Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37 amino acid peptide found in sensory and motor neurons throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems in multiple species. CGRP is one of a family of structurally-related peptides that include adrenomedullin and amylin. CGRP is thought to act principally via one member of the CGRP receptor family, but we are still unclear as to the extent to which CGRP blocking agents can affect the activity of the various different members of the receptor family in vivo. CGRP has a large range of activities, including as a potent microvascular dilator and playing a role in the pain process that is pivotal in migraine. Indeed, CGRP antagonists and antibodies are beneficial in the treatment of migraine with minimal adverse effects. This provides new medicines to combat the pain and life-limiting consequences suffered by many migraine patients. Thus, the drug discovery process for the CGRP peptide pathway has been successful. However, a range of questions remain unanswered and it could be said that despite the success of CGRP research to date, we are still at an early stage of understanding its functions in health and disease.
The Research Topic is designed to allow some of these unanswered questions to be answered and discussed. The topics that we invite include:
• Receptor signaling mechanisms
• Pain processing events
• Cardiovascular roles
• Inflammatory and regulatory mechanisms
• Other, potentially new physiological roles of CGRP
• CGRP blockers and potential activities in different disease models
• Potential side effects and consequences of the long term use of antagonists and antibodies
• Comparison of different classes of CGRP blockers such as orally available small molecule CGRP antagonists and antibodies.
Overall this is a timely topic that will allow the wider understanding of CGRP biology, including and beyond migraine.
The Guest Editors encourage interested individuals or groups to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. Abstract submission deadline: 30 August 2021.
We would like to acknowledge Dr. Fulye Argunhan who contributed to the preparation of the proposal for this Research Topic.
Topic Editor Prof. Debbie Hay has received research funding from Alder, Living Cell Technologies, and acted as a consultant, speaker or advisor for Eli Lilly, Amgen, Teva, Merck, Intarcia Therapeutics. She has applied for patents on CGRP and amylin analogues. Topic Editor Prof. Andrew Russo has received research funding from Alder Biopharmaceuticals. He is a consultant for Lundbeck, Eli Lilly, Amgen, Novartis, Schedule One Therapeutics, Allergan, and Pharmnovo. He has patents on the CGRP enhancer and the use of CGRP-blocking antibodies to treat photophobia and diarrhea. A patent on the use of PACAP-blocking antibodies to treat photophobia is pending. Topic Editor Prof. Susan D Brain acted as a consultant for Eli Lilly and Syndermix.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37 amino acid peptide found in sensory and motor neurons throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems in multiple species. CGRP is one of a family of structurally-related peptides that include adrenomedullin and amylin. CGRP is thought to act principally via one member of the CGRP receptor family, but we are still unclear as to the extent to which CGRP blocking agents can affect the activity of the various different members of the receptor family in vivo. CGRP has a large range of activities, including as a potent microvascular dilator and playing a role in the pain process that is pivotal in migraine. Indeed, CGRP antagonists and antibodies are beneficial in the treatment of migraine with minimal adverse effects. This provides new medicines to combat the pain and life-limiting consequences suffered by many migraine patients. Thus, the drug discovery process for the CGRP peptide pathway has been successful. However, a range of questions remain unanswered and it could be said that despite the success of CGRP research to date, we are still at an early stage of understanding its functions in health and disease.
The Research Topic is designed to allow some of these unanswered questions to be answered and discussed. The topics that we invite include:
• Receptor signaling mechanisms
• Pain processing events
• Cardiovascular roles
• Inflammatory and regulatory mechanisms
• Other, potentially new physiological roles of CGRP
• CGRP blockers and potential activities in different disease models
• Potential side effects and consequences of the long term use of antagonists and antibodies
• Comparison of different classes of CGRP blockers such as orally available small molecule CGRP antagonists and antibodies.
Overall this is a timely topic that will allow the wider understanding of CGRP biology, including and beyond migraine.
The Guest Editors encourage interested individuals or groups to submit an abstract before submitting their manuscript. Abstract submission deadline: 30 August 2021.
We would like to acknowledge Dr. Fulye Argunhan who contributed to the preparation of the proposal for this Research Topic.
Topic Editor Prof. Debbie Hay has received research funding from Alder, Living Cell Technologies, and acted as a consultant, speaker or advisor for Eli Lilly, Amgen, Teva, Merck, Intarcia Therapeutics. She has applied for patents on CGRP and amylin analogues. Topic Editor Prof. Andrew Russo has received research funding from Alder Biopharmaceuticals. He is a consultant for Lundbeck, Eli Lilly, Amgen, Novartis, Schedule One Therapeutics, Allergan, and Pharmnovo. He has patents on the CGRP enhancer and the use of CGRP-blocking antibodies to treat photophobia and diarrhea. A patent on the use of PACAP-blocking antibodies to treat photophobia is pending. Topic Editor Prof. Susan D Brain acted as a consultant for Eli Lilly and Syndermix.
