The cDNA encoding porcine interleukin-18 (IL-18) was cloned. The total mRNA was prepared from alveolar macrophages, stimulated with 10 microgram/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and used for the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to clone the cDNA of porcine IL-18. The open reading frame (ORF) of the porcine IL-18 cDNA is 579 base pairs (bp) in length and encodes 192 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence is 76.7%, 64.7% and 61.6% homologous to the predicted human, murine and rat amino acid sequence, respectively. The recombinant protein of porcine IL-18 was produced by the E. Coli and baculovirus expression systems. Westernblotting analysis of the recombinant protein showed cross reactivity with anti-human IL-18 polyclonal antibodies.
(Lab. of Physiological Active Substances, Department of Biological Product)
