title: Dexamethasone-induced Ras-related protein 1 is a potential regulatory protein in B lymphocytes.
abstract: Dexamethasone-induced Ras-related protein 1 (RASD1) is a protein of the Ras family which probably has a regulatory function. We demonstrate that Rasd1 mRNA is expressed in mouse lymph node cells in response to inhibitory stimuli. Rasd1 mRNA is present at very low levels in freshly isolated cells, but it is rapidly up-regulated in culture and is expressed at elevated levels in cells whose proliferation is blocked by exposure to homogenized brain tissue. The cells expressing Rasd1 mRNA are positive for MHC class II and B220 and negative for Thy-1. Expression of Rasd1 mRNA is very low in B cell-deficient mice. We conclude that Rasd1 mRNA is expressed by B lymphocytes derived from lymph node cells in response to inactivating or inhibitory stimuli. It may play a role in regulating B lymphocyte activity and proliferation.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Suite 7.044, Houston, TX 77030, USA. john.w.lindsey@uth.tmc.edu
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Lindsey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000187:drug effects; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D003907:Dexamethasone; C498511:Rasd1 protein, mouse; D018631:ras Proteins