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Wang Y, Kim M, Buckley C, Maynard HD, Langley RJ, Perry JK. Growth hormone receptor agonists and antagonists: From protein expression and purification to long-acting formulations. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4727. [PMID: 37428391 PMCID: PMC10443362 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and GH receptor antagonists (GHAs) are used clinically to treat a range of disorders associated with GH deficiency or hypersecretion, respectively. However, these biotherapeutics can be difficult and expensive to manufacture with multiple challenges from recombinant protein generation through to the development of long-acting formulations required to improve the circulating half-life of the drug. In this review, we summarize methodologies and approaches used for making and purifying recombinant GH and GHA proteins, and strategies to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, including PEGylation and fusion proteins. Therapeutics that are in clinical use or are currently under development are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Liggins Institute, University of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular BiodiscoveryAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Minah Kim
- Liggins Institute, University of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Chantal Buckley
- Liggins Institute, University of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Heather D. Maynard
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the California NanoSystems InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ries J. Langley
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular BiodiscoveryAucklandNew Zealand
- Department of Molecular Medicine and PathologyUniversity of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Jo K. Perry
- Liggins Institute, University of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular BiodiscoveryAucklandNew Zealand
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Xie YF, Chen H, Huang BR. Expression, purification and characterization of human IFN-lambda1 in Pichia pastoris. J Biotechnol 2007; 129:472-80. [PMID: 17349709 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2007.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2006] [Revised: 01/05/2007] [Accepted: 01/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Interferon-lambda (IFN-lambda) is a newly identified IFN family which belongs to the class II cytokines. The three members of this family represent antiviral activities like other IFNs. In the present study, recombinant human IFN-lambda1 (rhIFN-lambda1) was produced by using the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) expression system. cDNAs encoding amino acids 23-200 or 20-200 of human IFN-lambda1 were cloned and joined to sequence encoding the leader region (prepro segment) of the precursor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor. The two hybrid genes were subcloned into yeast integrative vector pAO815 separately to construct expression plasmids bearing four tandem copies of IFN-lambda1 expression cassettes. The expression plasmids were then used to transform into P. pastoris strain GS115, resulting in recombinant strains GS115/IFNlambda1P and GS115/IFNlambda1G with Mut(+) or Mut(s) phenotype. rhIFN-lambda1 was secreted into the medium upon methanol induction. In GS115/IFNlambda1P, however, KEX2 cleavage for mature rhIFN-lambda1 generation was inhibited by a proline at [Formula: see text] and the products were different from anticipation. GS115/IFNlambda1G strain secreted two forms of mature rhIFN-lambda1 with the same N-terminal sequence and different molecular weight. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining indicated that these proteins were glycosylated. The yield of low-glycosylated rhIFN-lambda1 in GS115/IFNlambda1G strain was approximately 65 mg l(-1) in shaking flasks, representing around 57% of the total secreted proteins. rhIFN-lambda1 was purified by cation exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The purified rhIFN-lambda1 showed specific efficiency to activate signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT2 that was comparable to that of commercial IFNalpha2a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Fei Xie
- National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao Street, Beijing, 100005, China
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Noel S, Herman A, Johnson GA, Gray CA, Stewart MD, Bazer FW, Gertler A, Spencer TE. Ovine placental lactogen specifically binds to endometrial glands of the ovine uterus. Biol Reprod 2003; 68:772-80. [PMID: 12604625 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.009183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A hormonal servomechanism has been proposed to regulate differentiation and function of the endometrial glandular epithelium (GE) in the ovine uterus during pregnancy. This mechanism involves sequential actions of estrogen, progesterone, ovine interferon tau (IFNtau), placental lactogen (oPL), and placental growth hormone (oGH). The biological actions of oPL in vitro are mediated by homodimerization of the prolactin receptor (oPRLR) and heterodimerization of the oPRLR and oGH receptor. The objectives of the study were to determine the effects of intrauterine oPL, oGH, and their combination on endometrial histoarchitecture and gene expression and to localize and characterize binding sites for oPL in the ovine uterus in vivo using an in situ ligand binding assay. Intrauterine infusion of oPL and/or oGH following IFNtau into ovariectomized ewes treated with progesterone daily differentially affected endometrial gland number and expression of uterine milk proteins and osteopontin. However, neither hormone affected PRLR, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, or IGF-II mRNA levels in the endometrium. A chimeric protein of placental secretory alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and oPL was used to identify and characterize binding sites for oPL in frozen sections of interplacentomal endometrium from pregnant ewes. Specific binding of SEAP-oPL was detected in the endometrial GE on Days 30, 60, 90, and 120 of pregnancy. In Day 90 endometrium, SEAP-oPL binding to the endometrial GE was displaced completely by oPL and prolactin (oPRL) but only partially by oGH. Binding experiments using the extracellular domain of the oPRLR also showed that iodinated oPL binding sites could be competed for by oPRL and oPL but not by oGH. Collectively, results indicate that oPL binds to receptors in the endometrial glands and that oPRL is more effective than oGH in competing for these binding sites. Thus, effects of oPL on the endometrial glands may be mediated by receptors for oPRL and oGH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sekoni Noel
- Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
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Ben-Yair L, Slaaby R, Herman A, Cohen Y, Biener E, Moran N, Yoshimura A, Whittaker J, De Meyts P, Herman B, Gertler A. Preparation and expression of biologically active prolactin and growth hormone receptors and suppressor of cytokine signaling proteins 1, 2, 3, and 6 tagged with cyan and yellow fluorescent proteins. Protein Expr Purif 2002; 25:456-64. [PMID: 12182826 DOI: 10.1016/s1046-5928(02)00044-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
To prepare reagents for a study of the interactions of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) receptors (Rs) with suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins in living cells by fluorescence resonance energy transfer methodology, the respective proteins were tagged with cyan (CFP) or yellow (YFP) fluorescent protein. Constructs encoding ovine (o)PRLR-YFP, oPRLR-CFP, oGHR-YFP, and oGHR-CFP tagged downstream of the receptor DNA were prepared in the plasmid pcDNA plasmid and tested for biological activity in HEK 293T cells transiently cotransfected with those constructs and the reporter gene encoding luciferase. All four constructs were biologically active and as potent as their untagged counterparts. Cells transfected with those proteins exhibited fluorescence in the cytoplasm and the membrane. Constructs encoding DNA tagged with YFP or CFP upstream of SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3, and SOCS6 were prepared in pECFP-C1 and pEYFP-C1 plasmids. The biological activities of SOCS1 and SOCS3 tagged at their amino termini were assayed by their ability to inhibit placental lactogen (PL)- or GH-induced activation of JAK2/STAT5-mediated luciferase transcription in HEK 293T cells; the activity of SOCS2 was assayed by its ability to abolish SOCS1-induced inhibition. The tagged proteins exhibited biological activity that was equal to or even more potent than their untagged counterparts. The biological activities of CFP-SOCS2 and YFP-SOCS2 were also assayed using GST-GHR binding assay. Their interaction with the cytosolic domain of GHR was equivalent to their respective untagged counterparts. The biological activity of the construct encoding SOCS6 was not tested because of lack of a suitable assay. Cells transfected with eight of these tagged constructs expressed the fluorescent proteins in both the nucleus and cytosol; the tagged SOCS2 was localized mostly in the latter compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liora Ben-Yair
- Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, The Hebrew University, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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5
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Abstract
Ruminant placental lactogens (PLs) are structurally related to prolactins (PRLs) and growth hormones (GHs) and are secreted by placentae. Ruminant PLs are unusual in their capacity to bind and activate PRL and GH receptors (Rs) from other species. The present minireview summarizes several works showing that unlike in heterologous species (rat, rabbit, human), in homologous (ruminant) species, PLs act by activating PRLRs or by heterodimerizing GHRs and PRLRs, and suggests that this may be the main mechanism of PL action in vivo. Mutations impairing the ability of ovine (o)PL or bovine (b)PL to form complexes with PRLRs (but not with GHRs) do not cause loss of biological activity, because the transient existence of the homodimeric complex is still sufficient to initiate the signal transduction; however, mutants do lose their ability to activate homologous PRLRs. To explain this difference, we proposed a novel term-minimal time of homodimer persistence-which assumes that to initiate the signal transduction, a "minimal time" of homodimer existence is required for transphosphorylation of associated JAK2s. In interactions between ruminant PLs and homologous PRLRs, this minimal time is met through the interaction with homologous PRLRs, which has a shorter half-life than with heterologous PRLRs. Thus oPL or bPL are active in cells possessing both homologous and heterologous PRLRs. Mutations of PLs decrease the affinity, shortening the "time of homodimer persistence." In heterologous interactions, the minimal time is still sufficient to initiate the biological activity, whereas in homologous interactions, which in any case are weaker, further destabilization of the complex shortens its persistence below the minimal time, causing loss of biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arieh Gertler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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Sandowski Y, Cohen Y, Le Rouzic P, Bignon C, Rentier-Delrue F, Djiane J, Prunet P, Gertler A. Recombinant prolactin receptor extracellular domain of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): subcloning, preparation, and characterization. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2000; 118:302-9. [PMID: 10890569 DOI: 10.1006/gcen.2000.7465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The cDNA of the extracellular domain of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) prolactin receptor (trPRLR-ECD) was cloned in the prokaryotic expression vector pMON to enable its expression in Escherichia coli after induction with nalidixic acid. The bacterially expressed trPRLR-ECD protein, contained within the refractile body pellet, was solubilized in 4.5 M urea, refolded, and purified on a Q-Sepharose column, pH 8, by stepwise elution with NaCl. The bioactive monomeric 26-kDa fraction was eluted in 0.2 M NaCl, yielding 20 mg/2.5 L of induced culture. The purified protein was over 98% homogeneous, as shown by SDS-PAGE in the presence or absence of reducing agent and by chromatography on a Superdex column. Binding experiments using [125I]ovine placental lactogen (oPL) as a ligand revealed that human growth hormone (hGH), oPL, and ovine prolactin (oPRL) were the most effective competitors, with respective IC50 values of 1.32, 2.27, and 2.70 nM. Chicken (ch) PRL did not compete at all, and homologous trPRL was much less effective, with a corresponding IC50 value of 1826 nM. Gel-filtration was used to determine the stoichiometry of trPRLR-ECD's interaction with oPL, hGH, and oPRL. Only oPL yielded a 2:1 complex, whereas hGH and oPRL formed only 1:1 complexes, with excess trPRLR-ECD being seen at the initial 2:1 trPRLR-ECD:hGH or trPRLR-ECD:oPRL ratios. No studies were performed with chPRL because of its inability to compete with [125I]oPL or with trPRL because of its low affinity toward trPRLR-ECD. The present results agree with previous findings indicating, as in mammals, that homologous PRL interacts transiently with its receptor and suggest that transient homologous PRL-induced homodimerization of the receptor is sufficient to initiate a biological signal, despite the fact that, in classical binding experiments, only low specific binding can be detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Sandowski
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Sakal E, Chapnik-Cohen N, Belair L, Djiane J, Gertler A. Recombinant extracellular domain of rabbit growth hormone receptor and biological activity of somatogenic hormones. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2000; 30:107-23. [PMID: 10794181 DOI: 10.1080/10826060008544950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The cDNA of the extracellular domain of rabbit growth hormone receptor (rbGHR-ECD) was cloned in the prokaryotic expression vector pMON, to enable its expression in Escherichia coli after induction with nalidixic acid. The bacterially expressed rbPRLR-ECD protein, contained within the refractile-body pellet, was solubilized in 4.5 M urea, refolded, and purified on a Q-Sepharose column, pH 8, by stepwise elution with NaCl. The bioactive monomeric 28-kDa fraction was eluted in 0.15 M NaCl, yielding 50 mg/2.5 l of induced culture. The purified protein was over 98% homogeneous, as shown by SDS-PAGE in the presence or absence of reducing agent, and by chromatography on a Superdex column. Gel filtration was used to determine the stoichiometry of rbGHR-ECD's interaction with human (h), ovine (o), chicken (ch) and common carp (cc) GHs and with bovine (b) and caprine (c) placental lactogens (PLs). The formation of 2:1 complexes was indicated in all cases. Binding experiments using radiolabelled oGH as a ligand revealed it to be the most effective competitor, followed by bPL, cPL, hGH chGH and ccGH, with respective IC50 values of 0.27, 0.94, 1.55, 2.13, 41.9 and 51.2 nM. Rabbit GHR-ECD inhibited the bPL-inducible proliferation of FDC-P1 cells stably transfected with rbGHR and Nb2 cells possessing rat PRLR. The biological activity of oGH, hGH, cPL, bPL, chGH and ccGH was tested in the FDC-P1 cells stably transfected with rbGHR and yielded the respective EC50 values (in nM) of 0.024, 0.023, 0.021, 0.24, 4.71 and 0.49. These results indicate remarkable discrepancies between the binding capacities and biological activities: the possible reasons for these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sakal
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Herman A, Bignon C, Daniel N, Grosclaude J, Gertler A, Djiane J. Functional heterodimerization of prolactin and growth hormone receptors by ovine placental lactogen. J Biol Chem 2000; 275:6295-301. [PMID: 10692427 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.275.9.6295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Although homo- or heterodimerization are common mechanisms for activation of cytokine receptors, cross-talk between two distinct receptors in this superfamily has been never shown. Here we show a physiologically relevant example indicating that such an interaction does occurs, thus raising the hypothesis that heterodimerization between distinct cytokine receptors may be a novel mechanism contributing to the diversity of cytokine signaling. These findings were documented using both surface plasmon resonance and gel filtration experiments and show that ovine placental lactogen (PL) heterodimerizes the extracellular domains (ECDs) of ruminant growth hormone receptor (GHR) and prolactin receptor (PRLR). We also show that PL or PL analogues that exhibit little or no activity in cells transfected with PRLRs and no activity in cells transfected with ovine GHRs exhibit largely enhanced activity in cells cotransfected with both PRLRs and GHRs. Furthermore, chimeric receptors consisting of cytosolic and transmembrane part of ovine GHR or ovine PRLR and ECDs of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSFR) alpha or beta were constructed. Upon transfection into Chinese hamster ovary cells along with reporter luciferase gene and stimulation by GM-CSF, a significant increase in luciferase activity occurred when GM-CSFR-alpha-PRLR and GM-CSFR-beta-GHR or GM-CSFR-alpha-GHR and GM-CSRR-beta-PRLR were cotransfected. In conclusion, we show that ovine PL is capable of functional heterodimerization of GHR and PRLR and that when their cytosolic parts, coupled to the ECD of GM-CSF receptors, are heterodimerized by GM-CSF, they are capable of transducing biological signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Herman
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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Herman A, Helman D, Livnah O, Gertler A. Ruminant placental lactogens act as antagonists to homologous growth hormone receptors and as agonists to human or rabbit growth hormone receptors. J Biol Chem 1999; 274:7631-9. [PMID: 10075650 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.274.12.7631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth hormone receptor (GHR)-mediated activity of ruminant placental lactogens (PLs) and ovine (o) GH was compared, using cells transfected with full size human (h), rabbit (rb), and oGHRs. All three PLs acted as agonists in heterologous bioassays, whereas in homologous bioassays in cells transfected with oGHRs they antagonized the oGH activity. Despite these differences, oGH and PLs bound with similar affinity to the oGHR extracellular domain (oGHR-ECD), indicating that the binding occurs through hormone site I. Gel filtration of complexes between oPL and oGHR-ECD showed a 1:1 stoichiometry, confirming this conclusion. The oPL T185D and bPL T188D, which exhibited weak biological activity mediated through GHRs, behaved as site I antagonists, whereas oPL G130R and bPL G133R formed a 1:1 complex with GHR-ECDs and bound to h/rb/oGHR-ECDs with affinity similar to that of wild-type oPL. They had no agonistic activity in all models transfected with h/rb and oGHRs, but were antagonistic to all of them. In conclusion, ruminant PLs antagonize the activity of oGH in homologous systems, because they cannot homodimerize oGHRs, whereas in heterologous systems they act as agonists. The structural analysis hints that minor differences in the sequence of the GHR-ECDs may account for this difference. Since the initial step in the activity transduced through cytokine/hemapoietic receptors family is receptor homodimerization or heterodimerization, we suggest that the question of homologous versus heterologous interactions should be reexamined.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Herman
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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Helman D, Sandowski Y, Cohen Y, Matsumoto A, Yoshimura A, Merchav S, Gertler A. Cytokine-inducible SH2 protein (CIS3) and JAK2 binding protein (JAB) abolish prolactin receptor-mediated STAT5 signaling. FEBS Lett 1998; 441:287-91. [PMID: 9883901 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(98)01555-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The ability of five members of the cytokine-inducible SH2 protein family (CIS1-4) and JAK2 binding (JAB) protein to affect prolactin receptor (PRLR)-mediated activity was tested in human 293 embryonic kidney fibroblasts transiently transfected with rat PRLR, five concentrations of CIS/JAB Myc-tagged cDNAs and a STAT5-responsive reporter gene encoding luciferase. The protein expressions of CIS1, CIS2, CIS3 and JAB were comparable, whereas the level of CIS4 was slightly lower. PRLR-mediated luciferase activity was abolished in a dose-dependent manner in cells transfected with cDNA of CIS3 or JAB, even at concentrations below the level of protein detection by anti-Myc antibody. In contrast, CIS1, CIS2 and CIS4 had little or no effect, despite similar levels of expression. CIS1 expression in postpartum mouse mammary glands was high and changed little in the course of 3 days. CIS2 and CIS3 expression was also high and increased further, whereas JAB expression was very low. These results hint that at least in mammary gland CIS3 is likely the main physiological negative regulator of the PRLR-mediated JAK2/STAT5 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Helman
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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