Abstract
Abstract
Background: The chemokine and chemokine receptor families play critical roles in both the healthy and diseased
organism mediating the migration of cells. The chemokine system is complex in that multiple chemokines can
bind to one chemokine receptor and vice versa. Although chemokine receptors have been well characterised in
humans, the chemokine receptor repertoire of cattle is not well characterised and many sequences are yet to be
experimentally validated.
Results: We have identified and sequenced bovine homologs to all identified functional human chemokine
receptors. The bovine chemokine receptors show high levels of similarity to their human counterparts and similar
genome arrangements. We have also characterised an additional bovine chemokine receptor, not present in the
available genome sequence of humans or the more closely related pigs or horses. This receptor shows the highest
level of similarity to CCR1 but shows significant differences in regions of the protein that are likely to be involved
in ligand binding and signalling. We have also examined the mRNA abundance levels of all identified bovine
chemokine receptors in mononuclear phagocytic cells. Considerable differences were observed in the mRNA
abundance levels of the receptors, and interestingly the identified novel chemokine receptor showed differing
levels of mRNA abundance to its closest homolog CCR1. The chemokine receptor repertoire was shown to differ
between monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. This may reflect the differing roles of these cells in the
immune response and may have functional consequences for the trafficking of these cells in vivo.
Conclusions: In summary, we have provided the first characterisation of the complete bovine chemokine receptor
gene repertoire including a gene that is potentially unique to cattle. Further study of this receptor and its ligands
may reveal a specific role of this receptor in cattle. The availability of the bovine chemokine receptor sequences
will allow further characterisation of the function of these genes and will confer wide-reaching benefits to the
study of this important aspect of the bovine immune response.
Background: The chemokine and chemokine receptor families play critical roles in both the healthy and diseased
organism mediating the migration of cells. The chemokine system is complex in that multiple chemokines can
bind to one chemokine receptor and vice versa. Although chemokine receptors have been well characterised in
humans, the chemokine receptor repertoire of cattle is not well characterised and many sequences are yet to be
experimentally validated.
Results: We have identified and sequenced bovine homologs to all identified functional human chemokine
receptors. The bovine chemokine receptors show high levels of similarity to their human counterparts and similar
genome arrangements. We have also characterised an additional bovine chemokine receptor, not present in the
available genome sequence of humans or the more closely related pigs or horses. This receptor shows the highest
level of similarity to CCR1 but shows significant differences in regions of the protein that are likely to be involved
in ligand binding and signalling. We have also examined the mRNA abundance levels of all identified bovine
chemokine receptors in mononuclear phagocytic cells. Considerable differences were observed in the mRNA
abundance levels of the receptors, and interestingly the identified novel chemokine receptor showed differing
levels of mRNA abundance to its closest homolog CCR1. The chemokine receptor repertoire was shown to differ
between monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. This may reflect the differing roles of these cells in the
immune response and may have functional consequences for the trafficking of these cells in vivo.
Conclusions: In summary, we have provided the first characterisation of the complete bovine chemokine receptor
gene repertoire including a gene that is potentially unique to cattle. Further study of this receptor and its ligands
may reveal a specific role of this receptor in cattle. The availability of the bovine chemokine receptor sequences
will allow further characterisation of the function of these genes and will confer wide-reaching benefits to the
study of this important aspect of the bovine immune response.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 439 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | BMC Genomics |
Volume | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |