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mRNA expression of nuclear receptor RZR/ROR α , melatonin membrane receptor MT 1 , and hydroxindole‐ O ‐methyltransferase in different populations of human immune cells
Author(s) -
Pozo David,
GarcíaMauriño Sofía,
Guerrero Juan M.,
Calvo Juan R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2004.00135.x
Subject(s) - biology , immune system , cd14 , cytotoxic t cell , cd8 , orphan receptor , zap70 , microbiology and biotechnology , melatonin , il 2 receptor , interleukin 21 , endocrinology , medicine , immunology , t cell , gene , transcription factor , biochemistry , in vitro
We characterized the expression levels of the retinoid Z receptor α (RZR α ), ROR α mRNA isoforms (ROR α 1, ROR α 2, and ROR α 3), and both melatonin receptor MT 1 and hydroxindole‐ O ‐methyltransferase (HIOMT) genes. For this purpose, the following human peripheral blood mononuclear cells populations were isolated: monocytes (CD14 + cells), B lymphocytes (CD19 + cells), T helper lymphocytes (CD14 − CD4 + ), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD56 − CD8 + cells), and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes (CD56 + cells). PBMCs subsets were obtained by Dynabeads M‐450 (Dynal) isolation procedure. We observed a strong gene expression signal for RZR α in all subpopulations studied, whereas both ROR α 1 and ROR α 2 transcripts were amplified only in CD8 + cells. Specific signal for ROR α 2 was obtained in all subpopulations studied, but we were not able to detect the ROR α 3 mRNA transcript in human immune cells studied. A weaker signal (especially in CD19 + cells) was also detected in all subsets of cells for the MT 1 gene. With regard to HIOMT, a strong signal was achieved among all but one subpopulation of cells; the only exception was CD14 + cells. Thus, in addition to its classical function in the nervous and endocrine system, melatonin could act directly as a paracrine and/or autocrine agent in the human immune system.