Production and characterisation of immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from a CGRP receptor-positive cloned osteosarcoma cell line (UMR 106.01)

A subclone of an osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cell line (UMR 106.01) has recently been shown to possess specific binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) linked to adenylate cyclase. The present study provides the first demonstration for the production of immunoreactive CGRP from CGRP-receptor positive osteosarcoma cells. Mean immunoreactive CGRP levels were 15 pmol/g and 1 pmol/l for acid extracts of cells and cell-exposed media respectively. On gel filtration and high performance liquid chromatography, a major proportion of immunoreactive CGRP was found to co-elute with synthetic rat CGRP_(1-37). Only negligible quantities of calcitonin were detected in cell extracts or cell-exposed supernatant. The production of authentic CGRP from a CGRP-receptor positive tumour suggests that the peptide may have autocrine effects on its producer cell.