Tissue-specific high-level expression of human endogenous retrovirus-R in the human adrenal cortex.
In an attempt to clarify the biological nature of a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV), HERV-R, which is a single-copy type of HERVs and is conserved as a full-length viral sequence, the expression of HERV-R mRNA in normal autopsied systemic organs was examined by Northern blot analysis. The expression showed different levels among individuals, with the adrenal glands expressing the highest level of HERV-R among all organs tested, except for the placenta. In various adrenal tumors, HERV-R was expressed at high levels in all cortical adenomas but less so in pheochromocytomas. In situ hybridization revealed the expression of HERV-R to be localized in all layers of the adrenal cortex, but not in the medulla. This high-level expression of HERV-R in the adrenal cortex may possibly relate to differentiation and/or steroid production by adrenocortical cells.
Katsumata
K
K
Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Ikeda
H
H
Sato
M
M
Harada
H
H
Wakisaka
A
A
Shibata
M
M
Yoshiki
T
T
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000821:virology*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010920:Placenta / Q000821:virology; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012333:RNA, Messenger