Identification of neurotensin-related peptides in human thymic epithelial cell membranes and relationship with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules.

This study shows the expression at the cell surface of human thymic epithelial cells (TEC) of a neurotensin (NT)-like immunoreactivity. NT radio-immunoassay (RIA) revealed that cultured human TEC contain +/-5 ng immunoreactive (ir) NT/10(6) cells, of which 5% is associated with plasma cell membranes. HPLC analysis of NT-ir present in human TEC showed a major peak of NT-ir corresponding to NT1-13. NT-ir was not detected in the supernatant of human TEC cultures. Using an affinity column prepared with a anti-MHC class I monoclonal antibody, NT-ir-related peptides were retained on the column and eluted together with MHC class I-related proteins. According to the elution time on HPLC of these peptides, they correspond to intact NT1-13, as well as to smaller fragments of NT1-13.

Plasma neurotensin levels in prepubertal children and adults: possible involvement in the regulation of growth hormone secretion.

The present study investigated a possible relationship between plasma neurotensin (NT) and serum growth hormone (GH) levels after GH-stimulation provocative tests in humans. Samples were obtained from twelve prepubertal children and sixteen normal adult volunteers. Basal plasma NT levels were higher in children with growth delay (19.02 +/- 4.01 fmol/ml) (mean +/- SEM) than in normal adults (6.13 +/- 1.1 fmol/ml) (p < 0.001). Basal GH levels in children (1.52 +/- 0.06 ng/ml) were not different from those in adults (0.60 +/- 0.41 ng/ml). After stimulation of GH secretion, NT values decreased when GH peaked, and increased when GH levels diminished. These data suggest that plasma NT levels may be involved in the regulation of GH secretion, as a peripheral signal, probably through modulation of somatostatin release from the median eminence.