title: The expression of intelectin in sheep goblet cells and upregulation by interleukin-4.
abstract: Upregulation of intelectin (ITLN) transcript and protein has previously been shown in intestinal nematode infections of resistant mice strains with immunolocalisation of protein to goblet cells and paneth cells. In man, intelectin expression has been shown in respiratory tract epithelium, with upregulation occurring in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic individuals. This study describes the expression of intelectin in the respiratory tract of sheep and the immunolocalisation to goblet cells using a novel affinity-purified chicken anti-intelectin peptide antibody. Furthermore we show that when sheep tracheal explants were cultured for 48 h+/- recombinant sheep IL-4, sheep ITLN transcripts were upregulated compared with controls. Putative roles for intelectin have included an antibacterial role and an alteration of the character of mucus. Our data suggest ITLNs may play an important role in the mucosal response in allergy and parasitic infections.
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK. anne.french@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Anne T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bethune
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Tom N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: McNeilly
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wattegedera
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rhind
authors.forename: Hugh R P
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pemberton
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012756:Sheep; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D037102:Lectins; D015847:Interleukin-4