title: Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with the chicken interleukin-15 receptor alpha chain.
abstract: We recently cloned the genes encoding chicken IL-15 and IL-15 receptor (R) alpha proteins. In this study, 12 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against recombinant chicken IL-15Ralpha were produced and characterized. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), all mAbs showed binding specificity for IL-15Ralpha, but not IL-2 or interferon-gamma, and identified a 25.0kDa protein by immunoblot analysis. Flow cytometric analysis revealed negligible expression of IL-15Ralpha on non-activated lymphocytes from the spleen, thymus or bursa, low but detectable expression on macrophages and high expression on concanavalin A-activated spleen lymphoblasts. Established chicken T cell (RP13) and macrophage (HD11) cell lines expressed substantially higher levels of IL-15Ralpha compared with a B cell line (RP9). Two mAbs inhibited IL-15 dependent proliferation of T cells suggesting that the tertiary structure of the protein domain of native IL-15Ralpha that binds to IL-15 is preserved in the recombinant receptor molecule. These mAbs will be useful reagents for further in vitro and in vivo studies of the biological functions of chicken IL-15 and its receptor.
authors.affiliation: Parasite Biology, Epidemiology, and Systematics Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resource Institute, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lillehoj
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016466:CHO Cells; D019556:COS Cells; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002645:Chickens; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C508025:Il15ra protein, mouse; D019409:Interleukin-15; D053647:Receptors, Interleukin-15; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2