The mRNA Regulation of Porcine Double-Stranded RNA-Activated Protein Kinase Gene

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase (PKR), which is one of the products of interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes, participates in the biological actions of IFN such as antiviral effects and immune response. In the present study, we identified the primary structure of porcine PKR proteins by cDNA cloning. Porcine PKR protein consisted of 537 amino acids and had two dsRNA-binding domains similarly existing in PKR proteins of other species. The treatment with IFN-α induced the expression of PKR 3.9-fold in a porcine kidney cell line, LLC-PK1. The same results were obtained when the cells were treated with poly(I)•poly(C), but treatment with either IFN-γ or LPS did not induce this gene in LLC-PK1 cells. These results suggest similarity of the regulatory mechanisms in the PKR gene among mammalian species.

Differences in Clinical Disease and Immune Response of Pigs Challenged with a High-Dose versus Low-Dose Inoculum of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

“…Both toll-like receptor 3 and PKR have been shown to induce IFN-␤ gene transcription in response to dsRNA recognition (29). Once produced, type I interferon induces the production of downstream antiviral mediators, such as Mx and PKR (3,4,33). A previous study used in situ hybridization to investigate IFN-␣ and Mx mRNA expression in lung sections of PRRSV-infected pigs, and reported changes by day 1 PI (14).…”

“…Type I interferon (IFN-␣/␤) plays a significant role in the innate antiviral immune response by stimulating the production of antiviral mediators, such as Mx (myxovirus resistant; IFN-inducible GTPase) and PKR (double-stranded RNAdependent protein kinase) (3,4,33), which inhibit viral replication (22). In addition, IFN-␣/␤ plays a role in the adaptive immune response by stimulating dendritic cell maturation (17) and acting as a survival factor for activated T cells (8,28).…”

The Presence of Alpha Interferon at the Time of Infection Alters the Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

“…Type I interferons, such as IFN-␣ and IFN-␤, have an important role in the innate and adaptive immune response. They contribute to innate antiviral immunity by promoting production of antiviral mediators such as PKR (double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase) and Mx (myxovirus resistant; IFN-inducible GTPase) and elicit NK cell activity for the killing of virus-infected cells (2,3,13,27). IFN-␣ and -␤ also play a role in the adaptive immune response by inducing both the maturation of dendritic cells into professional antigen-presenting cells and macrophage development and maturation and, along with IL-6, promoting B cell differentiation into plasma cells (5,11,21).…”

Comparative analysis of vertebrateEIF2AK2(PKR) genes and assignment of the equine gene to ECA15q24-q25 and the bovine gene to BTA11q12-q15

“…The equivalent of the HSAEIF2AK2 second exon is absent in the MMUEif2ak2 gene [16]. Orthologous cDNA sequences were previously reported for the rat (Rattus norvegicus; RNO) [19], cattle (Bos taurus; BTA) and pig (Sus scrofa; SSC) EIF2AK2 genes [2].…”