Human lymphocytes produce pro-opiomelanocortin gene-related transcripts. Effects of lymphotropic viruses.

Expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene was examined in normal human lymphocytes and lymphocyte cell lines infected by lymphotropic viruses. POMC gene transcripts were detected in human lymphocytes using stringent RNA-RNA hybridizations. Low transcript levels were found in normal phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in tonsillar T and B cells. The highest levels were found in cells infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, T cell lines infected with human T lymphotropic viruses did not have increased levels of transcripts. The transcript levels in an EBV-transformed B lymphocyte line were not affected by dexamethasone or corticotropin-releasing hormone, known regulators of anterior pituitary POMC gene expression. Therefore, it is possible that EBV infections could result in abnormal POMC expression.