CALCITONIN-GENE EXPRESSION IN NORMAL HUMAN LIVER

Immunoreactive calcitonin (CT) is present in liver. This could represe nt hormone synthesized by liver cells. degraded or bound to specific r eceptors reported in this organ. We report here that the calcitonin ge ne is expressed in liver. We proved this by demonstrating, by PCR ampl ification using specific primers, the presence of calcitonin messenger in human liver and in primary cultures of human hepatocytes and detec ted by radioimmunoassay CT in hepatic tissues and cells. The synthesis of hormone by liver that also possesses specific receptors for CT fav ors the presence of an autocrine or paracrine system involving calcito nin in this organ.