title: Human lymphocytes produce pro-opiomelanocortin gene-related transcripts. Effects of lymphotropic viruses.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Oral Medicine, National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Oates
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Allaway
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Boyajian
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kehrl
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin