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Neuropeptide FF-like immunoreactivity in human plasma
D M Sundblom1, P Panula, F Fyhrquist
1Unit of Clinical Physiology, Minerva Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland.
Peptides
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is present in human blood at low concentrations, detected using radioimmunoassay. These levels may be too low for systemic effects, suggesting leakage from nervous tissue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Peptide Research
Background:
- Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is an octapeptide known for pain modulation and blood pressure regulation in rats.
- Investigating the presence and levels of NPFF in human circulation is crucial for understanding its potential physiological roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for quantifying neuropeptide FF (NPFF) in human plasma.
- To determine the concentration of NPFF in human blood and investigate its correlation with demographic factors.
- To characterize the identity of circulating NPFF in humans.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of a highly specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA).
- Analysis of 111 human plasma samples.
- Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with RIA for peptide characterization.
Main Results:
- The mean concentration of NPFF in human plasma was determined to be 2.9 pg/ml +/- 1.1.
- Plasma NPFF concentrations did not show a correlation with age or sex.
- HPLC-RIA analysis confirmed that plasma NPFF co-eluted with synthetic NPFF, indicating identical chromatographic behavior.
Conclusions:
- Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is detectable in human plasma.
- The measured concentrations of NPFF in human plasma are likely too low to exert systemic effects, considering known receptor binding affinities.
- Plasma NPFF may originate from leakage from nervous tissue rather than systemic secretion.