Bombesin, calcitonin and leu-enkephalin immunoreactivity in endocrine cells of human lung

Association of Changes in Bombesin Immunoreactive Neuroendocrine Cells in Lungs of Newborn Infants with Persistent Fetal Circulation and Brainstem Damage Due to Birth Asphyxia

“…The first ultrastructural study of the NE cells was reported by Bensch et al (2) in 1965 who described cells with neurosecretory granules in the bronchial mucosa of adult lung. Subsequent electron microscopic and histochemical studies (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9), revealed that pulmonary NE cells exhibit many of the features of the APUD cells of Pearse (6), which prompted the suggestion that these cells might secrete vasoactive peptides (7). A tetradecapeptide bombesin was the first peptide reported in human neonatal lungs (8).…”

“…A tetradecapeptide bombesin was the first peptide reported in human neonatal lungs (8). This was subsequently followed by a report of two additional peptides namely calcitonin and leu-enkephalin in human neonatal and adult lungs (9). The term NE cells has gained general acceptance not only because of the presence of cytoplasmic neurosecretory granules, but also because these cells NEB appear to be innervated in both man, other mammals, and amphibians (10,11).…”

Overexpressed proprotein convertase 1/3 induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition in airway epithelium

“…PC1/3 is known to be predominantly expressed in neural and endocrine cells and localised in secretory granules [22]. It has been reported that PC1/3 and its physiological substrates, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide, leu-enkephalin and bombesin, are expressed in neuroendocrine cells scattered in the respiratory epithelium [23]. Furthermore, JORNOT et al [15] reported that primary human nasal epithelial cells contain brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a PC1/3 substrate [24], in ChrA-containing secretory granules in neuroendocrine cells.…”

Phylogenetic aspects of the neuroepithelial bodies.

“…Among these substances are a gastrin-related peptide (GRP/ bombesin), calcitonin, calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP), leu-enkephalin, somatostatin, chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, protein gene product and synaptophysin (WHARTON et al, 1981;CUTZ et al, 1981;DAYER et al, 1985;LAUWERYNS et al, 1987;LAUWERYS and VANRANST, 1988).…”

“…It is still uncertain whether there are differences in the distribution of these substances either in cells of the same NEB (CUTZ et al, 1981), different NEBs in the same animal (LAUWERYNS et al, 1987) or within different DCV as well as between species. The significance of these differences is difficult to assess at this stage.…”