CALCB, also known as CGPR and calcitonin 2, belongs to the calcitonin family. CALCB is a calcitonin (CT) peptide which may play a role in the mediation of human inflammatory diseases. It is highly expressed in the skin, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. CGRP immunolabeling (IL) was detected in epidermal keratinocytes at levels that were especially high and widespread in the skin of humans from locations afflicted with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and complex region pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS), of monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus, and of rats subjected to L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation, sciatic nerve chronic constriction, and subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant. Increased CGRP-IL was also detected in epidermal keratinocytes of transgenic mice with keratin-14 promoter driven overexpression of noggin, an antagonist to BMP-4 signaling. CGPR dilates a variety of vessels including the coronary, cerebral and systemic vasculature.
