title: Prolactin receptor gene expression in lymphoid cells.
abstract: To understand the role of pituitary prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRL-R) in the growth and differentiation of lymphoid cells, PRL-R gene expression was analyzed in various lymphoid tissues and in a rat T lymphoma cell line, Nb2, which requires PRL for growth. The technique of reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the low abundance PRL-R transcripts. Within 30 min to 1 h, PRL stimulates a rapid but transient increase in PRL-R mRNA levels in Nb2 T cells. By 4 h, PRL-R mRNA returned to near basal levels and then gradually declined to a new steady-state level by 12 h. Significant increases in receptor RNA levels were observed in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors, which suggests that PRL-R mRNA levels are under negative regulation. PRL-R gene expression was also demonstrated in normal mouse thymocytes, splenocytes, and in several lymphoid cell lines. The expression of the PRL-R gene in stimulated lymphoid cells provides additional evidence for the role of PRL as an immunomodulatory molecule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: O'Neal
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yu-Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004247:DNA; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008223:Lymphoma; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D004247:DNA