c-Fos protooncogene expression in human normal peripheral blood leukocytes
F Colotta1, N Polentarutti, J M Wang
1Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Eritrea 62, 20157, Milano, Italy.
Cytotechnology
|February 24, 2012
Summary
Freshly isolated polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) express the c-fos protooncogene, challenging previous assumptions. This finding suggests c-fos plays a regulatory role in mature circulating myelocytes.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The c-fos protooncogene is a key regulator of cellular processes.
- Previous studies suggested c-fos expression was limited to lymphoid cells and monocytes.
- Understanding c-fos expression in leukocytes is crucial for comprehending immune cell regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of the c-fos protooncogene in normal human peripheral blood leukocytes.
- To determine if freshly isolated polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) express c-fos.
- To compare c-fos expression levels between different leukocyte subsets.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot analysis was used to detect c-fos transcripts.
- Human peripheral blood leukocytes were isolated.
- Cells were cultured and treated with various stimuli (e.g., cycloheximide, phorbol esters, bacterial components, growth factors, TNF).
Main Results:
- Monocytes express appreciable levels of c-fos transcripts.
- Freshly isolated PMN unexpectedly showed c-fos expression, at higher levels than monocytes.
- PMN c-fos expression was augmented by stimuli and cycloheximide, and detectable after 20 hours of culture.
Conclusions:
- c-fos expression is not restricted to monocytes-macrophages within the myelo-monocytic lineage.
- Data from established cell lines may not accurately represent fresh normal cells.
- c-fos expression in PMN suggests a potential role in regulating mature circulating myelocytes.
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