title: Characterization of a novel salivary immunosuppressive protein from Ixodes ricinus ticks.
abstract: In tick salivary glands, several genes are induced during the feeding process, leading to the expression of new proteins. These proteins are typically secreted in tick saliva and are potentially involved in the modulation of the host immune and hemostatic responses. In a previous study, the construction and the analysis of a subtractive library led to the identification of Ixodes ricinus immunosuppressor (Iris), a novel protein, differentially expressed in I. ricinus salivary glands during the blood meal. In the present study, the data strongly suggest that this protein is secreted by tick salivary glands into the saliva. In addition, Iris is also found to modulate T lymphocyte and macrophage responsiveness by inducing a Th2 type response and by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, these results suggest that Iris is an immunosuppressor, which might play an important role in the modulation of host immune response.
authors.affiliation: pplied Genetics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leboulle
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Decrem
authors.forename: Naceur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mejri
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brossard
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bollen
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Godfroid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016466:CHO Cells; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018884:Ixodes; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma