title: Analysis of Y-P30/Dermcidin expression and properties of the Y-P30 peptide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The survival promoting peptide Y-P30 has a variety of neuritogenic and neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo. In previous work we reported the expression of Y-P30/dermcidin in maternal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the transport of the protein to the fetal brain. In this study we analyzed hormonal regulation of Y-P30 in human immune cells and expression of Y-P30 in the placenta. We further studied the stability and secretion of the Y-P30 peptide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found indications that Y-P30 might be produced in human placenta. The Y-P30 mRNA was rarely found in isolated human PBMCs and alpha-feto-protein, human chorionic gonadotropin as well as estradiol combined with progesterone could not induce Y-P30 expression. Y-P30 was found to be extraordinarily stable; therefore, contamination with the peptide and the Y-P30/Dermcidin precursor mRNA is a serious concern in experiments looking at the expression of Y-P30/Dermcidin. In cultured cell lines and primary neurons we found that Y-P30 could be released, but neuronal uptake of Y-P30 was not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that a source of Y-P30 apart from eccrine glands might be the placenta. The peptide can be secreted together with the signaling peptide and it might reach the fetal brain where it can exert its neuritogenic functions by binding to neuronal membranes.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Mikhaylova
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Schumacher
authors: Corinna
authors: C
authors: Borutzki
authors: Janine R
authors: JR
authors: Neumann
authors: Tamar
authors: T
authors: Macharadze
authors: Tarek
authors: T
authors: El-Mousleh
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Wahle
authors: RG Neuroplasticity, Leibniz-Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg 39118, Germany. ana.zenclussen@med.ovgu.de.
authors: Ana C
authors: AC
authors: Zenclussen
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Kreutz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019556:COS Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053670:Syndecan-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053671:Syndecan-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D055815:Young Adult; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D053670:Syndecan-3; D053671:Syndecan-4; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C442243:dermcidin; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol