Maxadilan interacts with receptors for pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide in human SH-SY5Y and SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells.

Receptors for pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) have been identified in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with PACAP being 1000-fold more potent than vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in [(125)I]PACAP binding inhibition and stimulation of cAMP accumulation. Maxadilan, a vasodilator peptide from the salivary gland of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis also specifically bound to SH-SY5Y cells, and was equipotent to PACAP in [(125)I]PACAP and [(125)I]maxadilan binding inhibition, and stimulation of cAMP accumulation. Maxadilan and PACAP also increased the cytosolic free calcium concentration. In human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells PACAP, VIP and maxadilan equipotently stimulated cAMP accumulation. The maximal effects of VIP and maxadilan were additive and reached those of PACAP alone. In human T47D breast carcinoma cells PACAP and VIP were also equipotent in the stimulation of cAMP accumulation, but maxadilan was inactive. The results are consistent with the interaction of maxadilan with PACAP specific PAC(1)receptors in SH-SY5Y cells, but not with VPAC receptors, not differentiating between VIP and PACAP in T47D cells. Moreover, maxadilan is a PAC(1)receptor specific agonist which allows discrimination of co-expressed PAC(1)and VPAC receptors in SK-N-MC cells.