HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jimmunol.0802953v1 183/2/962    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Google Scholar Articles by Wang, T. Articles by Secombes, C. J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wang, T. Articles by Secombes, C. J.

Identification of a Novel IL-1 Cytokine Family Member in Teleost Fish¹

Tiehui Wang^*, Steve Bird^*, Antonis Koussounadis, Jason W. Holland^*, Allison Carrington^*, Jun Zou^* and Christopher J. Secombes^*,2

*Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom; and Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom

A novel IL-1 family member (nIL-1F) has been discovered in fish, adding a further member to this cytokine family. The unique gene organization of nIL-1F, together with its location in the genome and low homology to known family members, suggests that this molecule is not homologous to known IL-1F. Nevertheless, it contains a predicted C-terminal β-trefoil structure, an IL-1F signature region within the final exon, a potential IL-1 converting enzyme cut site, and its expression level is clearly increased following infection, or stimulation of macrophages with LPS or IL-1β. A thrombin cut site is also present and may have functional relevance. The C-terminal recombinant protein antagonized the effects of rainbow trout rIL-1β on inflammatory gene expression in a trout macrophage cell line, suggesting it is an IL-1β antagonist. Modeling studies confirmed that nIL-1F has the potential to bind to the trout IL-1RI receptor protein, and may be a novel IL-1 receptor antagonist.

² Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Christopher J. Secombes, Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, U.K. E-mail address: c.secombes{at}abdn.ac.uk

¹ This work was supported by the European Community with Contracts 513692 (Aquafirst), Q5RS-2001-002211 (Stressgenes), and 007103 (Improved Immunity of Aquacultured Animals, IMAQUANIM).