Am. O'Carroll et al., Distribution of mRNA encoding B78/apj, the rat homologue of the human APJ receptor, and its endogenous ligand apelin in brain and peripheral tissues, BBA-GENE ST, 1492(1), 2000, pp. 72-80
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Molecular Biology & Genetics
Journal title
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE STRUCTURE AND EXPRESSION
The human APJ receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor which functions as a
n efficient alternative co-receptor for a number of human immunodeficiency
virus type 1 and simian immunodeficiency virus strains. We have cloned the
rat APJ receptor, which we term B78/apj, and have mapped the mRNA distribut
ion of both the receptor and its natural ligand apelin in rat tissues. Nort
hern blot analysis showed a similar pattern of expression for B78/apj and a
pelin mRNAs with hybridising transcripts seen in the lung, heart, skeletal
muscle, kidney, brain and liver. In situ hybridisation histochemistry studi
es revealed intense B78/apj gene expression in the parenchyma of the lung,
a subpopulation of glomeruli in the kidney, the corpora lutea of the ovary
and isolated cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary. B78/apj mRNA had
a striking and unique distribution within the central nervous system (CNS)
where receptor expression was found in cells within the meninges around the
brain, in the posterior magnocellular and medial parvocellular areas of th
e hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and in the supraoptic nucleus. This
hypothalamic distribution offers a possible specific role of this receptor
in mediating neuroendocrine responses in the CNS. (C) 2000 Published by Els
evier Science B.V.