Identification and characterization of a homologue of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the tick, Amblyomma americanum

Studying tick feeding and digestion, we discovered in a cDNA library from partially fed Amblyomma americanum ticks the first known arthropod homologue of a human cytokine, the pro‐inflammatory Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF). The tick origin of the MIF cDNA clone was confirmed by sequen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insect molecular biology 2001-08, Vol.10 (4), p.323-331
Main Authors: Jaworski, D. C, Jasinskas, A, Metz, C. N, Bucala, R, Barbour, A. G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amblyomma
Amblyomma americanum
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antibody Specificity
antiserum
Arthropod Proteins
Base Sequence
cDNA libraries
complementary DNA
cytokine
Cytokines - classification
Cytokines - genetics
Cytokines - isolation & purification
Cytokines - physiology
digestion
DNA, Complementary
Female
Gene Expression
genes
Humans
introns
Ixodidae
macrophage inhibiting factor
Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors - classification
Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors - genetics
Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors - isolation & purification
Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors - physiology
macrophages
Macrophages - physiology
midgut
MIF gene
Migration inhibitory factor
Molecular Sequence Data
Rabbits
salivary gland
salivary glands
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
tick
ticks
Ticks - genetics
Ticks - immunology
Tissue Distribution
vector
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Summary:Studying tick feeding and digestion, we discovered in a cDNA library from partially fed Amblyomma americanum ticks the first known arthropod homologue of a human cytokine, the pro‐inflammatory Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF). The tick origin of the MIF cDNA clone was confirmed by sequencing a genomic fragment that contained the full‐length tick MIF gene with two introns. Antiserum to a tick MIF‐specific peptide as well as antiserum to complete tick MIF revealed the expression of tick MIF in the salivary gland and midgut tissues of A. americanum ticks. In an in vitro functional assay, recombinant tick MIF inhibited the migration of human macrophages to the same extent that recombinant human MIF did.
ISSN:0962-1075
1365-2583
DOI:10.1046/j.0962-1075.2001.00271.x