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CGRP Receptor Signalling Pathways

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Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 255))

Abstract

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a promiscuous peptide, similar to many other members of the calcitonin family of peptides. The potential of CGRP to act on many different receptors with differing affinities and efficacies makes deciphering the signalling from the CGRP receptor a challenging task for researchers.

Although it is not a typical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), in that it is composed not just of a GPCR, the CGRP receptor activates many of the same signalling pathways common for other GPCRs. This includes the family of G proteins and a variety of protein kinases and transcription factors. It is now also clear that in addition to the initiation of cell-surface signalling, GPCRs, including the CGRP receptor, also activate distinct signalling pathways as the receptor is trafficking along the endocytic conduit.

Given CGRP’s characteristic of activating multiple GPCRs, we will first consider the complex of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) as the CGRP receptor. We will discuss the discovery of the CGRP receptor components, the molecular mechanisms controlling its internalization and post-endocytic trafficking (recycling and degradation) and the diverse signalling cascades that are elicited by this receptor in model cell lines. We will then discuss CGRP-mediated signalling pathways in primary cells pertinent to migraine including neurons, glial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells.

Investigation of all the CGRP- and CGRP receptor-mediated signalling cascades is vital if we are to fully understand CGRP’s role in migraine and will no doubt unearth new targets for the treatment of migraine and other CGRP-driven diseases.

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Abbreviations

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

cAMP:

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

CGRP:

Calcitonin gene-related peptide

CLR:

Calcitonin receptor-like receptor

ECE1:

Endothelin-converting enzyme 1

ERK:

Extracellular-regulated protein kinase

ETA :

Endothelin A receptor

GPCR:

G protein-coupled receptor

IL:

Interleukin

JNK:

c-Jun N-terminal kinase

PKA:

Protein kinase A

PKC:

Protein kinase C

NO:

Nitric oxide

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

RAMP:

Receptor activity-modifying protein

RCP:

Receptor component protein

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Correspondence to Graeme S. Cottrell .

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Cottrell, G.S. (2018). CGRP Receptor Signalling Pathways. In: Brain, S., Geppetti, P. (eds) Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) Mechanisms. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 255. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2018_130

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