Procalcitonin (PCT)

Procalcitonin is a peptide precursor of the hormone calcitonin which is mainly produced by the C cells of the thyroid and certain endocrine cells of the lung. Calcitonin participates in calcium (Ca2+) and phosphorus metabolism. In many ways, calcitonin counteracts parathyroid hormone (PTH). Calcitonin can lower blood Ca2+ levels. It also inhibits phosphate reabsorption by the kidney tubules. Procalcitonin is composed of 116 amino acids. It is strongly correlates with extent and severity of bacterial infections. Procalcitonin shows a favorable kinetic profile for use as a clinical marker: it promptly increases within 6 to 12 hours upon stimulation and circulating procalcitonin levels halve daily when the infection is controlled by the host immune system or antibiotic therapy.

Procalcitonin (PCT) Related Areas

 

Procalcitonin (PCT) Alternative Names

 

Summaries for Procalcitonin (PCT)

Entrez Gene summary for CALCA:

This CALCA gene encodes the peptide hormones calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide and katacalcin by tissue-specific alternative RNA splicing of the gene transcripts and cleavage of inactive precursor proteins. Calcitonin is involved in calcium regulation and acts to regulate phosphorus metabolism. Calcitonin gene-related peptide functions as a vasodilator while katacalcin is a calcium-lowering peptide. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.[provided by RefSeq, Nov 2009]

OMIM - description for Procalcitonin:

Procalcitonin is a peptide hormone synthesized by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid. Procalcitonin causes reduction in serum calcium, an effect opposite to that of parathyroid hormone (PTH; 168450).

Wikipedia summary for Procalcitonin:

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a peptide precursor of the hormone calcitonin, the latter being involved with calcium homeostasis. It is composed of 116 amino acids and is produced by parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid and by the neuroendocrine cells of the lung and the intestine.

The level of procalcitonin in the blood stream of healthy individuals is below the limit of detection (10 pg/mL) of clinical assays. The level of procalcitonin raises in a response to a proinflammatory stimulus, especially of bacterial origin. In this case, it is produced mainly by the cells of the lung and the intestine. It does not raise significantly with viral or non-infectious inflammations. With the derangements that a severe infection with an associated systemic response brings, the blood levels of procalcitonin may rise to 100 ng/ml. In serum, procalcitonin has a half-life of 25 to 30 hours. Remarkably the high procalcitonin levels produced during infections are not followed by a parallel increase in calcitonin or serum calcium levels.

Human Procalcitonin (PCT) Protein General Information

 

• Protein names: Calcitonin
• Sequence length: 141 AA.
• Sequence similarities: Procalcitonin belongs to the calcitonin family.
• Subcellular location: Secreted.

General information above from UniProt

Function for Procalcitonin (PCT) Protein

UniProtKB:

Procalcitonin (PCT) causes a rapid but short-lived drop in the level of calcium and phosphate in blood by promoting the incorporation of those ions in the bones. Katacalcin is a potent plasma calcium-lowering peptide.

Genatlas:

• Procalcitonin is involved in calcium homeostasis
• Procalcitonin mediates the effects of Indian Hedgehog and PTH related peptide on chondrocyte differentiation
• Procalcitonin is potent vasodilatator and hypotensor
• Procalcitonin acts directly on osteoclasts to inhibit and stimulate osteoclast bone-resorbing activity

Homology for human Procalcitonin (PCT)

• homolog to calcitonin