Human lymphocytes produce pro-opiomelanocortin gene-related transcripts. Effects of lymphotropic viruses.
Expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene was examined in normal human lymphocytes and lymphocyte cell lines infected by lymphotropic viruses. POMC gene transcripts were detected in human lymphocytes using stringent RNA-RNA hybridizations. Low transcript levels were found in normal phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in tonsillar T and B cells. The highest levels were found in cells infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, T cell lines infected with human T lymphotropic viruses did not have increased levels of transcripts. The transcript levels in an EBV-transformed B lymphocyte line were not affected by dexamethasone or corticotropin-releasing hormone, known regulators of anterior pituitary POMC gene expression. Therefore, it is possible that EBV infections could result in abnormal POMC expression.
Oates
E L
EL
Laboratory of Oral Medicine, National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Allaway
G P
GP
Armstrong
G R
GR
Boyajian
R A
RA
Kehrl
J H
JH
Prabhakar
B S
BS
D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin