Abstract
Background: The survival promoting peptide Y-P30 has a variety of neuritogenic and neuroprotective effects
in vitro and in vivo. In previous work we reported the expression of Y-P30/dermcidin in maternal peripheral blood
mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the transport of the protein to the fetal brain. In this study we analyzed hormonal
regulation of Y-P30 in human immune cells and expression of Y-P30 in the placenta. We further studied the stability
and secretion of the Y-P30 peptide.
Results: We found indications that Y-P30 might be produced in human placenta. The Y-P30 mRNA was rarely
found in isolated human PBMCs and alpha-feto-protein, human chorionic gonadotropin as well as estradiol
combined with progesterone could not induce Y-P30 expression. Y-P30 was found to be extraordinarily stable;
therefore, contamination with the peptide and the Y-P30/Dermcidin precursor mRNA is a serious concern in
experiments looking at the expression of Y-P30/Dermcidin. In cultured cell lines and primary neurons we found
that Y-P30 could be released, but neuronal uptake of Y-P30 was not observed.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that a source of Y-P30 apart from eccrine glands might be the placenta. The
peptide can be secreted together with the signaling peptide and it might reach the fetal brain where it can exert
its neuritogenic functions by binding to neuronal membranes.
in vitro and in vivo. In previous work we reported the expression of Y-P30/dermcidin in maternal peripheral blood
mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the transport of the protein to the fetal brain. In this study we analyzed hormonal
regulation of Y-P30 in human immune cells and expression of Y-P30 in the placenta. We further studied the stability
and secretion of the Y-P30 peptide.
Results: We found indications that Y-P30 might be produced in human placenta. The Y-P30 mRNA was rarely
found in isolated human PBMCs and alpha-feto-protein, human chorionic gonadotropin as well as estradiol
combined with progesterone could not induce Y-P30 expression. Y-P30 was found to be extraordinarily stable;
therefore, contamination with the peptide and the Y-P30/Dermcidin precursor mRNA is a serious concern in
experiments looking at the expression of Y-P30/Dermcidin. In cultured cell lines and primary neurons we found
that Y-P30 could be released, but neuronal uptake of Y-P30 was not observed.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that a source of Y-P30 apart from eccrine glands might be the placenta. The
peptide can be secreted together with the signaling peptide and it might reach the fetal brain where it can exert
its neuritogenic functions by binding to neuronal membranes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | BMC Research Notes |
| Volume | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Placenta
- Syndecans
- Dermcidin Y-P30
- PBMCs