title: Interleukin-6 family cytokine M17 induces differentiation and nitric oxide response of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) macrophages.
abstract: Cytokines belonging to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family function in many biological processes and display a high degree of redundancy within the family. Although a number of mRNA transcripts from teleost fish that resemble IL-6 family cytokines have been identified none have been functionally characterized to confirm their identity. We report on the identification and functional characterization of goldfish M17, a molecule possessing sequence and mRNA expression patterns similar to the mammalian and avian ciliary neurotrophic factor and mammalian leukemia inhibitory factor. Goldfish M17 was found to induce the production of nitric oxide in goldfish macrophages and stimulate the proliferation of macrophage progenitor cells when added in combination with cell-conditioned medium. Moreover, goldfish M17 was found to facilitate the differentiation of sorted monocytes into macrophages at biologically relevant concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW-405, Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2E9.
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hanington
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belosevic
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006054:Goldfish / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide