Interleukin-18 mRNA expression in the rat pituitary gland
1Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan.
Journal of Neuroimmunology
|February 8, 2006
Summary
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) mRNA is highly expressed in rat pituitary glands and increases with stress. This suggests IL-18 in corticotrope cells may play a role in stress responses.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a cytokine with known roles in inflammation and immunity.
- The function of IL-18 in the pituitary gland, particularly in response to stress, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and molecular structure of IL-18 mRNA in the rat pituitary gland.
- To determine the cellular localization of IL-18 mRNA within the pituitary.
- To explore the role of IL-18 in stress responses.
Main Methods:
- Real-time PCR to quantify IL-18 mRNA expression.
- In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to identify cell types expressing IL-18 mRNA.
- Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) and sequence analysis to determine IL-18 mRNA structure.
Main Results:
- IL-18 mRNA was highly expressed in the anterior pituitary.
- Expression significantly increased following stress and adrenalectomy.
- Corticotrope cells were identified as expressing IL-18 mRNA.
- Novel exons were identified in pituitary IL-18 mRNA, suggesting preferential promoter 1 usage.
Conclusions:
- IL-18 is present and regulated in the rat anterior pituitary.
- Corticotrope cells express IL-18 mRNA, implicating it in the stress axis.
- IL-18 may play a functional role in the pituitary's response to stress.
