Chicken Pleiotrophin: Regulation of Tissue Specific Expression by Estrogen in the Oviduct and Distinct Expression Pattern in the Ovarian Carcinomas

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a developmentally-regulated growth factor which is widely distributed in various tissues and also detected in many kinds of carcinomas. However, little is known about the PTN gene in chickens. In the present study, we found chicken PTN to be highly conserved with respect to mammalian PTN genes (91–92.6%) and its mRNA was most abundant in brain, heart and oviduct. This study focused on the PTN gene in the oviduct where it was detected in the glandular (GE) and luminal (LE) epithelial cells. Treatment of young chicks with diethylstilbesterol induced PTN mRNA and protein in GE and LE, but not in other cell types of the oviduct. Further, several microRNAs, specifically miR-499 and miR-1709 were discovered to influence PTN expression via its 3′-UTR which suggests that post-transcriptional regulation influences PTN expression in chickens. We also compared expression patterns and CpG methylation status of the PTN gene in normal and cancerous ovaries from chickens. Our results indicated that PTN is most abundant in the GE of adenocarcinoma of cancerous, but not normal ovaries of hens. Bisulfite sequencing revealed that 30- and 40% of −1311 and −1339 CpG sites are demethylated in ovarian cancer cells, respectively. Collectively, these results indicate that chicken PTN is a novel estrogen-induced gene expressed mainly in the oviductal epithelia implicating PTN regulation of oviduct development and egg formation, and also suggest that PTN is a biomarker for epithelial ovarian carcinoma that could be used for diagnosis and monitoring effects of therapies for the disease

Epitopes of the 44-68 human parathyroid hormone fragments: the importance of specific hydrophilic peptide sequences.

International audienceSeveral pentapeptides included in the 44-68 sequence of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) were synthesized simultaneously on benzhydrylamine and m-nitrobenzhydrylamine resins. The first polymer gave the free peptide and the second the peptidyl-resin complex. An ELISA test carried out with each peptidyl-resin complex showed that all the anti-44-68 hPTH antibodies raised in different animal species are directed against the same hPTH pentapeptidic sequence. This sequence is very hydrophilic and is specific to the hormone. This study demonstrates the importance of specific peptide chains in an epitope

Solid phase synthesis of two cholera toxin B subunit antigens.

International audienceThe 30-50 and 50-75 sequences of the cholera toxin beta chain including the amino-acids that are thought to be involved in toxin-receptor binding have been synthesized using the solid phase method. They were then purified by gel permeation and ion exchange chromatography. Both these free peptides induced serum antibodies recognising the native toxin after oral or intraperitoneal administration. Only the antibodies raised against the 50-75 peptide, however, were able to neutralize toxin activity

Oral immunization with a synthetic peptide of cholera toxin B subunit. Obtention of neutralizing antibodies.

International audienceThe ability of free synthetic fragments of the cholera toxin (CT), administered by parenteral or oral route, without adjuvant, to induce antibodies cross-reacting with CT was tested. Two peptides corresponding to the sequences 30-50 and 50-75 of the CT beta chain were selected and synthesized. Both free peptides, given intraperitoneally or orally, without adjuvant, elicited seric antibodies cross-reacting with CT. The anti-(P50-75) antibodies were able to neutralize the CT activity. Our results show that protection against a toxin at the systemic level can be obtained with a synthetic peptide even when administered by an oral route