A fish cytokine related to human IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF, induces development of eosinophil/basophil/mast-cell type (EBM) granulocytes

• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103671
• Publication Date: 2020-03-09T03:47:17Z
• Authors: Kohei Nishiya; Mai Sawada; Johannes M. Dijkstra; Jiro Miyamae; Masaharu Okano; Fumihiko Katakura; Tadaaki Moritomo
• Keywords: Fish Proteins; 0303 health sciences; Carps; Interleukins; Recombinant Proteins; Fish Diseases; 03 medical and health sciences; Colony-Stimulating Factors; STAT5 Transcription Factor; Animals; Phytohemagglutinins; Cell Proliferation; Granulocytes

Interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are related cytokines that signal through receptors possessing the β common (βc) chain. As a family, these cytokines combine rather non-specific hematopoietic growth factor properties with a special importance for eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells. In fish the cytokines of this family are called IL-5fam, and the present study, using carp, constitutes their first functional analysis. Carp il-5fam expression was enhanced by stimulation with phytohemagglutinin and killed bacteria. Reminiscent of mammalian IL-3/IL-5/GM-CSF family members, recombinant carp IL-5fam (rcIL-5fam) induced activation of transcription factor STAT5 and efficiently promoted proliferation and colony-formation of eosinophil/basophil/mast-cell type (EBM) granulocytes. Upon addition of recombinant carp βc the growth effect of rcIL-5fam was reduced, suggesting βc participation in the signaling route. In summary, despite differences in individual cytokines and cell populations, fish and mammalian IL-3/IL-5/GM-CSF family members share growth factor functions for non-neutrophil granulocytes.