Abstracts (complete list) - Wissenschaft Online

Cemil Korcan Ayata, Cinthia Farina, Markus Krumbholz, Florian Weisel, Thomas
Winkler, Andreas Rosenwald, Reinhard Hohlfeld, Edgar Meinl
Expression of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) and brain
derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in germinal centers
The neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a pan receptor for all neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF,
NT3, NT4/5). Neurotrophins have mainly been studied because of their effect on
survival of neuronal populations. P75NTR is classified as a member of TNF receptors,
but no TNF ligand and no function in the immune system has been identified so far.
We report that full length transcripts of p75NTR were expressed in immune organs and
some peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Adult CNS tissue and immune organs
transcribed similar levels of p75NTR as seen by TaqMan PCR. A subset of B cells in
adenoids/tonsils, but not in blood expressed p75NTR as seen by both FACS and TaqMan
PCR. Double stainings showed p75NTR expression on follicular dendritic cells. A
potential ligand of p75NTR, BDNF, was seen in germinal centers by immunostaining and
confirmed by TaqMan PCR of LASER capture dissected material. P75NTR was also highly
expressed in extranodal follicles in Hashimoto Thyroiditis and follicular B cell lymphoma.
The abundant expression of p75NTR and one of it’s ligands in germinal centers in
normal lymphatic tissue and in extranonal follicles suggests a role of this TNF receptor
in Ig production and in immunopathology.