Gene expression of neurotrophins and their high-affinity Trk receptors in cultured human Müller cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the gene expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) and their high-affinity receptors (TrkA, TrkB and TrkC) in cultured human Müller cells.


METHODS
The polymerase chain reaction was performed using specific primers for NGF, BDNF, NT-3, TrkA, TrkB and TrkC with complementary DNAs as the template, which were generated from poly-A+ RNA of cultured human Müller cells.


RESULTS
We detected the precursor mRNA transcripts for NGF, BDNF, NT-3, TrkB and TrkC, but not TrkA.


CONCLUSIONS
Human Müller cells can direct mRNA expressions of a number of neurotrophins which may have a neurotrophic function in the retina. An autocrine mode of action is suggested, since Müller cells not only synthesize neurotrophic factors, but also express their specific receptors.
Oku
Hidehiro
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
Ikeda
Tsunehiko
T
Honma
Youichi
Y
Sotozono
Chie
C
Nishida
Kohji
K
Nakamura
Yo
Y
Kida
Teruyo
T
Kinoshita
Shigeru
S
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor