Human lymphocytes produce pro-opiomelanocortin gene-related transcripts. Effects of lymphotropic viruses

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 263; no. 21; pp. 10041 - 10044
• Main Authors: Oates, E L, Allaway, G P, Armstrong, G R, Boyajian, R A, Kehrl, J H, Prabhakar, B S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 25.07.1988; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Cell Line, Transformed; Cell Transformation, Viral; Deltaretrovirus - genetics; Epstein-Barr virus; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes; Humans; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Pro-Opiomelanocortin - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; Transcription. Transcription factor. Splicing. Rna processing; Human; Cell culture; Molecular hybridization; RNA; Transcription; Proopiocortin; Molecular probe; Gene expression; Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9258(19)81472-2

Expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene was examined in normal human lymphocytes and lymphocyte cell lines infected by lymphotropic viruses. POMC gene transcripts were detected in human lymphocytes using stringent RNA-RNA hybridizations. Low transcript levels were found in normal phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in tonsillar T and B cells. The highest levels were found in cells infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, T cell lines infected with human T lymphotropic viruses did not have increased levels of transcripts. The transcript levels in an EBV-transformed B lymphocyte line were not affected by dexamethasone or corticotropin-releasing hormone, known regulators of anterior pituitary POMC gene expression. Therefore, it is possible that EBV infections could result in abnormal POMC expression.