Molecular cloning and sequencing of the low-affinity IgE receptor (CD23) for horse and cattle

Expression of the low-affinity IgE receptor (CD23) on the surface of mononuclear cells is a critical event in the development of IgE-mediated immunologic responses. Using PCR and cDNA library screening, a 2.7kb cDNA encoding equine CD23 and a 627bp PCR fragment of cattle CD23 were sequenced and characterized. The equine CD23 sequence encodes a complete and continuous open reading frame of 327 amino acids, while the shorter cattle fragment encodes 209 amino acids corresponding to nucleotides 325-1098 of the equine CD23 transcript. In addition to high identities in their nucleotides and translated amino acids with CD23 sequences published for other species, the translated equine CD23 protein also shares many of the structural features of this molecule described for human and rodents. Interestingly, an additional repetitive element of possible functional significance consisting of 18 amino acids, located between the transmembrane region and the carbohydrate-binding lectin domain of horse CD23, was also identified. Based on these sequences, molecular assays will be developed to measure CD23 mRNA in tissues and expression of recombinant proteins will be essential to the production of species-specific antibody reagents. These assays and reagents will be useful in future studies of allergic and lymphoproliferative diseases in horses and cattle.