Authors: Bhavani S Sahu Parshuram J Sonawane Nitish R Mahapatra
Publish Date: 2009/11/27
Volume: 67, Issue: 6, Pages: 861-874
Abstract
Chromogranin A CHGA is ubiquitously expressed in secretory cells of the endocrine neuroendocrine and neuronal tissues Although this protein has long been known as a marker for neuroendocrine tumors its role in cardiovascular disease states including essential hypertension EH has only recently been recognized It acts as a prohormone giving rise to bioactive peptides such as vasostatinI human CHGA1–76 and catestatin human CHGA352–372 that exhibit several cardiovascular regulatory functions CHGA is overexpressed but catestatin is diminished in EH Moreover genetic variants in the promoter catestatin and 3′untranslated regions of the human CHGA gene alter autonomic activity and blood pressure Consistent with these findings targeted ablation of this gene causes severe arterial hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy in mice Transgenic expression of the human CHGA gene or exogenous administration of catestatin restores blood pressure in these mice Thus the accumulated evidence establishes CHGA as a novel susceptibility gene for EHWe are grateful to all the researchers who participated in the studies on characterization of chromogranin A and made valuable contributions in this field We are thankful to the Center for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research at IIT Madras Department of Biotechnology and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Govt of India for financial support
Keywords: