Procalcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide decrease LPS-induced TNF production by human circulating blood cells

The pathogenesis of septic shock is mainly due to unregulated tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. Procalcitonin (PCT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are alternative transcription products of the calcitonin gene. Since high PCT levels have been described in human sepsis, and since CGRP inhibits TNF synthesis in rats, we examined the role of these peptides in the regulation of the inflammatory response during septic shock. LPS-induced TNF production was assessed using a human whole blood model. In this model, PCT (10 (- 7) M) and CGRP (10 (- 6) M) significantly inhibit TNF production by 27 and 24 % respectively. The effect of CGRP was reversed by CGRP 8-37 (10 mu M), an antagonist of CGRP receptor. No effect on interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and IL-8 was found. This is the first description of an anti-inflammatory role for PCT and CGRP in humans. (C) 2000 Academic Press.