Both pituitary and placental growth hormone transcripts are expressed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
The hGH-V gene codes for a variant of human pituitary growth hormone (hGH-N) named placental growth hormone (hPGH). hPGH shares 93% amino acid identity with hGH-N. Until now the hGH-V gene was considered to be exclusively expressed in human placenta, where it replaces maternal circulating hGH-N at the end of pregnancy. In this study we investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis hGH-N, and hGH-V, gene expression in PBMC in men, women and pregnant women. We have demonstrated that hGH-N and hGH-V transcripts are simultaneously produced by PBMC in both men and women as well as pregnant women. The PBMC of a PIT-1-negative woman expressed only the hGH-V transcript, but not the hGH-N one as expected. In conclusion, hGH-V mRNA is expressed by cells other than the syncytiotrophoblast, is not regulated by PIT-1, and may be involved in immune regulation, as is pituitary GH.
Melen
L
L
Service de Biochimie, Université de Liège, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Belgium.
Hennen
G
G
Dullaart
R P
RP
Heinen
E
E
Igout
A
A
D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010926:Placental Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C064980:GH2 protein, human; D010926:Placental Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone