| First Author | Zhang Y | Year | 2000 |
| Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 1 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 392-7 |
| PubMed ID | 11062498 | Mgi Jnum | J:65461 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1926622 | Doi | 10.1038/80826 |
| Citation | Zhang Y, et al. (2000) Hemokinin is a hematopoietic-specific tachykinin that regulates B lymphopoiesis. Nat Immunol 1(5):392-7 |
| abstractText | We report here the molecular cloning of a newly identified preprotachykinin gene, Pptc, which specifies the sequence for a new preprotachykinin protein and bioactive peptide designated hemokinin 1 (HK-1). PPT-C mRNA was detected primarily in hematopoietic cells in contrast to the previously described Ppta and Pptb genes, which are predominantly expressed in neuronal tissues. HK-1 has several biological activities that are similar to the most studied tachykinin, substance P, such as induction of plasma extravasation and mast cell degranulation. However, HK-1 also has properties that are indicative of a critical role in mouse B cell development. HK-1 stimulated the proliferation of interleukin 7-expanded B cell precursors, whereas substance P had no effect. HK-1, but not substance P, promoted the survival of freshly isolated bone marrow B lineage cells or cultured, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated pre-B cells. N-acetyl-L-trytophan-3,5-bistrifluromethyl benzyl ester, a tachykinin receptor antagonist, increased apoptosis of these cells and in vivo administration of this antagonist led to specific reductions of the B220lowCD43 population (the pre-B cell compartment) in the bone marrow and the IgMhighIgDlow population (the newly generated B cells) in the spleen. Thus, HK-1 may be an autocrine factor that is important for the survival of B cell precursors at a critical phase of development. |
