LAURENZI, Maria Assunta;
BARBANY, Gisela;
TIMMUSK, Tõnis;
LINDGREN, Jan Åke;
PERSSON, Håkan
Expression of mRNA encoding neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors in rat thymus, spleen tissue and immunocompetent cells : Regulation of neurotrophin‐4 mRNA expression by mitogens and leukotriene B4
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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Expression of mRNA encoding neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors in rat thymus, spleen tissue and immunocompetent cells : Regulation of neurotrophin‐4 mRNA expression by mitogens and leukotriene B4
:
Regulation of neurotrophin‐4 mRNA expression by mitogens and leukotriene B<sub>4</sub>
Contributor:
LAURENZI, Maria Assunta;
BARBANY, Gisela;
TIMMUSK, Tõnis;
LINDGREN, Jan Åke;
PERSSON, Håkan
Description:
<jats:p>The expression of neurotrophin and neurotrophin receptor mRNAs was examined using RNase protection assays and Northern‐blot analysis in rat thymus, spleen tissue and immunocompetent mononuclear cells purified from these two organs. Nerve growth factor, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin‐3 and neurotrophin‐4 mRNAs were all expressed in thymus and spleen tissue although at different levels, while immunocompetent cells expressed neurotrophin‐3 and neurotrophin‐4 mRNAs. Thymus and spleen tissue expressed mRNAs encoding the low‐affinity nervegrowth‐factor receptor, the non‐neuronal TrkA I receptor, the truncated (kinase deficient) and full‐length TrkB, and the TrkC receptor. Low‐affinity nerve‐growth‐factor receptor and non‐neuronal TrkA I mRNAs were detected in both thymus and spleen immunocompetent cells. In addition, thymus cells expressed neuronal TrkA II mRNA and spleen cells expressed truncated TrkB mRNA. The expression of TrkA I and TrkA II mRNAs was enhanced in both thymus and spleen cells after cell culture. Enhanced levels of neurotrophin‐4 mRNA were observed in spleen immunocompetent cells after adrenalectomy. Moreover, the expression of neurotrophin‐4 mRNA was up‐regulated after stimulation of immune cells with the mitogens concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide or with the inflammatory mediator leukotriene B<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>. This suggests that neurotrophin‐4 could be secreted by immunocompetent cells and may be involved in inflammatory processes.</jats:p>