The U937 macrophage cell line expresses enzymatically active L-Dopa decarboxylase.
In the present study we demonstrate that enzymatically active l-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) is expressed in U937 cells, an important model of human macrophage function. The mRNA coding for the enzyme was found to be of the neural-type. DDC was detected in both the soluble and membrane fractions. The active molecule is released from the membrane fraction in the absence of detergent. Furthermore, exposure of U937 cells to carbidopa and dopamine considerably affected cell viability. The expression of enzymatically active DDC shows the endogenous production of dopamine in U937 cells and raises new questions about the enzyme's involvement in immune responses.
University of Athens, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Panepistimiopolis 1570, Athens, Greece.
Ioanna
I
Kokkinou
Emmanuel G
EG
Fragoulis
Dido
D
Vassilacopoulou
D002230:Carbidopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase; D002230:Carbidopa; D004298:Dopamine