title: Evolution of IFN-λ in tetrapod vertebrates and its functional characterization in green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis).
abstract: IFN-λ (IFNL), i.e. type III IFN genes were found in a conserved gene locus in tetrapod vertebrates. But, a unique locus containing IFNL was found in avian. In turtle and crocodile, IFNL genes were distributed in these two separate loci. As revealed in phylogenetic trees, IFN-λs in these two different loci and other amniotes were grouped into two different clades. The conservation in gene presence and gene locus was also observed for the receptors of IFN-λ, IFN-λR1 and IL-10RB in tetrapods. It is further revealed that in North American green anole lizard Anolis carolinensis, a single IFNL gene was situated collinearly in the conserved locus as in other tetrapods, together with its receptors IFN-λR1 and IL-10RB also identified in this study. The IFN-λ and its receptors were expressed in all examined organs/tissues, and their expression was stimulated following the injection of polyI:polyC. The ISREs in promoter of IFN-λ in lizard were responsible to IRF3 as demonstrated using luciferase report system, and IFN-λ in lizard functioned through the receptors, IFN-λR1 and IL-10RB, as the up-regulation of ISGs was observed in ligand-receptor transfected, and also in recombinant IFN-λ stimulated, cell lines. Taken together, it is concluded that the mechanisms involved in type III IFN ligand-receptor system, and in its signalling pathway and its down-stream genes may be conserved in green anole lizard, and may even be so in tetrapods from xenopus to human.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China.
authors.forename: Shan Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China.
authors.forename: Xiao Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China.
authors.forename: Bai Ye
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Wen Shu
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Peng Fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
authors.forename: Jian Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
authors.forename: Li Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China. Electronic address: pinnie@ihb.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Pin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008116:Lizards / Q000276:immunology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014426:Turtles / Q000276:immunology; D014981:Xenopus; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D007378:Interleukins; D011070:Poly I-C; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; C579163:IFNL4 protein, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
keywords: Evolution; IFN-λ; IFNL; IFNLR1; IL10RB; Lizard