Identification of neurotensin-related peptides in human thymic epithelial cell membranes and relationship with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules.
This study shows the expression at the cell surface of human thymic epithelial cells (TEC) of a neurotensin (NT)-like immunoreactivity. NT radio-immunoassay (RIA) revealed that cultured human TEC contain +/-5 ng immunoreactive (ir) NT/10(6) cells, of which 5% is associated with plasma cell membranes. HPLC analysis of NT-ir present in human TEC showed a major peak of NT-ir corresponding to NT1-13. NT-ir was not detected in the supernatant of human TEC cultures. Using an affinity column prepared with a anti-MHC class I monoclonal antibody, NT-ir-related peptides were retained on the column and eluted together with MHC class I-related proteins. According to the elution time on HPLC of these peptides, they correspond to intact NT1-13, as well as to smaller fragments of NT1-13.
Vanneste
Y
Y
INSERM Unité 339, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
Thome
A N
AN
Vandersmissen
E
E
Charlet
C
C
Franchimont
D
D
Martens
H
H
Lhiaubet
A M
AM
Schimpff
R M
RM
Rostène
W
W
Geenen
V
V
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000032:analysis*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D009479:Neuropeptides; C031644:neurotensin-like immunoreactivity; D009496:Neurotensin