Differential expression pattern of ISG15 in different tissue explants and cells induced by various interferons

Interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), an ubiquitin cross-reactive protein, can conjugate to target proteins. Unlike ubiquitination, protein modification by ISG15 does not target protein for degradation, but enhances the cellular response to interferon (IFN), which plays a key role in antiviral responses. In this study, Western blot and/or immunocytochemistry were performed to explore the ISG15 expression patterns in explants of bovine endometrium, mammary gland and kidney, as well as Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK), endometrial and mammary cells stimulated by IFN-α, -β, and -τ. Western blot indicated that there are differential minimum antiviral units among recombinant bovine interferon-α (rbIFN-α, 10(2) IU/mL), rbIFN-β (10(3) IU/mL) and rbIFN-τ (10(4) IU/mL) in regard to stimulating saturation expression of free and ISG15-conjugated proteins by MDBK cells and endometrial and mammary explants. These results were further confirmed through immunocytochemical analysis of MDBK, endometrial and mammary cells. For the first time it has been shown that the expression pattern of ISG15-conjugated proteins occurs in a tissue-specific manner. Furthermore, the present findings provide the first evidence of 10- to 100-fold differences in minimum antiviral units of rbIFN-α, rbIFN-β, and rbIFN-τ in regard to stimulating saturation expression of ISG15.