CAG repeat mutation in the mouse IL-2 gene enables concurrent assessment of T- and B-cell-specific gene expression by northern analysis.
The unique presence of CAG triplet repeats in the mouse IL-2 gene, lending the IL-2 cDNA a second specificity to MHC class II invariant chain (Ii) mRNA, coincides with another unusual genetic feature of the mouse, the lack of Ii gene upregulation in stimulated T cells. While the former anomaly allows simultaneous measurement of IL-2 and Ii mRNAs by Northern analysis, the latter condition ensures that Ii mRNA remains a T-cell-independent, specific marker of Ii positive, primarily B cell function. Thus, Northern analysis using CAG repeat containing IL-2 cDNA enables concurrent assessment of T and B cell activities in the spleen or in other mixtures of mouse lymphocytes.
Szebeni
J
J
Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, USA.
Sykes
M
M
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005819:Genetic Markers; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C045084:invariant chain