National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH)

Topics in Animal Health Research 2004

11. Molecular cloning of swine interleukin-12 receptor beta 2 and identification of its unique promoter sequence in the proximal upstream

Japanese

Interleukin (IL)-12, which is known as a crucial cytokine for cellular immune responses against pathogens, exerts its biological activity through specific binding to the heterodimeric, cell surface receptors expressed by immune cells. In this study, we cloned complementary and genomic DNA encoding a signaling subunit of swine IL-12 receptor, beta 2 (IL-12Rb2), and examined its transcriptional regulation. In spite of the structural similarity between swine (Genbank accession No. AF330213) and other mammalian IL-12Rb2s, the transcription of the swine gene appeared to be regulated by a unique, AP1-dependent mechanism, which had not been observed in the transcription of other mammalian homologues. This finding supports the previous observation which described swine-specific control of IL-12Rb2 mRNA expression (Solano-Aguilar et al., Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 2002). Then, we developed a rapid biological assay for swine IL-12 by establishing a cell line which became capable of expressing both human beta 1 and swine beta 2 subunits. This cell line produced interferon-gamma within 48 hours in response to exogenous IL-12 dose-dependently. This system is very useful for the rapid and sensitive quantification of IL-12 bioactivity.
(Comparative Immunology Section, Department of Immunology TEL +81-29-838-7863)

Reference:

  • Kokuho et al. (2003) Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 91:155-160.
  • Kokuho et al. (2003) Eur. Cytokine Network Suppl. 14:93.

 

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