Molecular characterization and functional expression of equine interleukin-1 type I and type II receptor cDNAs.

This study explores the molecular properties and functional expressions of equine interleukin-1 type I and type II receptors. Derived from horse peripheral blood cells, these receptors display similarity with human, rat, and mouse sequences while indicating biological activity when interacting with other equine cells.

Explanation of the Research

In this research, scientists have cloned and analyzed two types of equine interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1RI and IL-1RII) from the peripheral blood cells of horses. These were generated based on the semi-conserved regions found in human and mouse IL-1RI and IL-1RII sequences.

• The study utilized cDNA generated from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
• Amplification and cloning of both type I and type II equine interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1RI and IL-1RII) were executed using primers from the semi-conserved regions between human and mouse sequences.

Findings of the Study

The sequences of the equine receptors showcased significant similarity across various species.

• The amino acid sequence of equine IL-1RI showed 77% similarity with human sequences, 64% with mouse sequences, and 63% similarity with rat sequences.
• Conversely, the predicted amino acid sequence of equine IL-1RII demonstrated 70% similarity with human sequences, 60% with mouse sequences, and 58% with rat sequences.

Functional Expression of the Receptors

The recombinant form of these equine receptors produced in insect cells was capable of binding equine IL-1alpha and IL-1beta, indicating their biological activity.

• Type I and type II equine soluble interleukin-1 receptors bound recombinant equine interleukin-1 alpha and beta in insect cells.
• Both receptors suppressed the growth inhibitory activities of equine interleukin-1 alpha and beta towards A375 cells in a dose-dependent manner, showcasing they encode biologically active proteins.

Overall, these results suggest a functional role of these cloned equine interleukin-1 receptors, demonstrating their potential for further study in equine and comparative medicine.