title: Distinction of mouse interferon-alpha subtypes by polymerase chain reaction utilizing consensus primers and type-specific oligonucleotide probes.
abstract: We have developed a novel method to study the subtype-specific expression of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in the mouse system: we synthesized and used consensus oligonucleotide primers to allow simultaneous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of multiple murine IFN-alpha gene sequences. In addition, a set of subtype-specific oligomer probes were designed and used to distinguish between IFN-alpha genes that differ by only a few bases. The consensus primers, corresponding to two regions highly conserved among murine IFN-alpha subtypes, were used in reverse transcription and PCR amplification of total cellular RNA, isolated from IFN-gamma-treated murine L-929 cells, to yield a fragment of the anticipated approximately 520-bp size. Southern analysis of the amplified product using an internal consensus oligomer probe confirmed specific amplification of murine IFN-alpha gene(s). Subtype-specific oligonucleotide probes indicate that IFNs-alpha 1, -alpha 2, and -alpha 5 are present following IFN-gamma treatment, whereas IFN-alpha 4 remains virtually absent. Our results indicate that the expression of specific IFN-alpha subtypes may be subject to complex regulation, dependent upon inducing agents and cell types involved, and countless other factors. The procedure described here represents a novel method for studying the subtleties of the murine IFN-alpha mRNA expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1019.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tyring
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rady
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012313:RNA