells,
highlighting intriguing novelties in the topic of cell signalling, in particular respect
to an hypothetical receptor-independent eNOS activation.
Abbreviations
ANP Atrial natriuretic peptide
AR Adrenergic receptors