The significance of substance P in physiological and
malignant hematopoiesis
Michal Nowicki 1*, Danuta Ostalska-Nowicka 2, Beata Kondraciuk 1 and Bogdan Miskowiak 3
1 Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Poland
2 Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Nephrology, University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Poland
3 Department of Optometry and Biology of the Visual System, Poland
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mnowicki{at}amp.edu.pl.
Accepted 10 December 2006
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Abstract |
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The role of substance P (SP) in physiological
hematopoiesis is currently well established. On the other
hand, it seems to have also the significant meaning in the
neoplastic transformation of bone marrow leading to the
development of acute leukaemia in children as well as
facilitating of metastases to bone marrow of solid tumors
(particularly neuroblastoma and breast cancer) in early
periods of these diseases. The authors summarized the
available data concerning SP engagement in both processes
indicating that in the future SP antagonists might be
considered to be employed as anti-neoplastic drugs, e.g.
by direct or indirect blocking of tumor cell proliferation
through inhibition of growth factor production, including
also interleukin-1b synthesis.
Key Words:
hematopoiesis, lekaemia, substance P, tachykinins
