Transgenic mice expressing the human growth hormone gene provide a model system to study human growth hormone synthesis and secretion in non-tumor-derived …

H Vakili, Y Jin, JI Nagy, PA Cattini - Molecular and cellular endocrinology, 2011 - Elsevier
H Vakili, Y Jin, JI Nagy, PA Cattini
Molecular and cellular endocrinology, 2011Elsevier
Growth hormone (GH) is regulated by pituitary and hypothalamic factors as well as
peripheral endocrine factors including glucocorticoids and thyroid hormone. Studies on
human GH are limited largely to the assessment of plasma levels in endocrine disorders.
Thus, insight into the regulation of synthesis versus secretion has come mainly from studies
done on non-human GH and/or pituitary tumor cells. However, primate and non-primate GH
gene loci have differences in their structure and, by extension, regulation. We generated …
Growth hormone (GH) is regulated by pituitary and hypothalamic factors as well as peripheral endocrine factors including glucocorticoids and thyroid hormone. Studies on human GH are limited largely to the assessment of plasma levels in endocrine disorders. Thus, insight into the regulation of synthesis versus secretion has come mainly from studies done on non-human GH and/or pituitary tumor cells. However, primate and non-primate GH gene loci have differences in their structure and, by extension, regulation. We generated transgenic (171hGH/CS-TG) mice containing the intact hGH1 gene and locus control region, including sequences required for integration-independent and preferential pituitary expression. Here, we show hGH co-localizes with mouse (m) GH in somatotrophs in situ and in primary pituitary cells. Dexamethasone treatment increased hGH and mGH, as well as GH releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor RNA levels, and hGH release was stimulated by GHRH treatment. By contrast, triiodothyronine decreased or had no effect on hGH and mGH production, respectively, and the negative effect on hGH was also seen in the presence of dexamethasone. Thus, 171hGH/CS-TG mouse pituitary cultures represent a model system to investigate hormonal control of hGH synthesis and secretion.
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