Expression of a single-chain human interleukin-12 gene in transgenic tobacco plants and functional studies.
Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a key heterodimeric cytokine produced by a variety of antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells. It displays a potent array of biological activities affecting natural killer (NK) and T cells. These activities include promotion of cell-mediated or type 1 T helper cell responses (Th1). Due to that property, IL-12 has been employed in cancer immunotherapy, in mouse models of infectious diseases and in airway inflammation, and it may also have utility as a vaccine adjuvant. Transgenic plants are being used in many laboratories around the world for the production of therapeutically valuable proteins and as vehicles for oral vaccines. Here we present the expression of a single-chain human interleukin-12 in transgenic tobacco plants. The biological activity of plant-produced IL-12 was determined by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production by natural killer (NK) cells, and the level of production was comparable to that obtained with commercially available recombinant IL-12. The potential use of this recombinant protein is discussed.
Departamento de Ingeniería Genética de Plantas, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Unidad Irapuato. Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, Apdo. Postal 629, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México 36500.
Abel
A
Gutiérrez-Ortega
Federico
F
Avila-Moreno
Luis Jorge
LJ
Saucedo-Arias
Carmen
C
Sánchez-Torres
Miguel Angel
MA
Gómez-Lim
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism*; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma