The neuropeptide, substance P (SP), is the physiological ligand of the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor that is consistently overexpressed in glioblastoma cells.
Thus, in the present study, the effects of GBP and PGB on SP‑induced activation were investigated in the human glioblastoma astrocytoma U373 MG cell line, which expresses high levels of functional high‑affinity NK1R, and produces interleukin (IL)‑6 and IL‑8 in response to SP.
NK1R agonists promote glioblastoma cell growth, whereas NK1R antagonists efficiently inhibit cell growth both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these effects are incompletely understood.
Cell biological studies were done with glioblastoma cell lines. neurokinin type-1 receptor (NK1R) autoradiography was done with 58 tumor biopsies.For labeling, (90)Y was mostly used.
Consistent with a role for SPR in cell growth, activation of SPR in U373 MG human glioblastoma cells leads to the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases [extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)] and stimulation of cell proliferation.