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Immunoreactive growth hormone production by human lymphocyte cell lines
T L Kao1, S C Supowit, E A Thompson
1Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Human lymphocytes produce growth hormone-related molecules (irGH) similar to pituitary growth hormone (GH). However, structural differences suggest lymphocyte-derived irGH is not identical to pituitary GH.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Human lymphocytes, including T-cell and B-cell lines (H9 and IM9), have been investigated for their potential to produce growth hormone.
- Previous research suggests peripheral blood lymphocytes can secrete immunoreactive growth hormone (irGH).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production and characteristics of immunoreactive growth hormone (irGH) secreted by human T-cell and B-cell lines.
- To compare the structure and activity of lymphocyte-derived irGH with pituitary human growth hormone (hGH).
Main Methods:
- Culturing human T-cell (H9) and B-cell (IM9) lines to collect secreted irGH.
- Assessing the molecular size and mitogenic activity of irGH using Nb2 cell proliferation assays.
- Employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers to analyze irGH messenger RNA (mRNA) in comparison to hGH mRNA.
Main Results:
- Both H9 and IM9 cell lines produced and secreted irGH, with molecular size similar to pituitary GH and peripheral lymphocyte irGH.
- Affinity-purified irGH exhibited hGH-like mitogenic activity on Nb2 cells, indicating structural similarities.
- PCR amplification failed for irGH mRNA using primers effective for hGH mRNA, suggesting distinct molecular structures.
Conclusions:
- Human lymphocyte cell lines H9 and IM9 synthesize and secrete a growth hormone-related molecule.
- Lymphocyte-derived irGH shares structural and functional similarities with pituitary hGH but is not identical.
- The findings indicate that lymphocyte-derived irGH represents a distinct molecular entity compared to anterior pituitary GH.