Desensitization and re-sensitization of CGRP receptor function in human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a highly potent vasodilator known to be involved in many physiological functions within the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, immune, and nervous systems. This study assessed the desensitization of CGRP receptors by measuring agonist-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase in a model system employing human neuroblastoma-derived SK-N-MC cells. In these cells, we demonstrated that pre-incubation with CGRP (20 nM) induces a rapid desensitization of CGRP signaling (t(1/2)