title: Characterization of murine interferon-alpha 12 (MuIFN-alpha12): biological activities and gene expression.
abstract: Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) belongs to the type I interferon family and consists of multiple subtypes in many species. In the mouse, there are at least 14 IFN-alpha genes and 3 IFN-alpha pseudogenes, the most recently identified of which are murine interferon-alpha 12 (MuIFN-alpha12), MuIFN-alpha13 and MuIFN-alpha14. To further study the biological activities of MuIFN-alpha12, we have produced a recombinant MuIFN-alpha12 (rMuIFN-alpha12) protein using COS-1 cells. rMuIFN-alpha12 was found to inhibit the growth of murine myeloid leukemia JCS cells. Flow cytofluorometric analysis with propidium iodide staining showed that the growth inhibitory activity of rMuIFN-alpha12 may be caused by the induction of apoptosis. Flow cytofluorometric analysis also revealed that rMuIFN-alpha12 was able to up-regulate the expression of MHC-I on both JCS cells and primary macrophages. Functional studies indicated that a MuIFN-alpha12 transgene could induce an anti-viral state in L929 cells against Influenza A virus. Moreover, expression of MuIFN-alpha12 was not detectable by RT-PCR in untreated, Influenza A virus infected, polyI:polyC induced L929 cells, or in a wide range of normal murine tissues. Taken together, this data shows that MuIFN-alpha12 is a protein with all the biological traits of a type I IFN.
authors: Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. bchlawrence@alumni.cuhk.net
authors: Sai Leong
authors: SL
authors: Tsang
authors: Po Chu
authors: PC
authors: Leung
authors: Ka Kit
authors: KK
authors: Leung
authors: Wai Lok
authors: WL
authors: Yau
authors: Matthew P
authors: MP
authors: Hardy
authors: Nai Ki
authors: NK
authors: Mak
authors: Kwok Nam
authors: KN
authors: Leung
authors: Ming Chiu
authors: MC
authors: Fung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D009980:Influenza A virus; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: C521991:Ifna12 protein, mouse; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011994:Recombinant Proteins