Nitric oxide-induced expression of C-reactive protein in islet cells as a very early marker for islet stress in the rat pancreas.
In searches for marker molecules specifically expressed in nitric oxide-treated islet cells as a means to recognize early events in islet destruction, we now establish the presence of neo-C-reactive protein (neoCRP) in rat islet cells as early as 2 hr after treatment. We detected this altered molecular form of the acute-phase-reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) using immunocytochemistry with an anti-neoCRP-specific monoclonal antibody as well as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with CRP-specific primers and in situ hybridization to demonstrate the presence of CRP-specific mRNA. After induction of a generalized inflammatory reaction in rats with heat-inactivated Corynebacterium parvum in vivo, neoCRP expression in islets is also found and within the pancreas restricted to pancreatic islet cells only. Our findings suggest an early heat-shock-like expression of this molecule in response to local nitrite oxide production or to exogeneously added nitric oxide in islet cells.
Immunobiology Research Group, Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Fehsel
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Plewe
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Kolb-Bachofen
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein