A neuroendocrine marker in tissues of the immune system.
Antibodies to chromogranin, a secretory protein marker for the diffuse neuroendocrine system, were used to analyze rat lymphoreticular tissues by means of immunochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Chromogranin-positive cells were present in spleen, lymph node, thymus, and fetal liver. When these organs were gently dispersed and separated on a Ficoll gradient, the chromogranin-immunoreactive cells became enriched in the dense red-cell pellets. The unexpected distribution of these neuroendocrine cells in all immunologically relevant structures suggests that they may link the nervous and immunological systems.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000032:analysis*; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000032:analysis*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002864:Chromogranins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins