Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
 31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Nitric oxide (NO), a potent and versatile free radical, is synthesized in leukocytes by the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS). In this study, leukocytes in pregnant mouse uterus were investigated for expression of the iNOS gene. Inducible NOS mRNA, which was identified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, was high relative to an invariant mRNA, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, in midgestation uteri (gestation days [g.d.] 10, 12, and 14) but was low in late-gestation uteri (g.d. 16 and 18). Inducible NOS protein, identified immunohistochemically in paraformaldehyde-fixed uteri taken from g.d. 6 through 18 using rabbit antibodies generated to mouse carboxyl terminus iNOS peptides, was prominent in a few myometrial mast cells at early stages and was strongly expressed from g.d. 6 through g.d. 14 in myometrial macrophage-like cells. Inducible NOS protein was first detected in uterine (u) natural killer (NK) cells at g.d. 8. Signals peaked in this lineage at g.d. 10 and declined thereafter. Uterine leukocytes cultured in vitro expressed the iNOS gene; a hybridoma cell line derived from mouse uNK cells (GWM1-2) contained iNOS mRNA, and cells migrating from mouse metrial gland explants included iNOS/ leukocytes. Large, granular iNOS + uNK cells were absent from the uteri of homologously mated pregnant TgE26 mice, an NK cell-deficient transgenic mouse strain, but immunoreactive iNOS was detectable in trophoblast, a cell lineage that did not contain immunoreactive iNOS in NK cell-competent Swiss-Webster mice. In TgE26 mothers gestating normal embryos, the same pattern was observed. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate that iNOS is present in mouse uterine leukocytes including mast cells, macrophage-like cells, and uNK cells, and suggest that in the absence of uNK cells, the placenta synthesizes iNOS. These findings are consistent with the postulate that leukocyte NO contributes importantly to events associated with successful pregnancy that are likely to include relaxation of vascular smooth muscle.
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PMID:Expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in mouse uterine leukocytes and potential relationships with uterine function during pregnancy. 931 87

Growth hormone (GH) is produced in progestin-induced hyperplastic ductular mammary epithelia in dogs. Progestins also induce the development of cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) in this species. The study reported here investigated whether GH gene expression could also be demonstrated in progestin-induced hyperplastic epithelium in the canine uterus. Eight beagle bitches were treated with 10 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) kg-1 body mass s.c. at intervals of 3 weeks, for a total of five times in four dogs (group I) and for a total of 13 times in the other four dogs (group II). Blood samples were collected twice during each 3 week period for measurement of plasma concentrations of GH, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II. At the end of the series of injections uterine tissue was obtained by ovario-hysterectomy. Histological examination confirmed that CEH was present in all uteri after MPA treatment; the changes in the dogs of group I were less marked than those in group II. Immunohistochemical examination of the uterine tissues showed that immunoreactive(i) GH was present in a number of uteri with CEH. iGH was usually located in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelial cells. However, reverse transcriptase PCR using GH-specific primers failed to demonstrate mRNA encoding GH in the uterine tissue of all dogs. It is concluded that local production of GH is not involved in progestin-induced hyperplasia of uterine epithelial cells in dogs.
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PMID:Lack of association of progestin-induced cystic endometrial hyperplasia with GH gene expression in the canine uterus. 940 6

Extrapituitary PRL is synthesized by the decidualized endometrial stromal cells from the mid to late secretory phase in the nonpregnant cycle and throughout pregnancy. The function of PRL in the uterus is unknown, but the temporal expression indicates a role in implantation and placentation. PRL is a powerful immunoregulatory agent, and thus, a role in modulating endometrial leukocytes may be envisaged. To investigate the site of action of PRL, immunohistochemistry was conducted to localize the PRL receptor (PRL-R). In addition, ribonucleic acid was extracted and reverse transcriptase-PCR for PRL-R was conducted. PRL-R protein was immunolocalized to the glandular epithelium and a subset of stromal cells from the mid to late secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and in early decidua. PRL-R transcripts were also detected from the late secretory phase and first trimester decidua. These findings indicate that the receptor is expressed in a temporal pattern similar to that of PRL. PRL-R expression in the glandular epithelium is consistent with a role in regulating glandular activity. Furthermore, immunoreactivity for PRL-R in a subset of stromal cells may be evidence for paracrine interactions between decidualized cells or an immunoregulatory role for PRL.
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PMID:Localization and temporal expression of prolactin receptor in human endometrium. 943 52

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has been reported to exist in extrahypothalamic tissues such as the placenta, gonads and mammary glands. While we have reported the presence of GnRH-mRNA in the rodent uterus, there have been no reports concerning gene expression of GnRH and its receptor (GnRH-R) in human endometrial tissue. In order to investigate the role of GnRH as a local regulator in the human endometrium, we examined the gene for GnRH and GnRH-R in non-pregnant endometrium and decidua of early pregnancy. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis we found GnRH-mRNA but not GnRH-R-mRNA transcripts in the human endometrium and decidua at 7-9 weeks gestation. This is the first report that suggests GnRH gene expression in the human endometrium/decidua.
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PMID:Gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, but not its receptor, in human endometrium and decidua. 948 12

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is an essential factor for embryo implantation. Factors generated by the oviduct cells (epithelial cells and fibroblasts) create the microenvironment for fertilization and first embryo stage development. Hence, it is feasible that the oviduct cells also synthesize LIF to promote and condition the embryo for implantation in the uterus. In the present study, we investigated whether cultured bovine oviduct epithelial cells and fibroblasts synthesize LIF. LIF production was measured in the conditioned medium of oviduct epithelial cells and fibroblasts, using LIF enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, expression of LIF mRNA was confirmed by LIF reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in extracts of RNA from oviduct epithelial/fibroblast cells. Quantitatively similar amounts of LIF were detected in the culture medium of epithelial cells and fibroblasts. In cells cultured for 1-7 days, the levels of LIF in the medium increased in a time-dependent manner. As compared to untreated cells, treatment of cells with 17beta-oestradiol (1-100 ng/ ml), but not progesterone (1-100 ng/ml) and insulin (20 ng/ml), increased the levels of LIF in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Similarly, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (100 ng/ml) significantly induced the levels of LIF. The effects of 17beta-oestradiol (50 ng/ml) on LIF synthesis were enhanced and not blocked in the presence of tamoxifen (1 microg/ml), an oestrogen receptor antagonist, suggesting that the stimulatory effects of 17beta-oestradiol on LIF synthesis are not receptor-mediated. In conclusion 17beta-oestradiol, but not progesterone, induces LIF synthesis by bovine oviduct epithelial cells and fibroblasts and this may play an important role in the biology of early embryo development. However, the exact pathophysiological role of LIF within the oviduct needs to be further investigated.
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PMID:Synthesis and regulation of leukaemia inhibitory factor in cultured bovine oviduct cells by hormones. 957 Feb 77

The tissue and cellular expression pattern of a recently cloned murine calcium-sensitive chloride channel (mCaCC) was determined. In situ hybridization was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded murine tissues using digoxigenin-labeled, single-stranded RNA probes. The data were substantiated with northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses. All three assays consistently indicated strong expression in tissues with secretory or ion regulatory functions, such as mammary gland, respiratory and intestinal epithelia, gall bladder, pancreas, kidney, uterus, and epididymis. Additional mCaCC expression was observed in germinal centers of lymphatic tissues, in spermatids, and in keratinocytes of the skin, esophagus, and cornea. The results are in accordance with previous electrophysiological reports on calcium-activated chloride conductances in various murine exocrine secretory epithelia and suggest a role of mCaCC in transepithelial ion transport. However, expression in other than secretory tissues indicates a more complex function.
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PMID:The murine calcium-sensitive chloride channel (mCaCC) is widely expressed in secretory epithelia and in other select tissues. 968 88

Combined androgen and oestrogen treatment of male or female Syrian hamsters results via an unknown mechanism in the formation of leiomyosarcomas in the reproductive tract. We have examined the possibility that retroviral gene expression may play a role in tumorigenesis. Evidence of virus-like particles in epididymis and seminal fluid is shown in electron micrographs. We identified expressed retroviral sequences by using RT-PCR to amplify a conserved retroviral reverse transcriptase coding region in RNA isolated from epididymis, testis, clarified seminal fluid and uterus. Phylogenetic analysis allowed us to classify the sequences into two distinct groups: (1) mammalian type-C viruses, having similarity to Moloney murine leukaemia virus, feline leukaemia virus and gibbon ape leukaemia virus amongst others; (2) a mixed ABCD group containing, for example, Chinese hamster and murine intracisternal A-particle virus sequences, mouse mammary tumour virus and human and simian retroviral sequences. The presence of putative full-length retrovirus related to mammalian type-C viruses in the epididymis and uterus was confirmed by Northern blot analysis. However, steroid treatment did not alter retroviral RNA levels in the epididymis or in a uterine tumour relative to untreated uterus. In summary, Syrian hamster reproductive tissues were found to express unique retroviral sequences; however, their role, if any, in hormonal carcinogenesis remains unresolved.
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PMID:Novel retroviral sequences are expressed in the epididymis and uterus of Syrian hamsters. 982 Jan 44

Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP), also named pleiotropin, is a secreted polypeptide that belongs to a new family of heparin-binding growth/differentiation factors. In this study, we investigated the expression and distribution of HARP mRNA and protein in rat uterus. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR experiments showed variations in HARP mRNA levels throughout the estrous cycle, with a maximum during diestrus, pointing to hormonal regulation of HARP mRNA expression. Uterine expression of HARP mRNA was studied in ovariectomized animals treated with 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone alone or progesterone and RU486. In these experiments, progesterone upregulated HARP mRNA expression. Induction was observed 6 h after progesterone injection and was inhibited by RU486 treatment. In contrast, after 17 beta-estradiol injection, a slight decrease in HARP mRNA expression was observed. In situ hybridization studies with digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe revealed that HARP mRNA was present in smooth muscle cells of both myometrium and blood vessels and also in endothelial cells from endometrium. Immunohistochemical studies showed that HARP expression was not limited to cells that expressed HARP mRNA, but also occurred in both the luminal and glandular epithelium even though its transcript was never detected. We conclude that HARP may mediate the effects of progesterone on the homeostasis and vascularization of uterine tissue.
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PMID:Upregulation of the angiogenic factor heparin affin regulatory peptide by progesterone in rat uterus. 984 68

The high-mobility-group (HMG) protein gene, HMGIC, is localized to chromosome 12, band q15, a region often rearranged in benign mesenchymal tumors, including uterine leiomyomata. Although some evidence suggests a role in regulation of cell proliferation, the precise function of HMGIC in the development or progression of these tumors remains unclear. We investigated HMGIC expression in 17 fetal tissues (adrenal, aorta, bone, brain, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, ovary, placenta, skin, spleen, stomach, testis, and uterus) and 10 adult tissues (aorta, brain, cerebellum, fat, kidney, liver, lung, lymph node, myometrium, and spinal cord) by Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Comparisons between HMGIC gene expression in tumor samples from 11 uterine leiomyomata and 7 normal matched myometrium or in vitro cell cultures (chorionic villi, placenta, myometrium, leiomyoma, and skin) were also performed. The gene was expressed in all fetal tissues tested but only in adult lung and kidney. HMGIC was also expressed in leiomyoma tumor samples containing t(12;14) and in all in vitro cell cultures. The pattern of HMGIC expression suggests that this gene is important in rapidly proliferating human fetal tissues. Restoration of expression in leiomyomata required dysregulation of HMGIC. Transcripts of HMGIC can also be detected after in vitro cell culture, suggesting that HMGIC expression may be affected by factors present in culture media and serum. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 25:316-322, 1999.
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PMID:HMGIC expression in human adult and fetal tissues and in uterine leiomyomata. 1039 24

Human labour is associated with increased prostaglandin synthesis within the uterus. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of the two isoforms of the central prostaglandin synthetic enzyme, cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) in human myometrium throughout pregnancy and to test the hypothesis that COX in the myometrium may play a role in labour onset. Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 at the mRNA level was analysed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and at the protein level using Western blotting. No significant changes of COX-1 RNA or protein expression were observed either with gestational age or labour. COX-2 mRNA and protein expression increased at term with significant up-regulation occurring prior to the onset of labour (P < 0.005). These data would suggest that up-regulation of COX-2, rather than COX-1, mediates increased prostaglandin synthesis in human myometrium at term. The increased COX-2 expression observed preceded labour onset, suggesting that COX-2 has a role in labour onset, rather than its presence merely a consequence of labour.
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PMID:Expression of cyclo-oxygenase types-1 and -2 in human myometrium throughout pregnancy. 1046 Feb 28


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