TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of membrane interleukin 1 by fibroblasts transfected with murine pro-interleukin 1α cDNA
AU - Fuhlbrigge, R. C.
AU - Fine, S. M.
AU - Unanue, E. R.
AU - Chaplin, D. D.
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - Studies of interleukin 1 (IL-1) α and β have emphasized their functional similarities. IL-1α and -β are encoded by ancestrally related genes that have diverged dramatically in primary sequence; however, only modest differences in the regulation or biological activity of IL-1α and IL-1β have been documented. Here we show that mouse L cells transfected with murine pro-IL-1α cDNA expressed biologically active, 33-kilodalton pro-IL-1α, and that this pro molecule was neither processed to the 17-kilodalton mature form nor secreted. The transfected cells also expressed membrane-associated IL-1 biological activity, indicating that the pro-IL-1α cDNA can direct expression of membrane-associated IL-1 and that cleavage of the pro molecule is not required for membrane presentation. In contrast, transfection of pro-IL-1β cDNA did not generate biologically active material in L cells. Evidence is presented that the native murine IL-1β precursor molecule is also biologically inactive in peritoneal exudate cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. These differences in distribution of the bioactive forms of IL-1α and IL-1β may provide selective advantages for the maintenance of two gene products with similar functions.
AB - Studies of interleukin 1 (IL-1) α and β have emphasized their functional similarities. IL-1α and -β are encoded by ancestrally related genes that have diverged dramatically in primary sequence; however, only modest differences in the regulation or biological activity of IL-1α and IL-1β have been documented. Here we show that mouse L cells transfected with murine pro-IL-1α cDNA expressed biologically active, 33-kilodalton pro-IL-1α, and that this pro molecule was neither processed to the 17-kilodalton mature form nor secreted. The transfected cells also expressed membrane-associated IL-1 biological activity, indicating that the pro-IL-1α cDNA can direct expression of membrane-associated IL-1 and that cleavage of the pro molecule is not required for membrane presentation. In contrast, transfection of pro-IL-1β cDNA did not generate biologically active material in L cells. Evidence is presented that the native murine IL-1β precursor molecule is also biologically inactive in peritoneal exudate cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. These differences in distribution of the bioactive forms of IL-1α and IL-1β may provide selective advantages for the maintenance of two gene products with similar functions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0343217078&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.85.15.5649
DO - 10.1073/pnas.85.15.5649
M3 - Article
C2 - 3261013
AN - SCOPUS:0343217078
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 85
SP - 5649
EP - 5653
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 15
ER -