Alternatively spliced transcripts of the thymus-specific protease PRSS16 are differentially expressed in human thymus

Genes Immun. 2005 Feb;6(1):1-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.gene.6364142.

Abstract

The putative serine protease PRSS16 is abundantly expressed in the thymic cortex and the gene is encoded within the HLA I complex. Although its function is not yet defined, the very restricted expression points to a role in T-cell development in the thymus. In this study, we show that the PRSS16 mRNA is alternatively spliced to generate at least five transcripts. Apart from the full-length sequence, we found two other isoforms with all putative active site residues of the serine protease, suggesting that those variants may also be functional. Semi-quantitative analysis of the splice variants in different tissue samples revealed a strong correlation between the specific formation of alternatively spliced PRSS16 transcripts and the age and thymus pathology status of the donor. Newborn thymi express mostly the PRSS16-4 and -5 isoforms and lack the PRSS16-1 transcript, which appears around 2 years of age and stays until adulthood. Incidentally, thymi from myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with thymoma showed a marked decrease in the expression of the full-length PRSS16-1 and increased expression of the smaller isoforms. The data suggest a potential role of the PRSS16 isoforms in the postnatal morphogenesis of the thymus and in the thymus pathology related to MG.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alternative Splicing / genetics*
  • Alternative Splicing / immunology
  • Base Sequence
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / immunology
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Morphogenesis / genetics
  • Morphogenesis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / genetics
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / pathology
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / growth & development
  • Thymus Gland / immunology*
  • Thymus Gland / pathology

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • PRSS16 protein, human
  • Serine Endopeptidases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF052514