title: Neuronal interleukin-16 (NIL-16): a dual function PDZ domain protein.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-16 is a proinflammatory cytokine that has attracted widespread attention because of its ability to block HIV replication. We describe the identification and characterization of a large neuronal IL-16 precursor, NIL-16. The N-terminal half of NIL-16 constitutes a novel PDZ domain protein sequence, whereas the C terminus is identical with splenocyte-derived mouse pro-IL-16. IL-16 has been characterized only in the immune system, and the identification of NIL-16 marks a previously unsuspected connection between the immune and the nervous systems. NIL-16 is a cytosolic protein that is detected only in neurons of the cerebellum and the hippocampus. The N-terminal portion of NIL-16 interacts selectively with a variety of neuronal ion channels, which is similar to the function of many other PDZ domain proteins that serve as intracellular scaffolding proteins. Among the NIL-16-interacting proteins is the class C alpha1 subunit of a mouse brain calcium channel (mbC alpha1). The C terminus of NIL-16 can be processed by caspase-3, resulting in the release of secreted IL-16. Furthermore, in cultured cerebellar granule neurons undergoing apoptosis, NIL-16 proteolysis parallels caspase-3 activation. Cerebellar granule neurons express the IL-16 receptor CD4. Exposure of these cells to IL-16 induces expression of the immediate-early gene, c-fos, via a signaling pathway that involves tyrosine phosphorylation. This suggests that IL-16 provides an autocrine function in the brain. Therefore, we hypothesize that NIL-16 is a dual function protein in the nervous system that serves as a secreted signaling molecule as well as a scaffolding protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurschner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuzaki
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015723:Gene Library; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae
chemical_list: D019410:Interleukin-16; D007473:Ion Channels; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C121432:neuronal interleukin-16