title: Distribution maps of D-dopachrome tautomerase in the mouse brain.
abstract: D-Dopachrome tautomerase is an enzyme related by amino acid sequence and catalytic activity to macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Both of these small molecules are pro-inflammatory cytokines mediating broad innate immune responses. Although it is well established that the gene product of D-dopachrome tautomerase is widely expressed in liver and kidney cells, no study has mapped the distribution pattern of this tautomeric enzyme in the mammalian nervous system. Here, we address this void by characterizing the cellular localization of D-dopachrome tautomerase in the adult mouse brain. Two well-characterized polyclonal antibodies were used for Western blotting and immunohistochemical localization of the endogenous tautomeric enzyme. Our results show that D-dopachrome tautomerase is present throughout the brain parenchyma with a large fraction of heterogeneous interneurons harboring a stable and robust expression of the enzyme. These data point to a potential involvement of D-dopachrome tautomerase activity in the mature mouse brain, and suggest some functional and evolutionary relationship between innate immunity and tautomerization of D-dopachrome in mammalian species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Histology, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Honigman
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: DiGregorio
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Dedkov
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leheste
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bucala
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C042501:dopachrome isomerase