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Abstract
This study reports on neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA expression in human peripheral blood
mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lymphoid tissues. By reverse transcription polymerase
chain reaction (RT-PCR) it is shown that activated human PBMC of normal blood donors
expressed the NPY gene. The PCR products had the expected size and Northern blotting
demonstrated the presence of the 0.8-kb NPY mRNA. To define the subpopulations of
mononuclear cells expressing this neuropeptide, purified monocytes, B cells and T
cells were stimulated with specific activators. Monocytes and in vitro matured macrophages
expressed NPY mRNA in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). B lymphocytes expressed
NPY mRNA following stimulation with antibody to surface immunoglobulin and PMA. In
order to analyze whether these cell types express NPY under physiological conditions
in vivo, human bone marrow, tonsil and thymus were analyzed. In situ hybridization
of bone marrow revealed a small number of cells containing high levels of NPY mRNA
which was also detected in RNA extracts of human thymus and tonsil. In summary, NPY
is an inducible gene in human lymphocytes and monocytes and it is expressed at sites
where these cells are activated in vivo.