Neurohypophysial receptor gene expression by thymic T cell subsets and thymic T cell lymphoma cell lines.
Neurohypophysial oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) genes are transcribed in thymic epithelium, while immature T lymphocytes express functional neurohypophysial receptors. Neurohypophysial receptors belong to the G protein-linked seven-transmembrane receptor superfamily and are encoded by four distinct genes, OTR, V1R, V2R and V3R. The objective of this study was to identify the nature of neurohypophysial receptor in thymic T cell subsets purified by immunomagnetic selection, as well as in murine thymic lymphoma cell lines RL12-NP and BW5147. OTR is transcribed in all thymic T cell subsets and T cell lines, while V3R transcription is restricted to CD4+CD8+ and CD8+ thymic cells. Neither V1R nor V2R transcripts are detected in any kind of T cells. The OTR protein was identified by immunocytochemistry on thymocytes freshly isolated from C57BL/6 mice. In murine fetal thymic organ cultures, a specific OTR antagonist does not modify the percentage of T cell subsets, but increases late T cell apoptosis further evidencing the involvement of OT/OTR signaling in the control of T cell proliferation and survival. According to these data, OTR and V3R are differentially expressed during T cell ontogeny. Moreover, the restriction of OTR transcription to T cell lines derived from thymic lymphomas may be important in the context of T cell leukemia pathogenesis and treatment.
Hansenne
I
I
Center of Immunology, University of Liege, Institute of Pathology CHU-B23, B-4000, Liege-Sart Tilman, Belgium.
Rasier
G
G
Charlet-Renard
Ch
Ch
DeFresne
M P
MP
Greimers
R
R
Breton
C
C
Legros
J J
JJ
Geenen
V
V
Martens
H
H
D000818:Animals; D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism*
D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin