title: Molecular cloning of a new immunomodulatory protein from Anoectochilus formosanus which induces B cell IgM secretion through a T-independent mechanism.
abstract: An immunomodulatory protein (IPAF) was purified and cloned from Anoectochilus formosanus, an Orchidaceae herbal plant in Asia. The major targeting immune cells of IPAF and its modulating effects toward B lymphocytes were investigated. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was conducted to clone the IPAF gene, and the obtained sequence was BLAST compared on the NCBI database. MACS-purified mouse T and B lymphocytes were stimulated with IPAF and the cell proliferation, activation, and Igs production were examined. IPAF comprised a 25 amino acids signal peptide and a 138 amino acids protein which was homologous to the lectins from Orchidaceae plant. IPAF selectively induced the cell proliferation in mouse splenic B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes. The IPAF-induced B cells exhibited increased CD69 and MHC class II expression, and a dose- and time-dependent enhancement in IgM production. These results suggested potential benefits of IPAF to strengthen the humoral immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yen-Chou
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.forename: Tsai-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Che-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Ju-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Wen-Ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Fuu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sheu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010940:Plant Proteins