Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

Galanin Family of Peptides in Skin Function

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Galanin

Part of the book series: Experientia Supplementum ((EXS,volume 102))

Abstract

The skin, the largest organ of the body, functions as a barrier between the body proper and the external environment, as it is constantly exposed to noxious stressors. During the last few years, the concept of an interactive network involving cutaneous nerves, the neuroendocrine axis, and the immune system has emerged. The neuroendocrine system of the skin is composed of locally produced neuroendocrine mediators that interact with specific receptors. Among these mediators are neuropeptides, including members of the galanin peptide family – galanin, galanin-message associated peptide, galanin-like peptide, and alarin – which are produced in neuronal as well as nonneuronal cells in the skin. Here, we review the expression of the galanin peptides and their receptors in the skin, and the known functions of galanin peptides in different compartments of the skin. We discuss these data in light of the role of the galanin peptide family in inflammation and cell proliferation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lang R, Gundlach AL, Kofler B (2007) The galanin peptide family: receptor pharmacology, pleiotropic biological actions, and implications in health and disease. Pharmacol Ther 115:177–207

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Holzer P (1998) Neurogenic vasodilatation and plasma leakage in the skin. Gen Pharmacol 30:5–11

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kashiba H, Noguchi K, Ueda Y, Senba E (1994) Neuropeptide Y and galanin are coexpressed in rat large type A sensory neurons after peripheral transection. Peptides 15:411–416

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Fantini F, Johansson O (1995) Neurochemical markers in human cutaneous Merkel cells. An immunohistochemical investigation. Exp Dermatol 4:365–371

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Johansson O, Vaalasti A, Tainio H, Ljungberg A (1988) Immunohistochemical evidence of galanin in sensory nerves of human digital skin. Acta Physiol Scand 132:261–263

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Johansson O, Fantini F, Hu H (1999) Neuronal structural proteins, transmitters, transmitter enzymes and neuropeptides in human Meissner’s corpuscles: a reappraisal using immunohistochemistry. Arch Dermatol Res 291:419–424

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hu P, McLachlan EM (2003) Selective reactions of cutaneous and muscle afferent neurons to peripheral nerve transection in rats. J Neurosci 23:10559–10567

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Girolomoni G, Giannetti A (1989) Neuropeptides and the skin: morphological, functional and physiopathological aspects. G Ital Dermatol Venereol 124:121–140

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tainio H, Vaalasti A, Rechardt L (1987) The distribution of substance P-, CGRP-, galanin- and ANP-like immunoreactive nerves in human sweat glands. Histochem J 19:375–380

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Pincelli C, Fantini F, Massimi P, Girolomoni G, Seidenari S, Giannetti A (1990) Neuropeptides in skin from patients with atopic dermatitis: an immunohistochemical study. Br J Dermatol 122:745–750

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Baumann MA, Korkmaz Y, Bloch W, Schmidt A, Addicks K, Schroder H (2003) Localization of the neuropeptide galanin in nerve fibers and epithelial keratinocytes of the rat molar gingiva. Eur J Oral Sci 111:175–178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kofler B, Berger A, Santic R, Moritz K, Almer D, Tuechler C, Lang R, Emberger M, Klausegger A, Sperl W et al (2004) Expression of neuropeptide galanin and galanin receptors in human skin. J Invest Dermatol 122:1050–1053

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Man PS, Lawrence CB (2008) The effects of Galanin-like peptide on energy balance, body temperature and brain activity in the mouse and rat are independent of the GALR2/3 receptor. J Neuroendocrinol 20:128–137

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Santic R, Schmidhuber SM, Lang R, Rauch I, Voglas E, Eberhard N, Bauer JW, Brain SD, Kofler B (2007) Alarin is a vasoactive peptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:10217–10222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rauch I, Lundstrom L, Hell M, Sperl W, Kofler B (2007) Galanin message-associated peptide suppresses growth and the budded-to-hyphal-form transition of Candida albicans. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 51:4167–4170

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Santha P, Pierau FK, Jancso G (1998) Evidence for an inhibition by endogenous galanin of neurogenic cutaneous vasodilatation in the pigeon. Neurosci Lett 243:101–104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Santha P, Pierau FK, Jancso G (1999) Galanin mediated inhibitory nervous modulation of cutaneous vascular reactions. Acta Physiol Hung 86:279–285

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Santha P, Pierau FK, Jancso G (1999) Inhibitory modulation of cutaneous vascular responses by endogenous galanin in the pigeon. Neurosci Lett 273:64–66

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Jancso G, Santha P, Horvath V, Pierau F (2000) Inhibitory neurogenic modulation of histamine-induced cutaneous plasma extravasation in the pigeon. Regul Pept 95:75–80

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Xu XJ, Hao JX, Wiesenfeld-Hallin Z, Hakanson R, Folkers K, Hokfelt T (1991) Spantide II, a novel tachykinin antagonist, and galanin inhibit plasma extravasation induced by antidromic C-fiber stimulation in rat hindpaw. Neuroscience 42:731–737

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Dagar S, Onyuksel H, Akhter S, Krishnadas A, Rubinstein I (2003) Human galanin expresses amphipathic properties that modulate its vasoreactivity in vivo. Peptides 24:1373–1380

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Schmidhuber SM, Santic R, Tam CW, Bauer JW, Kofler B, Brain SD (2007) Galanin-like peptides exert potent vasoactive functions in vivo. J Invest Dermatol 127:716–721

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Schmidhuber SM, Rauch I, Kofler B, Brain SD (2009) Evidence that the modulatory effect of galanin on inflammatory edema formation is mediated by the galanin receptor 3 in the murine microvasculature. J Mol Neurosci 37:177–181

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Holmberg K, Kuteeva E, Brumovsky P, Kahl U, Karlstrom H, Lucas GA, Rodriguez J, Westerblad H, Hilke S, Theodorsson E et al (2005) Generation and phenotypic characterization of a galanin overexpressing mouse. Neuroscience 133:59–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Schmidhuber SM, Starr A, Wynick D, Kofler B, Brain SD (2008) Targeted disruption of the galanin gene attenuates inflammatory responses in murine skin J Mol Neurosci 34:149–155

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Holmes FE, Mahoney SA, Wynick D (2005) Use of genetically engineered transgenic mice to investigate the role of galanin in the peripheral nervous system after injury. Neuropeptides 39:191–199

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ji RR, Zhang X, Zhang Q, Dagerlind A, Nilsson S, Wiesenfeld-Hallin Z, Hokfelt T (1995) Central and peripheral expression of galanin in response to inflammation. Neuroscience 68:563–576

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Matkowskyj KA, Danilkovich A, Marrero J, Savkovic SD, Hecht G, Benya RV (2000) Galanin-1 receptor up-regulation mediates the excess colonic fluid production caused by infection with enteric pathogens. Nat Med 6:1048–1051

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Matkowskyj KA, Nathaniel R, Prasad R, Weihrauch D, Rao M, Benya RV (2004) Galanin contributes to the excess colonic fluid secretion observed in dextran sulfate sodium murine colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 10:408–416

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dallos A, Kiss M, Polyanka H, Dobozy A, Kemeny L, Husz S (2006) Galanin receptor expression in cultured human keratinocytes and in normal human skin. J Peripher Nerv Syst 11:156–164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Henson BS, Neubig RR, Jang I, Ogawa T, Zhang Z, Carey TE, D'Silva NJ (2005) Galanin receptor 1 has anti-proliferative effects in oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Biol Chem 280:22564–22571

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Dallos A, Kiss M, Polyanka H, Dobozy A, Kemeny L, Husz S (2006) Effects of the neuropeptides substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and galanin on the production of nerve growth factor and inflammatory cytokines in cultured human keratinocytes. Neuropeptides 40:251–263

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Eming SA, Krieg T, Davidson JM (2007) Inflammation in wound repair: molecular and cellular mechanisms. J Invest Dermatol 127:514–525

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sethi T, Langdon S, Smyth J, Rozengurt E (1992) Growth of small cell lung cancer cells: stimulation by multiple neuropeptides and inhibition by broad spectrum antagonists in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Res 52:2737s–2742s

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Wynick D, Hammond PJ, Akinsanya KO, Bloom SR (1993) Galanin regulates basal and oestrogen-stimulated lactotroph function. Nature 364:529–532

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Hammond PJ, Smith DM, Akinsanya KO, Mufti WA, Wynick D, Bloom SR (1996) Signalling pathways mediating secretory and mitogenic responses to galanin and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in the 235-1 clonal rat lactotroph cell line. J Neuroendocrinol 8:457–464

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. El-Salhy M (2005) Triple treatment with octreotide, galanin and serotonin is a promising therapy for colorectal cancer. Curr Pharm Des 11:2107–2117

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Iishi H, Tatsuta M, Baba M, Yano H, Iseki K, Uehara H, Nakaizumi A (1998) Inhibition by galanin of experimental carcinogenesis induced by azaserine in rat pancreas. Int J Cancer 75:396–399

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Berger A, Lang R, Moritz K, Santic R, Hermann A, Sperl W, Kofler B (2004) Galanin receptor subtype GalR2 mediates apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Endocrinology 145:500–507

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. El-Salhy M, Tjomsland V (2005) Theodorsson E. Effects of triple treatment with octreotide, galanin and serotonin on a human pancreas cancer cell line in xenografts Histol Histopathol 20:745–752

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Kanazawa T, Iwashita T, Kommareddi P, Nair T, Misawa K, Misawa Y, Ueda Y, Tono T, Carey TE (2007) Galanin and galanin receptor type 1 suppress proliferation in squamous carcinoma cells: activation of the extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway and induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Oncogene 26:5762–5771

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Sugimoto T, Seki N, Shimizu S, Kikkawa N, Tsukada J, Shimada H, Sasaki K, Hanazawa T, Okamoto Y, Hata A (2009) The galanin signaling cascade is a candidate pathway regulating oncogenesis in human squamous cell carcinoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 48:132–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Kanazawa T, Kommareddi PK, Iwashita T, Kumar B, Misawa K, Misawa Y, Jang I, Nair TS, Iino Y, Carey TE (2009) Galanin receptor subtype 2 suppresses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in p53 mutant head and neck cancer cells. Clin Cancer Res 15:2222–2230

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Gilaberte Y, Vera J, Coscojuela C, Roca MJ, Parrado C, Gonzalez S (2007) Expression of galanin in melanocytic tumors. Actas Dermosifiliogr 98:24–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Hafner C, Stempfl T, Baumler W, Hohenleutner U, Landthaler M, Vogt T (2008) Gene expression profiling of melanocytes following Q-Switched Ruby laser irradiation. Dermatology 216:6–13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Habert-Ortoli E, Amiranoff B, Loquet I, Laburthe M, Mayaux JF (1994) Molecular cloning of a functional human galanin receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91:9780–9783

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Kim KY, Kee MK, Chong SA, Nam MJ (2007) Galanin is up-regulated in colon adenocarcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 16:2373–2378

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, SALK and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    J. W. Bauer & R. Lang

  2. Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, SALK and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    M. Jakab

  3. Department of Pediatrics, SALK and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    B. Kofler

Authors
  1. J. W. Bauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Lang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Jakab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Kofler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Kofler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Retzius vaeg 8, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden

    Tomas Hökfelt

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Basel AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bauer, J.W., Lang, R., Jakab, M., Kofler, B. (2010). Galanin Family of Peptides in Skin Function. In: Hökfelt, T. (eds) Galanin. Experientia Supplementum, vol 102. Springer, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0346-0228-0_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation