Cloning and characterization of rainbow trout interleukin-17A/F2 (IL-17A/F2) and IL-17 receptor A: expression during infection and bioactivity of recombinant IL-17A/F2

Infect Immun. 2013 Jan;81(1):340-53. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00599-12. Epub 2012 Nov 12.

Abstract

Lower vertebrates have been found to possess genes that have similar homology to both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, which have been termed IL-17A/F. In fish species, several of these genes can be present, but, to date, very little is known about their functional activity. This article describes the discovery and sequence analysis of a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) IL-17A/F2 molecule and an IL-17RA receptor. In addition, the bioactivity of the trout IL-17A/F2 is investigated for the first time in any species. The predicted IL-17A/F2 and IL-17RA proteins consist of 146 and 966 amino acids (aa), respectively, with both molecules containing conserved family motifs. Expression analysis revealed high constitutive expression of trout IL-17A/F2 in mucosal tissues from healthy fish, suggesting a potential role in mucosal immunity. When the modulation of IL-17A/F2 and IL-17RA in vitro was analyzed, it was observed that the two molecules were similarly affected. The expression of IL-17A/F2 was also induced in head kidney during bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections, revealing a possible function in defense against such pathogens. However, downregulation of IL-17RA was seen in some tissues and infections. The recombinant IL-17A/F2 protein was produced in Escherichia coli and was found to affect the expression of an antimicrobial peptide and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in splenocytes. Consistent with mammalian IL-17 homologues, our expression and bioactivity results imply that trout IL-17A/F2 plays an important role in promoting inflammatory and host innate immune responses directed against different pathogen groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / immunology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Interleukin-17 / genetics*
  • Interleukin-17 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-8 / genetics
  • Interleukin-8 / immunology
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oncorhynchus mykiss / genetics*
  • Oncorhynchus mykiss / immunology
  • Oncorhynchus mykiss / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17 / genetics*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17 / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17
  • Recombinant Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AJ580842
  • GENBANK/AJ634727
  • GENBANK/HE663463