Neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors mRNAs expression in pancreatic islets and insulinoma cell lines.
BACKGROUND
It is worth noting that islets and betaTC6-F7 cells share a common pattern of expression of neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors. Recently, several studies have hypothesized a role for nerve growth factor in pancreatic development and maturation, suggesting that nerve growth factor may be a survival factor for pancreatic beta-cells.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of expression of neurotrophins and their relative receptors both in rat pancreatic islets and in a wide panel of insulinoma cell lines.


METHODS
A semi-quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed on ribonucleic acids extracted from these cells.


RESULTS
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrates that brain-derived neurotrophic factor, as well as neurotrophins 3 and 4, are expressed both in islets and in all insulinoma cells, while nerve growth factor is expressed only in islets, betaTC6-F7 cells and, at a low level, in RIN 1046-38 cells. Receptors protein tyrosine kinase A and C are ubiquitously expressed both in islets and insulinoma cells. Tyrosine kinase B is absent in HIT-T15 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that betaTC6-F7 cells are a suitable model for studying the role of neurotrophins in the survival of beta-cells.
Bonini
P
P
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Pierucci
D
D
Cicconi
S
S
Porzio
O
O
Lauro
R
R
Marlier
L N
LN
Borboni
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D006224:Cricetinae; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D007340:Insulinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor