Temporal expression patterns of the melatoninergic system in the human thymus of children.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To obtain greater knowledge of the extra-pineal sources of melatonin during development, the amount of indolamine and the expression levels of the last two enzymes involved in its biosynthesis, Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT), were analyzed in the human thymus from children from three different age groups (from days to years). The melatonin membrane and nuclear receptor expression levels also were studied.

Methods

Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and western blot were performed to investigate the receptor and enzyme expression levels. The results were examined and correlated with the ages of the thymuses.

Results

We found high levels of indolamine in the thymuses of newborns (younger than 1 mon

SUBMITTER: Cruz-Chamorro I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6822200 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature