title: Identification of the mRNA encoding interleukin-6 and its receptor, interleukin-6 receptor α, in five marsupial species.
abstract: Expressed coding sequences for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-6 receptor α (IL-6R) were examined in five marsupial species. Full length expressed coding sequences for IL-6 and IL-6R were identified and characterized in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). For IL-6, ∼225 bp fragments of the mRNA sequence were identified in the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura), kultarr (Antechinomys laniger), and stripe-faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura), while ∼563 bp fragments of mRNA encoding IL-6R were identified in the red-tailed phascogale, kultarr, stripe-face dunnart and fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Relative expression levels of IL-6 and IL-6R were examined in the heart, muscle, lung, liver, spleen and kidney of adult red-tailed phascogales, and IL-6 gene expression was found to be significantly higher in the lung and spleen than the other tissues examined, while the expression of IL-6R was significantly higher in the liver, lung and spleen. These results now serve as a reference point for examining the role and levels of IL-6 and IL-6R in the health and disease of these marsupial species. The pro-tumorigenic nature of IL-6 is of particular interest, and the identification of these IL-6 and IL-6R coding sequences provides a platform for further work to evaluate the potential role of IL-6 in marsupial cancers.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Casey R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Borthwick
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwyn M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: McAllan
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: J.Old@westernsydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Old
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D007109:Immunity; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6
keywords: Cytokine; Dasyurid; Gene expression; Immunity; Opossum; qPCR