Molecular characterization of the porcine surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein C gene

Susanna Cirera, Ann-Britt Nygaard Hillig, Henrik Michael Elvang Jensen, K. Skovgaard, M. Boye, Merete Fredholm

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    9 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein C (SFTPC) is a peptide secreted by the alveolar type II pneumocytes of the lung. We have characterized the porcine SFTPC gene at genomic, transcriptional, and protein levels. The porcine SFTPC is a single-copy gene on pig chromosome 14. Two transcripts were found in a newborn pig lung cDNA library: a full-length clone and a clone missing exon 5. cDNA sequence comparison revealed four synonymous and two nonsynonymous substitutions and in-frame insertions at the beginning of exon 5. Comparison of the SFTPC coding region between several mammals showed high levels of conservation. Northern blot studies showed lung-specific expression of the full-length SFTPC transcript, appearing in 50-day-old fetus and increasing during lung development. Both SFTPC transcripts were detected mainly in lung by real-time RT-PCR and they were significantly down-regulated in necrotic lungs of pigs infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Additionally, the protein levels were also decreased or absent in the necrotic tissue.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalGenomics
    Volume88
    Issue number5
    Pages (from-to)659-668
    Number of pages10
    ISSN0888-7543
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2006

    Keywords

    • Former LIFE faculty
    • SFTPC, SNPs, gene expression, real-time RT-PCR
    • Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae lung infection
    • type II cells

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