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Glycoprotein Hormone (glycoprotein + hormone)
Selected AbstractsFLR-2, the glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit, is involved in the neural control of intestinal functions in Caenorhabditis elegansGENES TO CELLS, Issue 10 2009Akane Oishi The intestine plays an essential role in organism-wide regulatory networks in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In Caenorhabditis elegans, class 1 flr genes (flr-1, flr-3 and flr-4) act in the intestine and control growth rates and defecation cycle periods, while class 2 flr genes (flr-2, flr-5, flr-6 and flr-7) are characterized by mutations that suppress the slow growth of class 1 flr mutants. This study revealed that flr-2 gene controls antibacterial defense and intestinal color, confirming that flr-2 regulates intestinal functions. flr-2 encoded the only glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit in C. elegans and was expressed in certain neurons. Furthermore, FLR-2 bound to another secretory protein GHI-1, which belongs to a family of lipid- and lipopolysaccharide-binding proteins. A ghi-1 deletion mutation partially suppressed the short defecation cycle periods of class 1 flr mutants, and this effect was enhanced by flr-2 mutations. Thus, FLR-2 acts as a signaling molecule for the neural control of intestinal functions, which is achieved in a functional network involving class 1 and class 2 flr genes as well as ghi-1. These results are informative to studies of glycoprotein hormone signaling in higher animals. [source] Differentially expressed genes associated with CIS -diamminedichloroplatinum (II) resistance in head and neck cancer using differential display and CDNA microarrayHEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 3 2003Eisaku Higuchi MD Abstract Background. The mechanism by which cancer cells become resistant to cis -Diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cDDP) is not completely understood. To investigate the molecular markers involved in the cDDP resistance, we compared the gene expression profiles between a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) line sensitive to cDDP and its cDDP-resistant variant. Methods. Both a fluorescent differential display and a cDNA microarray analysis were applied to distinguish the gene profiles between KB, a human HNSCC line, and its cDDP-resistant variant (KB/cDDP). These results were confirmed by Northern blot analysis. Results. One up-regulated gene, glycoprotein hormone ,-subunit, and two down-regulated genes coding membrane proteins, human folate receptor and tumor-associated antigen L6, were identified in KB/cDDP cells. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that development of the cDDP-resistant phenotype is accompanied by alternations of gene expression including a glycoprotein hormone and membrane proteins. These gene products could be new molecular markers for resistance to cDDP. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 187,193, 2003 [source] Cloning of FSH-,, LH-, and glycoprotein hormone , subunits in pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis (Valenciennes): expression profile and relationship with GnRH expression and plasma sex steroid levels in male fishJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007L. A. Miranda Three cDNAs encoding pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis follicle stimulating hormone-, (FSH-,), luteinizing hormone-, (LH-,) and glycoprotein-, (GPH-,) subunits were cloned and characterized. Gene expression of these subunits was analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and compared with the brain gene expression of endogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRHs): Pacific salmon GnRH (GnRH-III), pejerrey GnRH (GnRH-I) and chicken GnRH-II (GnRH-II) and plasma sex steroid levels in adult males. The nucleotide sequences of the FSH-,, LH-, and GPH-, subunits are 466, 558 and 677 base pairs long, encoding for mature peptides of 102, 118 and 98 amino acids respectively. Maturing males had high expression of FSH-, and GPH-, subunits, and intermediate levels of LH-, when compared with running ripe and spent stages. These animals had the lowest plasma testosterone (T) and 11-ketosterone (11-KT) values as well as low expression of sGnRH, cGnRH-II and pjGnRH. Running ripe males had the lowest expression of FSH-, and the highest expression of LH-, and GPH-, subunits, and of the three GnRH genes. At this stage, the highest values of T and 11-KT were observed. Spent males showed low expression of the three gonadotropin (GtH) subunits, sGnRH, pjGnRH and low levels of T. At this stage, 11-KT levels and cGnRH-II expression showed a tendency to decrease but the values were not statistically significant (P < 0·05) to running ripe stage. The present results would suggest that T and 11-KT modulate the expression of the FSH subunits. The expression of the anterior brain GnRH variants, sGnRH and pjGnRH is correlated with LH-, expression and reinforce the importance of the forebrain GnRH variants on the regulation of pituitary function. [source] Ontogeny of Plurihormonal Cells in the Anterior Pituitary of the Mouse, as Studied by Means of Hormone mRNA Detection in Single CellsJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 8 2002E. Seuntjens Abstract The expression of mRNA of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and the common glycoprotein hormone ,-subunit (,GSU) was studied by means of single cell reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in male mouse pituitary cells at key time points of fetal and postnatal development: embryonic day 16 (E16); postnatal day 1 (P1) and young-adult age (P38). At E16, the hormone mRNAs examined were detectable, although only in 44% of total cells. Most of the hormone-positive cells expressed only one of the tested hormone mRNAs (monohormonal) but 14% of them contained more than one hormone mRNA (plurihormonal cells). Combinations of GH mRNA with PRL mRNA, of ,GSU mRNA with GH and/or PRL mRNA and of POMC mRNA with GH and/or PRL mRNA or ,GSU mRNA were found. As expected, the proportion of hormone-positive cells rose as the mouse aged. The proportions of plurihormonal cells followed a developmental pattern independent of that of monohormonal cells and characteristic for each hormone mRNA examined. Cells coexpressing POMC mRNA with GH or PRL mRNA significantly rose in proportion between E16 and P1, while the proportion of cells coexpressing GH and PRL mRNA markedly increased between P1 and P38. The occurrence of cells displaying combined expression of ,GSU mRNA with GH and/or PRL mRNA did not significantly change during development. Remarkably, the population of cells expressing PRL mRNA only, was larger at E16 than at P1 and expanded again thereafter. In conclusion, the normal mouse pituitary develops a cell population that is capable of expressing multiple hormone mRNAs, thereby combining typical phenotypes of different cell lineages. These plurihormonal cells are already present during embryonic life. This population is of potential physiological relevance because development-related factors appear to determine which hormone mRNAs are preferentially coexpressed. Coexpression of multiple hormone mRNAs may represent a mechanism to respond to temporally increased endocrine demands. The data also suggest that the control of combined hormone expression is different from that of single hormone expression, raising questions about the current view on pituitary cell lineage specifications. [source] Comparison of chorionic gonadotropin expression in human and macaque (Macaca fascicularis) trophoblastsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Jason A. Wilken Abstract We have designed novel DNA primers that allow us to detect the expression of the subunits of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) from a variety of species of the order Primates. Using these primers, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and standard cloning techniques, we detected the expression of a single gene for the common glycoprotein hormone (GPH) ,-subunit and at least two genes for the CG ,-subunit in trophoblasts of Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgous macaque (cm)) at gestational day (GD) = 26 (± 2d). No cmCG expression was detected at GD = 35,40. When sequences of cmGPH-, and cmCG-, genes were compared to the corresponding genes of other primates, we found that the ,-subunit of M. fascicularis was highly conserved compared to other primate species. However, cmCG ,-subunits appeared to be less conserved, residing between those of human CG-, and baboon CG-, when analyzed phylogenetically. Of particular interest was a three amino acid stretch in one of the expressed cmCG-, genes that is distinct from all other primates studied. Our findings imply that not only does the expression of multiple CG ,-subunit genes appear to be common to Old World monkeys, but that the presented methodology will greatly facilitate our ability to understand primate evolution. Am. J. Primatol. 56:89,97, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Serum inhibin B and follicle-stimulating hormone levels as markers in the evaluation of azoospermic men: a comparisonANDROLOGIA, Issue 5 2005A. Halder Summary Inhibin B is a glycoprotein hormone produced mainly by Sertoli cells of the testes in the adult male. It selectively suppresses the secretion of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and has local paracrine actions in the testes. Its measurement is useful for investigating the role of inhibin B in male gonadal dysfunction. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of serum inhibin B in men with nonobstructive azoospermia in comparison with FSH. Serum concentration of FSH was measured using microparticle enzyme immunoassay, inhibin B by specific solid phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (n = 46) and control fertile men (n = 5). Mean inhibin B and FSH level was 104.6 pg ml,1 and 4.0 mIU ml,1 in control men whereas the value for nonobstructive azoospermic men was 17.06 pg ml,1 and 31.1 mIU ml,1 respectively. Inhibin B and FSH levels were significantly different in azoospermia than controls (P < 0.0001). There were six cases of nonobstructive azoospermia with normal inhibin B. Testicular histology did not find any evidence of spermatogenesis in three cases with normal inhibin B. This demonstrated that inhibin B was not a superior predictor for testicular function in our study. [source] Biology of the prolactin family in bovine placenta.ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2006ABSTRACT Bovine placenta produces an array of proteins that are structurally and functionally similar to pituitary prolactin. Bovine placental lactogen (bPL) is a glycoprotein hormone that has lactogenic and somatogenic properties. Purified bPL contains several kinds of isoforms that are created by alternative splicing and/or multiple glycosylation patterns. bPL can activate the prolactin (PRL) receptor-mediated signaling pathway as well as PRL does. The bPL mRNA is transcribed in trophoblast binucleate cells, and synthesized bPL protein is stored in membrane-bound secretory granules. The message encoding bPL is first detectable in trophoblast binucleate cells at approximately day 20 of gestation at, or shortly after, the appearance of binucleate cells in the trophoblast. Most binucleate cells are detected as expressed bPL in the placenta. Bovine PL may be the determinant in trophoblast differentiation. Although the biological activities of bPL have long been studied, the precise role of bPL is still largely unclear. This article reviews and discusses the biological roles of bPL, focusing on luteal function, fetal growth and pregnancy-associated maternal adaptation, mammogenesis and lactogenesis, and placental angiogenesis. The precise biological function of bPL needs to be further evaluated. [source] Stanniocalcin 2 overexpression in castration-resistant prostate cancer and aggressive prostate cancerCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2009Kenji Tamura Prostate cancer is usually androgen-dependent and responds well to androgen ablation therapy based on castration. However, at a certain stage some prostate cancers eventually acquire a castration-resistant phenotype where they progress aggressively and show very poor response to any anticancer therapies. To characterize the molecular features of these clinical castration-resistant prostate cancers, we previously analyzed gene expression profiles by genome-wide cDNA microarrays combined with microdissection and found dozens of trans -activated genes in clinical castration-resistant prostate cancers. Among them, we report the identification of a new biomarker, stanniocalcin 2, as an overexpressed gene in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed overexpression of stanniocalcin 2, a 302-amino-acid glycoprotein hormone, specifically in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells and aggressive castration-naïve prostate cancers with high Gleason scores (8,10). The gene was not expressed in normal prostate, nor in most indolent castration-naïve prostate cancers. Knockdown of stanniocalcin 2 expression by short interfering RNA in a prostate cancer cell line resulted in drastic attenuation of prostate cancer cell growth. Concordantly, stanniocalcin 2 overexpression in a prostate cancer cell line promoted prostate cancer cell growth, indicating its oncogenic property. These findings suggest that stanniocalcin 2 could be involved in aggressive phenotyping of prostate cancers, including castration-resistant prostate cancers, and that it should be a potential molecular target for development of new therapeutics and a diagnostic biomarker for aggressive prostate cancers. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 914,919) [source] | |||||||||||||