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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-7-16
pubmed:abstractText
Evidence indicates that some regulatory peptides (endothelins, cholecystokinin and VIP) are involved in the control of thymus growth, and we have investigated whether galanin may be included in this group of peptides. In fact, galanin, a 29-amino acid peptide acting through three subtypes of G protein-coupled receptors (GalR1, GalR2 and GalR3), seems to play a role in the control of the immune system. Reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allowed the detection of galanin, GalR1 and GalR3 mRNAs in the thymus cortex of immature (20-day-old) rats, while GalR2 expression was very weak or absent. Immature rats were given three subcutaneous injections (28, 16 and 4 h before sacrifice) of 2 nmol/100 g galanin and or the galanin-receptor antagonist (galanin-A) [D-Thr(6),D-Trp(8,9),15-ol]-galanin(1-15), and 0.1 mg/100 g vincristine 3 h before sacrifice. Thymuses were processed for light microscopy and the percentage of metaphase-arrested cells (mitotic index) was evaluated. Galanin-A increased the thymus mitotic index, while galanin was ineffective, thereby suggesting that endogenous galanin exerts a maximal tonic inhibitory effect on the proliferative activity of thymocytes in immature rats. Immature rat thymocytes were cultured in vitro for 12 h in the presence of 10(-6) M galanin and/or galanin-A. Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide were added to the cultures, and the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells was determined under fluorescence microscope. Galanin increased apoptotic index, and the effect was prevented by galanin-A. Neither galanin nor galanin-A altered necrotic index. Collectively, our findings indicate that galanin, probably acting through GalR1 and GalR3, exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on immature rat thymocytes, which makes it likely that this peptide plays a role in the autocrine/paracrine functional regulation of immune system in the rat.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
1107-3756
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
10
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
183-6
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Apoptosis, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Autocrine Communication, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Cell Division, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Female, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Galanin, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Microscopy, Fluorescence, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Mitotic Index, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Necrosis, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Organ Size, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Paracrine Communication, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Peptide Fragments, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-RNA, Messenger, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Rats, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Rats, Wistar, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Receptors, Galanin, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Receptors, Neuropeptide, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-T-Lymphocytes, pubmed-meshheading:12119556-Thymus Gland
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Effects of galanin on proliferation and apoptosis of immature rat thymocytes.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Histology and Embryology, University School of Medical Sciences, PL-60781 Poznan, Poland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article