Bombesin Explained

Bombesin is a 14-amino acid peptide^[1] originally isolated from the skin of the European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) by Vittorio Erspamer et al. and named after its source.^[2] It has two known homologs in mammals called neuromedin B and gastrin-releasing peptide. It stimulates gastrin release from G cells. It activates three different G-protein-coupled receptors known as BBR1, -2, and -3.^[3] It also activates these receptors in the brain. Together with cholecystokinin, it is the second major source of negative feedback signals that stop eating behaviour.^[4]

Bombesin is also a tumor marker for small cell carcinoma of lung, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and neuroblastoma.^[5]

Receptors

The anuran receptor homologue is termed . Iwabuchi et al. 2003 discovered a chicken (Gallus domesticus) receptor which is homologous to both the and fBB₄ and so they named it .

Effects

Erspamer 1988 finds bombesin has a similar effect on the chicken to ranatensin, unreliably increasing or decreasing blood pressure.

See also

• Gastrin-releasing peptide
• Neuromedin B
• Neuromedin U

Notes and References

1. Gonzalez N, Moody TW, Igarashi H, Ito T, Jensen RT . Bombesin-related peptides and their receptors: recent advances in their role in physiology and disease states . Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity . 15 . 1 . 58–64 . February 2008 . 18185064 . 2631407 . 10.1097/MED.0b013e3282f3709b .
2. Jensen . R. T. . Battey . J. F. . Spindel . E. R. . Benya . R. V. . International Union of Pharmacology. LXVIII. Mammalian Bombesin Receptors: Nomenclature, Distribution, Pharmacology, Signaling, and Functions in Normal and Disease States . . American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) . 60 . 1 . 2007-11-30 . 0031-6997 . 10.1124/pr.107.07108 . 1–42 . 2517428 . 18055507. NIHMSID 45053.
3. Weber HC . Regulation and signaling of human bombesin receptors and their biological effects . Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity . 16 . 1 . 66–71 . February 2009 . 19115523 . 10.1097/med.0b013e32831cf5aa. 45482442 .
4. Yamada K, Wada E, Wada K . Bombesin-like peptides: studies on food intake and social behaviour with receptor knock-out mice . Annals of Medicine . 32 . 8 . 519–29 . November 2000 . 11127929 . 10.3109/07853890008998831. 24431961 .
5. Ohlsson B, Fredäng N, Axelson J . The effect of bombesin, cholecystokinin, gastrin, and their antagonists on proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell lines . Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology . 34 . 12 . 1224–9 . December 1999 . 10636070 . 10.1080/003655299750024742.