title: Differential contribution of IL-1Ra isoforms to allele-specific IL-1Ra mRNA accumulation.
abstract: The interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene produces two isoforms of IL-1Ra, intracellular (icIL-1Ra) and secreted (sIL-1Ra). Distinct promoter regions control synthesis of each isoform. Five alleles of this gene, defined by sIL-1Ra intron 2 polymorphism, have been described. Although differences in IL-1Ra protein production have been demonstrated in various tissues and cells obtained from individuals carrying allele 1 vs. allele 2, the underlying mechanisms of this discrepancy remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that one mechanism contributing to differences in protein levels may be allele-specific accumulation of icIL-1Ra or sIL-1Ra mRNA. Quantification of allele-specific differences in mRNA accumulation in colonic biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of heterozygous individuals shows that the amount of allele 1-specific icIL-1Ra mRNA averaged four times higher relative to allele 2. In transfection assays, gene expression directed by the allele 1-specific icIL-1Ra promoter fragment was found to be greater than that directed by the allele 2 promoter, suggesting that icIL-1Ra promoter activity contributes to the disparity in the allele-specific icIL-1Ra mRNA accumulation. Our data show that differences in the transcriptional regulation of icIL-1Ra alleles 1 and 2 may be involved in the production of icIL-1Ra protein. Disregulated icIL-1Ra production may play a role in chronic inflammatory diseases where the balance between IL-1 and IL-1Ra has been implicated as a key pathogenic mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Digestive Health Center of Excellence, University of Virginia Health Systems, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
authors.forename: Karen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Redlitz
authors.forename: Vladimir F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Yamshchikov
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cominelli
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins