title: Identification of a cDNA for a human high-molecular-weight B-cell growth factor.
abstract: Proliferation is necessary for many of the phenotypic changes that occur during B-cell maturation. Further differentiation of mature B cells into plasma cells or memory B cells requires additional rounds of proliferation. In this manuscript, we describe a cDNA for a human B-cell growth factor we call high-molecular-weight B-cell growth factor (HMW-BCGF). Purified HMW-BCGF has been shown to induce B-cell proliferation, inhibit immunoglobulin secretion, and selectively expand certain B-cell subpopulations. Studies using antibodies to HMW-BCGF and its receptor have suggested that HMW-BCGF, while produced by T cells and some malignant B cells, acts predominantly on normal and malignant B cells. The HMW-BCGF cDNA was identified by expression cloning using a monoclonal antibody and polyclonal antisera to HMW-BCGF. Protein produced from the cDNA induced B-cell proliferation, inhibited immunoglobulin secretion, and was recognized in immunoblots by anti-HMW-BCGF antibodies. The amino acid sequence of HMW-BCGF deduced from the cDNA predicts a secreted protein of 53 kDa with three potential N-linked glycosylation sites. The identification of this cDNA will allow further studies examining physiologic roles of this cytokine. We propose to call it interleukin 14.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ambrus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pippin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamayo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Claypool
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCourt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srikiatchatochorn
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004247:DNA