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Clusterin mRNA expression in apoptotic and activated rat thymocytes
Jung-Hyun Park1, Jee-Sun Park, Sung-Kyu Ju
1Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Cell Research
|March 20, 2003
Summary
Clusterin expression is not affected by apoptosis. Researchers discovered a new clusterin mRNA isoform in rat thymocytes, suggesting its role is linked to cell activation, not cell death.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Clusterin is a glycoprotein with an unclear biological role, particularly its involvement in apoptosis.
- Conflicting data exists regarding clusterin's function in either protecting against or promoting apoptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between clusterin expression and apoptosis.
- To determine if apoptosis influences clusterin mRNA levels.
- To identify novel clusterin mRNA isoforms and their functions.
Main Methods:
- Rat thymocytes were treated with dexamethasone to induce apoptosis.
- Clusterin mRNA expression was analyzed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR.
- Thymocyte activation was induced using concanavalin A and interleukin-2.
Main Results:
- Dexamethasone treatment and in vivo apoptosis induction did not alter clusterin expression.
- A novel clusterin mRNA isoform, lacking a cleavage site and predicted to form a monomer, was identified in freshly isolated thymocytes.
- Cell activation with concanavalin A and interleukin-2 led to increased clusterin mRNA levels.
Conclusions:
- Clusterin expression is not modulated by apoptosis in rat thymocytes.
- The newly identified clusterin isoform's function requires further investigation.
- Clusterin expression appears to be regulated by cell activation signals rather than apoptosis.