DEMONSTRATION OF THYMOPOIETIN TRANSCRIPTS IN DIFFERENT HEMATOPOIETIC-CELL LINES

We have cloned and characterized the human thymopoietin (TP) coding re gion and studied the mRNA expression of this gene in different hematop oietic cell lines. The 150-bp PCR fragment that encodes the 49-amino-a cid human TP peptide was isolated from genomic placental DNA. Its coli nearity with the cDNA sequence suggests lack of introns within the cod ing region. TP mRNA expression was demonstrated in lymphocytes from al l the differentiation stages investigated, as well as in a myeloid cel l line (K-562). These findings suggest a further expansion of the prop osed TP functions.