Identification and comparative expression analysis of interleukin 2/15 receptor β chain in chickens infected with E. tenella.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin (IL) 2 and IL15 receptor β chain (IL2/15Rβ, CD122) play critical roles in signal transduction for the biological activities of IL2 and IL15. Increased knowledge of non-mammalian IL2/15Rβ will enhance the understanding of IL2 and IL15 functions.


RESULTS
[corrected] Chicken IL2/15Rβ (chIL2/15Rβ) cDNA was cloned using 5'/3'-RACE. The predicted protein sequence contained 576 amino acids and typical features of the type-I cytokine receptor family. COS-7 cells transfected with chIL2/15Rβ produced proteins of approximately 75 and 62.5 kDa under normal and tunicamycin-treated conditions, respectively. The genomic structure of chIL2/15Rβ was similar to its mammalian counterparts. chIL2/15Rβ transcripts were detected in the lymphoblast cell line CU205 and in normal lymphoid organs and at moderate levels in bursa samples. Expression profiles of chIL2/15Rβ and its related cytokines and receptors were examined in ConA-stimulated splenic lymphocytes and in ceca-tonsils of Eimeria tenella-infected chickens using quantitative real-time PCR. Expression levels of chIL2/15Rβ, chIL2Rα, and chIL15Rα were generally elevated in ceca-tonsils and ConA-activated splenic lymphocytes. However, chIL2 and chIL15 expression levels were differentially regulated between the samples. chIL2 expression was upregulated in ConA-activated splenic lymphocytes, but not in ceca-tonsils. In constrast, chIL15 expression was upregulated in ceca-tonsils, but not in ConA-activated splenic lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified an avian form of IL2/15Rβ and compared its gene expression pattern with those of chIL2, chIL15, chIL2Rα, and chIL15Rα. Our observations suggest that chIL15 and its receptors, including chIL2/15Rβ, play important roles in mucosal immunity to intestinal intracellular parasites such as Eimeria.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
Jipseol
J
Jeong
Woo H
WH
Kim
Jeongmi
J
Yoo
Changhwan
C
Lee
Suk
S
Kim
Jae-Hyeon
JH
Cho
Hyung-Kwan
HK
Jang
Dong W
DW
Kim
Hyun S
HS
Lillehoj
Wongi
W
Min
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D016786:Eimeria tenella; D015870:Gene Expression; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger