Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 80, 707-710, Copyright © 1995 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

The human Leydig insulin-like (hLEY I-L) gene is expressed in the corpus luteum and trophoblast

LS Tashima, AD Hieber, FC Greenwood and GD Bryant-Greenwood
Pacific Biomedical Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu 96822.

A novel member of the insulin superfamily has previously been shown to be expressed only in porcine pre and postnatal Leydig cells and its human analogue demonstrated in the human testes but not in other organs and hence has been tentatively termed Leydig insulin-like peptide (Ley I-L). However, we have detected hLey I-L gene expression in the cyclic human corpus luteum and trophoblast by the reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), with primers selected from the published human Ley I-L sequence. Normal and neoplastic breast tissue and fetal membranes with adhering decidua did not express the gene. The overall sequence of the trophoblast gene was in agreement with that reported with minor changes only in the putative connecting peptide, confirmed by restricted enzyme digestion. A 290 bp RT-PCR product was cloned and used as a cDNA probe in Northern analyses; hybridization was readily shown with cyclic corpora lutea but not with other tissues. The broader spectrum of the expression of this gene will warrant a new nomenclature when its biological activities are known. The different intensity of expression in the corpus luteum and trophoblast suggest endocrine and autocrine/paracrine roles respectively in these tissues in which H2 relaxin and H1/H2 relaxins coexist respectively and at similar levels of expression. Operationally the amino acid sequence homologies between the processed H1 and H2 relaxins and hLey I-L may qualify the specificity claimed for immunostaining the human relaxins in the corpus luteum and trophoblast.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Truong, N. V. Bogatcheva, C. Schelling, G. Dolf, and A. I. Agoulnik Isolation and Expression Analysis of the Canine Insulin-Like Factor 3 Gene Biol Reprod, November 1, 2003; 69(5): 1658 - 1664. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Ivell and R. A.D. Bathgate Reproductive Biology of the Relaxin-Like Factor (RLF/INSL3) Biol Reprod, September 1, 2002; 67(3): 699 - 705. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. F. Irving-Rodgers, R. A.D. Bathgate, R. Ivell, R. Domagalski, and R. J. Rodgers Dynamic Changes in the Expression of Relaxin-Like Factor (Insl3), Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Cytochrome P450, and 3{beta}-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase in Bovine Ovarian Follicles During Growth and Atresia Biol Reprod, April 1, 2002; 66(4): 934 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. de Rienzo, F. Aniello, M. Branno, and S. Minucci Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Member of the Relaxin/Insulin Family from the Testis of the Frog Rana esculenta Endocrinology, July 1, 2001; 142(7): 3231 - 3238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Hombach-Klonisch, S. Seeger, G. Tscheudschilsuren, J. Buchmann, B. Huppertz, G. Seliger, B. Fischer, and T. Klonisch Cellular localization of human relaxin-like factor in the cyclic endometrium and placenta Mol. Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2001; 7(4): 349 - 356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Klonisch, C. Froehlich, F. Tetens, B. Fischer, and S. Hombach-Klonisch Molecular Remodeling of Members of the Relaxin Family During Primate Evolution Mol. Biol. Evol., March 1, 2001; 18(3): 393 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Klonisch, J. Kauffold, K. Steger, M. Bergmann, R. Leiser, B. Fischer, and S. Hombach-Klonisch Canine Relaxin-Like Factor: Unique Molecular Structure and Differential Expression Within Reproductive Tissues of the Dog Biol Reprod, February 1, 2001; 64(2): 442 - 450. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Tomboc, P. A. Lee, M. F. Mitwally, F. X. Schneck, M. Bellinger, and S. F. Witchel Insulin-like 3/Relaxin-Like Factor Gene Mutations Are Associated with Cryptorchidism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2000; 85(11): 4013 - 4018. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Bathgate, N. Moniac, B. Bartlick, M. Schumacher, M. Fields, and R. Ivell Expression and Regulation of Relaxin-Like Factor Gene Transcripts in the Bovine Ovary: Differentiation-Dependent Expression in Theca Cell Cultures Biol Reprod, October 1, 1999; 61(4): 1090 - 1098. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. E. Bullesbach and C. Schwabe Specific, High Affinity Relaxin-like Factor Receptors J. Biol. Chem., August 6, 1999; 274(32): 22354 - 22358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Klonisch, R. Ivell, M. Balvers, S. Kliesch, B. Fischer, M. Bergmann, and K. Steger Expression of relaxin-like factor is down-regulated in human testicular Leydig cell neoplasia Mol. Hum. Reprod., February 1, 1999; 5(2): 104 - 108. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Zarreh-Hoshyari-Khah, A. Einspanier, and R. Ivell Differential Splicing and Expression of the Relaxin-Like Factor Gene in Reproductive Tissues of the Marmoset Monkey (Callithrix jacchus) Biol Reprod, February 1, 1999; 60(2): 445 - 453. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E. Büllesbach and C. Schwabe A Novel Leydig Cell cDNA-derived Protein Is a Relaxin-like Factor J. Biol. Chem., July 7, 1995; 270(27): 16011 - 16015. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]