Calcitonin and related receptors

Calcitonin (CT) is a hormone with 32 aminoacids synthesed primarily by the thyroid.  Calcitonin and related receptors are a family of G-protein-coupled receptors that comprises eight subtypes; CT, AMY1, AMY2, AMY3, CALCR, CGRP, AM1 and AM2.   The function of the calcitonin receptor is modified through its interaction with receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs), forming the multimeric amylin receptors AMY1 (CT + RAMP1), AMY2 (CT + RAMP2), and AMY3 (CT+ RAMP3).  The receptors have a wide biological distribution; high concentrations are found in the brain, lung, liver, heart and spleen with lower expression levels present in the testes, gastrointestinal tract and thyroid. The main function of CT receptors is to inhibit bone reabsorption and enhance calcium excretion by the kidneys.  The CGRP receptor is also implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine.

Further reading

Pondel (2000) Calcitonin and calcitonin receptors: bone and beyond. Int J Exp Pathol. 81(6) 405 PMID: 11298188

Masi and Brandi (2007) Calcitonin and calcitonin receptors. Clin. Cases Miner. Bone Metab. 4(2) 117 PMID: 22461211

Alexander et al (2019) The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2019/20: G protein-coupled receptors. Br J Pharmacol. 176  S1 S21-S141 PMID: 31710717