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Published on: February 6, 2018
Molecular characterisation of the caprine (Capra hircus) lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 alpha
Thomas Fett1, Laurent L M Zecchinon, Etienne A Baise
1Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium. thomas.fett@ulg.ac.be
Insights
Researchers characterized the caprine CD11a gene, crucial for immune cell interactions. This finding enables in vitro studies of goat inflammation by expressing Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) is vital for immune cell adhesion.
- LFA-1, also known as CD11a/CD18 or alpha L beta 2, plays a key role in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To obtain and characterize the caprine CD11a gene sequence.
- To facilitate in vitro expression of Capra hircus LFA-1 for research.
Main Methods:
- SMART RACE technology was employed to isolate the 5' and 3' ends of caprine CD11a.
- Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify the full-length coding sequence (CDS).
Main Results:
- The Capra hircus CD11a-encoding cDNA was successfully sequenced.
- Comparison with homologous genes in human, murine, rat, bovine, and ovine species revealed conserved mammalian characteristics with some focal differences.
Conclusions:
- The sequence data for caprine CD11a, along with existing caprine CD18 data, allows for in vitro expression of Capra hircus LFA-1.
- This enables exploration of the specificities of inflammation within the caprine species.
Background:
Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18, alpha L beta 2) is required for many cellular adhesive interactions during the immune response.
Methods:
We used SMART RACE technology to obtain caprine CD11a 5'- and 3'-ends and RT-PCR to amplify the full-length CDS.
Results:
The Capra hircus CD11a-encoding cDNA was sequenced and compared with its human, murine, rat, bovine and ovine counterparts. Despite some focal differences, it shares all the main characteristics of its known mammalian homologues.
Conclusion:
Therefore, along with the caprine CD18-encoding cDNA, which has been available for a few months, the sequence data revealed here will allow the Capra hircus LFA-1 expression in vitro as a tool to explore the specificities of inflammation in the caprine species.
