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Regulated expression of proenkephalin A in normal lymphocytes
1Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Proenkephalin A (PEA) mRNA is expressed in normal rat lymphocytes, particularly B cells. Its expression increases with immune stimulation, suggesting neuropeptides modulate immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Neuropeptides, such as enkephalins, are implicated in nervous system functions.
- The role of neuropeptides in immune system modulation is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of proenkephalin A (PEA), a neuropeptide precursor gene, in normal rat lymphocytes.
- To determine if PEA expression is regulated by immune stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot hybridization analysis of total RNA from rat lymphocytes.
- Cell sorting to isolate B and T cell populations.
- In vitro incubation of lymphocytes with mitogens (LPS, Salmonella typhimurium, Con A).
Main Results:
- PEA mRNA was detected in normal lymphocytes from spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow.
- PEA expression was identified in normal B cells (sIg+).
- Incubation with LPS or Salmonella typhimurium significantly enhanced PEA mRNA levels in B cells.
- Concanavalin A (Con A) induced PEA mRNA expression in thymocytes after 24 hours, but not in B cells within 3 hours.
- Immune reactive enkephalins were found in cell extracts, confirming PEA mRNA translation.
Conclusions:
- Neuropeptides, like enkephalins, are expressed in lymphocytes and their production is modulated by immune stimuli.
- These findings support a role for neuropeptides in immune response modulation.
- The study suggests bidirectional communication between the nervous and immune systems involving neuropeptides.