Yang F M, Friedrichs W E, Buchanan J M, Herbert D C, Weaker F J, Brock J H, Bowman B H
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284.
Mech Ageing Dev. 1990 Nov;56(2):187-97. doi: 10.1016/0047-6374(90)90009-5.
Transferrin (TF) is a major plasma protein that binds ferric iron and transports it to all target tissues of the body. This study is the first step to identify the tissue specific expression of the transferrin gene in mice during development, into maturity and throughout the aging process. The transferrin gene expresses mainly in mouse liver, the cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum. In mouse, transferrin is expressed in peritoneal macrophages and in mouse macrophage cell line MO59. At 19 days of gestation, transferrin mRNA is detected in the fetal lung, heart, stomach and kidney. TF mRNA levels increase in liver throughout gestation with maximum expression occurring at 19 days. Transferrin mRNA was detected in placentas of pregnant mice, with levels progressively increasing throughout the term of pregnancy. The levels of liver TF mRNA in mouse vary in a cyclic manner during the development increasing with the aging processes. Because of the dynamic nature of tissue requirements for transferrin during homeostasis the TF gene serves as a promising system for analyzing tissue-specific regulation in vivo during development and aging. Results from this study designate periods in the life-span of the mouse where regulatory mechanisms interacting with the TF gene appear to dynamically alter its expression.
转铁蛋白（TF）是一种主要的血浆蛋白，它结合三价铁并将其运输到身体的所有靶组织。本研究是确定转铁蛋白基因在小鼠发育、成熟及整个衰老过程中的组织特异性表达的第一步。转铁蛋白基因主要在小鼠肝脏、大脑半球和小脑中表达。在小鼠中，转铁蛋白在腹腔巨噬细胞和小鼠巨噬细胞系MO59中表达。在妊娠19天时，在胎儿的肺、心脏、胃和肾脏中检测到转铁蛋白mRNA。在整个妊娠期，肝脏中转铁蛋白mRNA水平升高，在妊娠19天时表达量最高。在怀孕小鼠的胎盘中检测到转铁蛋白mRNA，其水平在整个妊娠期逐渐升高。小鼠肝脏中转铁蛋白mRNA水平在发育过程中呈周期性变化，并随着衰老过程而增加。由于在稳态过程中转铁蛋白的组织需求具有动态性，因此转铁蛋白基因是分析发育和衰老过程中体内组织特异性调控的一个有前景的系统。本研究结果确定了小鼠寿命中的一些时期，在此期间与转铁蛋白基因相互作用的调控机制似乎会动态改变其表达。
