The wild boar (Sus scrofa) lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (CD11a/CD18) receptor: cDNA sequencing, structure analysis and comparison with homologues.
BACKGROUND
The most predominant beta2-integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18, alphaLbeta2), expressed on all leukocytes, is essential for many adhesive functions of the immune system. Interestingly, RTX toxin-producing bacteria specifically target this leukocyte beta2-integrin which exacerbates lesions and disease development.


RESULTS
This study reports the sequencing of the wild boar beta2-integrin CD11a and CD18 cDNAs. Predicted CD11a and CD18 subunits share all the main structural characteristics of their mammalian homologues, with a larger interspecies conservation for the CD18 than the CD11a. Besides these strong overall similarities, wild boar and domestic pig LFA-1 differ by 2 (CD18) and 1 or 3 (CD11a) substitutions, of which one is located in the crucial I-domain (CD11a, E168D).


CONCLUSIONS
As most wild boars are seropositive to the RTX toxin-producing bacterium Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and because they have sustained continuous natural selection, future studies addressing the functional impact of these polymorphisms could bring interesting new information on the physiopathology of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae-associated pneumonia in domestic pigs.
Bergh
Philippe G A C Vanden
PG
Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Colonster Boulevard 20 B43, B-4000 Liege, Belgium. pvdbergh@student.ulg.ac.be
Zecchinon
Laurent L M
LL
Fett
Thomas
T
Desmecht
Daniel J M
DJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1