Identification and comparative expression analysis of interleukin 2/15 receptor β chain in chickens infected with E. tenella.

• Main Authors: Jipseol Jeong, Woo H Kim, Jeongmi Yoo, Changhwan Lee, Suk Kim, Jae-Hyeon Cho, Hyung-Kwan Jang, Dong W Kim, Hyun S Lillehoj, Wongi Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
• Series: PLoS ONE
• Online Access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22662196/?tool=EBI

<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>[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.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>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.