Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Systemic administration of the cytokine IL-1 beta produces a significant release of ACTH into the plasma and activation of hypothalamic oxytocin (OT) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) cells. However, the mechanism(s) by which systemic IL-1 beta induces these responses is not clear. In the present study, we have investigated the proposal that catecholamine cells of the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) can relay circulating IL-1 signals via a prostaglandin-dependent mechanism to effect the HPA axis responses in the rat. Intra-arterial administration of IL-1 beta (1 pg/kg) to otherwise untreated animals produced a prominent release of ACTH into the plasma, substantial c-fos expression in paraventricular medial parvocellular (mPVN) corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) cells, supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) OT cells, area postrema cells, NTS and VLM catecholamine cells and cells of the central amygdala. Pretreatment with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin (10 mg/kg body weight ia) 15 min before IL-1 beta administration (1 pg/kg ia) significantly reduced plasma ACTH release and c-fos expression in PVN and SON OT cells and MPVN CRF cells, in addition, the area postrema, A1 and C1 catecholamine cell groups of the VLM and A2 and C2 catecholamine cell groups of the NTS, all exhibited concomitant reductions in c-fos expression. Conversely indomethacin administration did not alter the IL1 beta-induced expression of c-fos in the central amygdala. These data suggest that central pathways involved in the IL-1 beta-induced activation of the HPA axis and OT cells are, at least in part, dependent upon prostaglandin synthesis. It is proposed that neurons in the area postrema, NTS and VLM might mediate this IL-1 beta-induced activation of hypothalamic CRF and OT cells and release of ACTH into the plasma.
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PMID:Indomethacin attenuates oxytocin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to systemic interleukin-1 beta. 970 Jun 79

The thymus provides an optimal humoral microenvironment for the development of immunocompetent T cells. Although yolk sac derived pre-T, committed hematopoietic stem cells enter the thymus using a homing receptor, the immigration process also requires secretion of a peptide called thymotaxin by the cells of the reticulo-epithelial (RE) network of the thymic cellular microenvironment. The majority of RE cells have a round or irregular pale nucleus, which contains few, scattered, chromatin granules with a defined, spherical nucleolus, rich in basic histones. Their cytoplasm occasionally displays RNP granules, and is rich in non-histone proteins, fine phospholipid, lipid or cholesterin granules, and vacuoles filled with secreted substances. The cells of the subcapsular, endocrine RE cell layer (giant or nurse cells), characterized by PAS positive granules, express A2B5/TE4 cell surface antigens and MHC Class I (HLA A, B, C) molecules. In contrast to medullar RE cells, these subcapsular nurse cells also produce thymosins beta 3 beta 4. Thymic nurse cells (TNCs) display a neuroendocrine cell specific immunophenotype (IP): Thy-1+, A2B5+, TT+, TE4+, UJ13/A+, UJ127.11+, UJ167.11+, UJ181.4+, and presence of common leukocyte antigen (CLA+). Medullar RE cells display MHC Class II (HLA-DP, HLA-DQ, HLA-DR) molecule restriction. These cells also contain transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type II receptors and participate in the positive selection of T cells. Transmission electron-microscopic (TEM) observations have defined four functional subtypes of medullar RE cells: undifferentiated, squamous, villous, and cystic. All subtypes are connected by desmosomes. Immunocytochemical observations have shown that the secreted thymic hormones, thymosin alpha 1 and thymopoietin (and its short form, thymopentin or TP5), are produced by the same RE cells. Thymic RE cells also produce numerous cytokines including IL1, IL6, G-CSF, M-CSF, and GM-CSF that likely are important in various stages of thymocyte activation and differentiation. The co-existence of pituitary hormone and neuropeptide secretion, such as growth hormone, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, somatostatin, oxytocin, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, arginine vasopressin, growth hormone releasing hormone, corticotropin releasing hormone, nerve growth factor, vasoactive intestinal peptide, (pro) enkephalin, and beta-endorphin, production of a number of interleukins and growth factors, as well as the expression of receptors for all, by the same RE cell is an unique molecular biological phenomenon. These data illustrate the immensely important and diverse immuno-neuroendocrine functions of the thymic RE cellular network. Based on our systematic observations of the thymus in humans and other mammalian species, we suggest that the thymic RE cell network represents an extremely important cellular and humoral microenvironment in homeopathic regulatory mechanisms of the multicellular organism. Intrathymic T lymphocyte selection is a complex, multistep process, influenced by several functionally specialized RE cell subtypes and under constant immuno-neuroendocrine regulation, reflecting the dynamic changes of the organism.
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PMID:Molecular biological ontogenesis of the thymic reticulo-epithelial cell network during the organization of the cellular microenvironment. 1045 6