Prolactin receptor gene expression in lymphoid cells

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Published on Sunday, 12 May 2013

Abstract

To understand the role of pituitary prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRL-R) in the growth and differentiation of lymphoid cells, PRL-R gene expression was analyzed in various lymphoid tissues and in a rat T lymphoma cell line, Nb2, which requires PRL for growth.

The technique of reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the low abundance PRL-R transcripts.

Within 30 min to 1 h, PRL stimulates a rapid but transient increase in PRL-R mRNA levels in Nb2 T cells. By 4 h, PRL-R mRNA returned to near basal levels and then gradually declined to a new steady-state level by 12 h.

Significant increases in receptor RNA levels were observed in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors, which suggests that PRL-R mRNA levels are under negative regulation.

PRL-R gene expression was also demonstrated in normal mouse thymocytes, splenocytes, and in several lymphoid cell lines. The expression of the PRL-R gene in stimulated lymphoid cells provides additional evidence for the role of PRL as an immunomodulatory molecule.

 

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