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

Abstract

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.

Pharmacoproteomic analysis of prechemotherapy and postchemotherapy plasma samples from patients receiving neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma

“…16 It also is the predominant negative regulator of iron absorption in the small intestine, iron transport across the placenta, and iron release from macrophages. 17 It is noteworthy that the synthesis of hepcidin also is stimulated by inflammation. Hepcidin has not yet been studied in the context of breast carcinoma, but it is an intriguing candidate for m/z 2790.…”

“…Ley I-L/INSL3 is a member of the insulin superfamily and is expressed only in the human testes, corpus luteum, and trophoblasts, but not in other organs or tissues (including normal or neoplastic breast tissues); therefore, this molecule is not a likely candidate. 17 A third possibility is that the m/z 2790 peak represents the cleavage product of a larger protein.…”

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCV. Recent Advances in the Understanding of the Pharmacology and Biological Roles of Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors 1–4, the Receptors for Relaxin Family Peptides

“…INSL3 is primarily a reproductive hormone and was first cloned from testicular cDNA libraries (Adham et al, 1993;Pusch et al, 1996). The peptide is secreted by testicular Leydig cells (Adham et al, 1993;Pusch et al, 1996) but is also found in human cyclic corpora lutea (Tashima et al, 1995); ruminant ovary, uterus, and placenta (Bathgate et al, 1996;Roche et al, 1996); mouse (Zimmermann et al, 1997); and marmoset ovary (Zarreh-Hoshyari-Khah et al, 1999). Importantly INSL3 is a circulating hormone in both males (Foresta et al, 2004) and females (AnandIvell et al, 2013), although the levels are much higher in males.…”

Biology of the relaxin-like factor (RLF)

“…Tashima et al (1995), however, were able to show a weak northern signal in human ovary and trophoblast, and Zimmermann et al (1997) detected a similar signal in the mouse ovary. However, neither of these signals were comparable in magnitude to those identified in the ruminant ovary (Bathgate et al, 1996;Roche et al, 1996).…”

“…Except in the human where a very weak signal is detectable in trophoblast (Tashima et al, 1995), northern hybridization has consistently failed to show any specific RLF transcripts in any tissues other than testis or ovary. In a more extensive study of bovine tissues using RT-PCR, Bathgate et al (1996) were able to detect RLF specific signals in endometrium and myometrium of the uterus both in the cycle and in pregnancy, and in caruncle and chorion, as well as in epididymis.…”