Description
Bombesin is a gastrin-releasing peptide analog that binds bombesin and GRP receptors. Derivatives of bombesin are currently under investigation as cancer imaging tools, as bombesin receptors are often overexpressed in tumor tissues. Bombesin itself exhibits neuromodulatory, hepatoprotective, cardiomodulatory, and vasoconstrictive activities. Bombesin increases the frequency and amplitude of IPSCs in the entorhinal cortex, likely due to Ca2+-mediated increases in GABA release. In animal models of liver disease, bombesin increases proliferation of oval cells and hepatocytes, increases levels of glutathione, and decreases portal endotoxemia. Bombesin also exhibits pressor-like effects, increasing mean arterial pressure, blood pressure, and heart rate.
References
Zhang HP, Xiao Z, Cilz NI, et al. Bombesin facilitates GABAergic transmission and depresses epileptiform activity in the entorhinal cortex. Hippocampus. 2014 Jan;24(1):21-31. PMID: 23966303.
Okarvi SM, Jammaz IA. Preparation and evaluation of bombesin peptide derivatives as potential tumor imaging agents: effects of structure and composition of amino acid sequence on in vitro and in vivo characteristics. Nucl Med Biol. 2012 Aug;39(6):795-804. PMID: 22381782.
Assimakopoulos SF, Tsamandas AC, Alexandris IH, et al. Stimulation of oval cell and hepatocyte proliferation by exogenous bombesin and neurotensin in partially hepatectomized rats. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2011 Dec 15;2(6):146-54. PMID: 22180848.
Zogovic B, Pilowsky PM. Intrathecal bombesin is sympathoexcitatory and pressor in rat. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011 Nov;301(5):R1486-94. PMID: 21849634.
![[Tyr4]-Bombesin](https://lktlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/b5649.png)
