Molecular cloning and expression of feline CD28 and CTLA-4 cDNA

Feline CD28 and CTLA-4 (CD152) cDNA were cloned from Con-A stimulated feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by rapid amplification of cDNA end-PCR (RACE-PCR). Both CD28 and CTLA-4 proteins belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig SF) and are composed of a signal sequence, an extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain. The open reading frame (ORF) of CD28 cDNA encoded a predicted protein of 221 amino acids and that of CTLA-4 cDNA encoded a predicted protein of 223 amino acids. The B7 ligands binding motif MYPPPY hexamer was found on the extracellular Ig V-like domains of both receptors and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) binding motifs pYMNM for CD28 and pYVKM for CTLA-4 were identified in the cytoplasmic domains. Comparisons of amino acid sequences of feline proteins with known sequences of other species indicated that rabbit CD28 and CTLA-4 were most closely related and mouse molecules were the least conserved with feline molecules. Comparison of each domain of both molecules with that of other animals showed that the cytoplasmic domain of CTLA-4 was 100% conserved and that of CD28 was the most conserved domain. The cloned CD28 and CTLA-4 cDNA could be expressed in transfected mammalian cells. Expression of feline CD28 and CTLA-4 mRNA in freshly isolated feline PBMC was demonstrated by RT-PCR. Stimulation of PBMC with Con-A similarly increased the expression of both CD28 and CTLA-4 mRNA.

Sequence analyses of feline B7 costimulatory molecules

Using RT-PCR amplifications with mRNA from mitogen-stimulated feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cDNA of feline B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) were cloned. The cDNA were sequenced and putative translated protein sequences compared with known counterpart sequences. Hydrophilicity patterns of the feline CD80 and CD86 which were only 26.8% identical at the amino acid sequence were very distinct from each other, but similar to the putative human CD80 and CD86 proteins, respectively. The feline CD80 gene encoded a protein of 292 amino acids and the CD86 gene encoded a protein of 329 amino acids. Amino-terminal signal sequences, extracellular Ig V- and Ig C-like domains, transmembrane domains, and carboxyl cytoplasmic domains were identified in both molecules. Although the most conserved domain among the CD80 sequences was the Ig C-like domain, the most conserved domain among the CD86 sequences was the Ig V-like domain. Among the known sequences, the bovine CD80 and the porcine CD86 sequences available for comparisons were identified as most closely related to the feline CD80 (63.3%) and CD86 (67.5%), respectively. The mouse molecules were the least identical (43.6 and 43.6%, respectively) with the feline CD80 and CD86 proteins. The human CD80 and CD86 molecules were 56.3 and 57.0% identical with the feline molecules.

Interleukin-10 is expressed by bovine type 1 helper, type 2 helper, and unrestricted parasite-specific T-cell clones and inhibits proliferation of all three subsets in an accessory-cell-dependent manner

Murine interleukin-10 (IL-10) is produced by type 2 helper (Th2) cells and selectively inhibits cytokine synthesis by type 1 helper (Th1) cells, whereas human IL-10 is produced by and inhibits proliferation and cytokine synthesis by both Th1 and Th2 subsets. This study reports that bovine IL-10 mRNA is expressed by Th0, Th1, and Th2 clones of bovine T cells specific for either Babesia bovis or Fasciola hepatica but not by two CD8+ T-cell clones. The antigen-induced proliferative responses of all three subsets of CD4+ cells were inhibited by human IL-10, and low levels (10 U/ml) of exogenous human IL-2 restored the suppressed response. However, proliferation of one Th1 clone was never inhibited but was enhanced by IL-10. Human IL-10 also inhibited the expression of gamma interferon and IL-4 mRNA in Th0 clones. In the absence of accessory cells (AC), the responses of Th clones to concanavalin A or IL-2 were not inhibited by IL-10, whereas antigen-specific responses of Th1 and Th2 cells were reduced when IL-10-pretreated macrophages were used as AC. Together, our results with bovine T cells support the concept that IL-10 primarily affects AC function and does not directly inhibit CD4+ T cells and demonstrate that the immunoregulatory effects of IL-10 are not selectively directed at Th1 populations, as they are in mice.

Characterization of a cDNA encoding bovine interleukin 10: kinetics of expression in bovine lymphocytes

A cDNA encoding bovine interleukin 10 (IL10) was cloned and sequenced using total cellular RNA derived from concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). A cDNA was produced with reverse transcriptase using oligo(dT) primers, and was amplified using primers chosen from consensus regions of the mouse and human IL10 genes. The nucleotide sequence derived from this cDNA shares 84, 79 and 78% homology with the human, mouse and rat cDNAs, respectively. The deduced amino-acid sequence shares an overall 77, 71 and 74% homology with the human, mouse and rat IL10 proteins, respectively. Northern blot analysis of the bovine IL10 mRNA reveals expression of a single 1.8-kb transcript, reaching maximal levels between 8 and 24 h, in ConA-stimulated peripheral T-cells, and weak expression in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages.