title: Preproenkephalin is a Th2 cytokine but is not required for Th2 differentiation in vitro.
abstract: Preproenkephalin (PPNK) mRNA expression has been detected in many cells of the immune system, including monocytes and lymphocytes. In the present paper, the expression of PPNK mRNA in purified CD4+ Th1 and Th2 lymphocyte subpopulations is investigated and correlated with the presence of the opioid neuropeptides leu- and met-enkephalin. We found that PPNK mRNA and met-enkephalin were present at higher levels in the Th2 cultures compared with the Th1 cultures. Lymphocytes from PPNK-deficient mice were then used to look at the role of PPNK in Th2 lymphocyte differentiation. Lymphocytes from these mice could be driven into a Th2 phenotype, suggesting that cultures containing IL-4 do not require PPNK for Th2 differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand.mimrsh@wnmeds.ac.nz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camberis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prout
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konig
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Heeke
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Gros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000502:physiology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; C033660:preproenkephalin