Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and angiogenesis-related vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressed in HaCaT keratinocytes.Methods The levels of VEGF mRNA and protein were determined by real-time PCR and ELISA,respectively,in human HaCaT keratinocytes with or without pretreatment with CGRP receptor antagonist (CGRP8-37) or extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor (PD98059) or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580).Results The levels of VEGF mRNA and protein were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner by the pretreatment with CGRP.However,the phenomenon was abrogated by the pretreatment with CGRP8-37 or PD98059.The SB203580 had no effect on the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein.Conclusion CGRP upregulates the expression of VEGF in human HaCaT keratinocytes via CGRP receptor and activation of ERK1/2 pathway.

Key words: Calcitonin gene-related peptide, Vascular endothelial growth factors, HaCaT cells