title: Human lipocalin-1, a physiological scavenger of lipophilic compounds, is produced by corticotrophs of the pituitary gland.
abstract: Lipocalin-1 (Lcn-1), a member of the lipocalin superfamily that binds a broad array of different chemical classes of lipophilic ligands, is believed to act as a physiological scavenger of potentially harmful lipophilic molecules. Thus far, it was thought to be produced exclusively by a number of exocrine glands and tissues, including lachrymal and lingual glands, prostate, secretory glands of the tracheobronchial tract, and sweat glands. Using Northern blotting analysis, we were able to demonstrate Lcn-1 expression by the human pituitary gland. Moreover, double immunolabeling with antibodies against Lcn-1 and pituitary gland hormones and detection with fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies revealed that Lcn-1 is specifically produced by corticotrophs, clearly indicating that its distribution is not restricted to exocrine tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wojnar
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ladurner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Redl
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D000368:Aged; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D054835:Lipocalin 1; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C518443:LCN1 protein, human; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D054835:Lipocalin 1; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone