Description
SubstanceP(SP)isanendogenoustachykininneuropeptidethatisinvolvedininflammatory,pain,andstresssignaling;itexhibitsneuroprotective,cognitionenhancing,andgastrointestinalmotilitymodulatingactivities.SPexhibitsneuroprotectiveactivitybydecreasingexpressionofKv1.4K+channelsintransgenicanimalmodelsofAlzheimer’sdiseaseandimprovingcognitiveperformanceintheMorriswatermazetask.SPisthenaturalligandfortheneurokinin-1(NK1)receptor.Invariousanimalmodels,SPmodulatesopioidsignaling,inducesgastricmucosalprotection,andinhibitsretinalapoptosis.SPalsopreventshyperoxia-inducedlungdamage,decreasinglevelsofmalondialdehydeandincreasinglevelsofsuperoxidedismutase(SOD);thisactivitymayberegulatedthroughShhsignaling.Inmelanomacells,SPdecreaseslevelsoftyrosinaseandmelanin,inhibitingmelanogenesis.Inothercellularmodels,SPincreasestheviABIlityandproliferationofosteoblastsandpromotesgapjunctionintracellularcommunication.