Cloning and expression analysis of an IL-6 homolog in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

A partial cDNA with significant similarity to IL-6 was identified in rainbow trout. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to obtain the full sequence of the trout IL-6 homolog which contains 1180 nucleotides. The transcript encodes a predicted protein of 219 amino acids and eight instability motifs in the 3′UTR. While the complete sequence of the trout IL-6 is poorly conserved, the protein contains a distinct IL-6/G-CSF/MGF family consensus pattern and predicted characteristic α-helical tertiary structure. However, like in fugu, trout IL-6 lacks a pair of cysteine residues, which in mammals are involved in formation of a disulphide bond. The expression of the IL-6 homolog in trout mononuclear phagocytes was highly up-regulated by LPS but not poly(I:C) as demonstrated by Northern analysis. Using RT-PCR the IL-6 expression was detected in trout spleen, gill, gastrointestinal tract, ovary and brain. The highest transcript levels were detected in the ovary suggesting that IL-6 may perform specific functions within this organ.