Porcine DC-SIGN: Molecular cloning, gene structure, tissue distribution and binding characteristics

• Published in: Developmental and comparative immunology Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 464 - 480
• Main Authors: Huang, Y.W., Dryman, B.A., Li, W., Meng, X.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2009
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Base Sequence; C-type lectins; Canis; Cattle; Cell adhesion; Cell Adhesion Molecules - classification; Cell Adhesion Molecules - genetics; Cell Adhesion Molecules - metabolism; Cell Line; Cloning, Molecular; DC-SIGN; Dendritic cells; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Gene; Humans; Innate immunity; Lectins, C-Type - classification; Lectins, C-Type - genetics; Lectins, C-Type - metabolism; Liver - cytology; Liver - metabolism; Lymph Nodes - cytology; Lymph Nodes - metabolism; Mammals; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Pig; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus; Receptors, Cell Surface - classification; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Sequence Alignment; Sus scrofa - genetics; Sus scrofa - immunology; Tissue Distribution; Dendritic cells; Gene; DC-SIGN; Cell adhesion; Innate immunity; Mammals; C-type lectins; Pig
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2008.09.010

DC-SIGN, a human C-type lectin, is involved in the transmission of many enveloped viruses. Here we report the cloning and characterization of the cDNA and gene encoding porcine DC-SIGN (pDC-SIGN). The full-length pDC-SIGN cDNA encodes a type II transmembrane protein of 240 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that pDC-SIGN, together with bovine, canis and equine DC-SIGN, are more closely related to mouse SIGNR7 and SIGNR8 than to human DC-SIGN. pDC-SIGN has the same gene structure as bovine, canis DC-SIGN and mouse SIGNR8 with eight exons. pDC-SIGN mRNA expression was detected in pig spleen, thymus, lymph node, lung, bone marrow and muscles. pDC-SIGN protein was found to express on the surface of monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells, alveolar macrophages, lymph node sinusoidal macrophage-like, dendritic-like and endothelial cells but not of monocytes, peripheral blood lymphocytes or lymph node lymphocytes. A BHK cell line stably expressing pDC-SIGN binds to human ICAM-3 and ICAM-2 immunoadhesins in a calcium-dependent manner, and enhances the transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) to target cells in trans. The results will help better understand the biological role(s) of DC-SIGN family in innate immunity during the evolutionary process.